What the FCC’s Focus on Robocalls Means for Businesses

If your business depends on outbound calls to connect with customers, the last thing you want is for those calls to be labeled as “Scam Likely” or “Spam Risk.” Unfortunately, that’s a growing reality, especially as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) increases pressure on telecom carriers to stop scam and spam calls. 

Flagged or blocked calls hurt a business’ answer rates, disrupt customer relationships, and damage brand trust. The solutions? Take proactive steps that reduce the chance of mislabeling calls by following call behavior best practices, registering your business number(s) for free, and authenticating your calls with First Orion.  

Why the FCC’s Efforts Matter for Your Business 

The Federal Communications Commission is working with its Robocall Response Team1 — a group of engineers, attorneys, and policy experts — to track, trace, and stop illegal robocall traffic before it reaches consumers. This involves monitoring suspicious call patterns, shutting down spoofed numbers, and holding carriers accountable for the calls they transmit. 

This work is necessary to stop scammers, but it also means analytics providers and carriers are becoming more aggressive in blocking questionable calls. Without a trusted caller reputation, your legitimate calls risk being mislabeled or blocked even if you’re fully compliant. 

How to Keep Your Calls Off the Spam List

1. Call Behavior Best Practices

Ensuring your outbound calling strategy strikes the right balance between persistence and respect can significantly boost connection rates while reducing the chances of being marked as+ spam or unwanted. Below are best practices to elevate your calling effectiveness while maintaining trust and compliance. 

• Do not use one main calling telephone number for multiple uses.
  Assign unique numbers for distinct purposes—like marketing, support, or billing—to prevent analytics engines from flagging your number and to maintain clarity for recipients. 
• Avoid excessive calling to the same recipient.
  While two calls per day from the same party are generally tolerated, three or more may provoke number blocking or spam reports, so it’s best to moderate calling frequency. 
• Ensure users expect a call. 
  To stay relevant and compliant, only call those who have explicitly opted in and keep that call within 90 days of their opt-in.
• Respect users’ requests not to be contacted.
  Adhere to “Do Not Call” lists, Telephone Consumer Protection Act requirements, and any individual opting-out requests; always offer contact info in case the recipient needs to report issues.
• Provide a consistent, real, and user-dialable telephone number with every call you make.
  Using a valid, recognizable number helps recipients answer and reduces the chances of your calls being flagged as suspicious or spam.
• Provide a consistent calling name that matches the context. 
  Using a valid, recognizable number helps recipients answer and reduces the chances of your calls being flagged as suspicious or spam.
• Align context and content of calls for the duration of the number’s assignment.
  Keep each outgoing number dedicated to a specific topic or department. This consistency enhances your outbound call reputation.
• Document normal calling patterns.
  Use a compliant, known number when starting new campaigns, and avoid sudden spikes in call volume. Clear, consistent patterns help providers recognize your calls as legitimate.
• Don’t use a pre-recorded message for lead prospecting calls.
  Connect with prospects live. Automated recordings are poorly received and often flagged as spam or scam.
• Don’t call unassigned numbers frequently.
  Keep lists current and avoid frequent dials to unassigned numbers; this mirrors scam tactics and hurts your reputation.

2. Free Business Number Registration

First Orion’s free business registration ensures your business is vetted and verified, and your calls are recognized as legitimate by carriers and analytics providers. This makes it less likely your calls will be mistaken for spam. The result: 

• Higher answer rates from customers who trust your caller ID 
• Reduced call blocking from analytics systems 
• A stronger brand reputation every time your number appears on a customer’s screen

3. Call Authentication

Our call authentication technology adds an extra layer of trust by verifying: 

• The call originates from your business 
• It’s sent to the intended recipient 
• It’s placed exactly when it should be 

This prevents spoofing and supports delivery by proving your calls are real, directly addressing the FCC’s concerns about fraudulent and misleading calls. 

The Bottom Line for Businesses 

The FCC’s robocall regulations are not going away. And while it’s aimed at stopping scammers, your calls can still suffer if you’re not protecting your phone number’s reputation. 

First Orion’s free business number registration and call authentication help you stay off the spam list, keep your calls connected, and align with the FCC’s mission to stop unwanted calls. 

Take control of your caller reputation today and register your numbers for free to ensure your calls reach the customers who need to hear from you. 

Sources:  

1. FCC Robocall Response Team.