March 2026 Open Commission Meeting

Why It Matters

The measures aim to protect U.S. consumers, restore trust in telecom services, and curb billions in robocall fraud, while reshoring jobs and strengthening national security.

Key Takeaways

• FCC proposes limits on foreign call‑center usage for telecom providers.
• Providers must disclose foreign‑handled calls and offer US‑based alternatives.
• New rules require English‑proficient staff and ban adversary‑nation centers.
• Robocall fight expands certification to all VoIP and tightens numbering.
• Proposed fees, bonds, and reporting aim to deter illegal scams.

Summary

The March 2026 FCC Open Commission Meeting centered on two major Notices of Proposed Rulemaking. The first seeks to improve customer service and consumer protection by curbing the offshoring of call‑center operations, while the second targets illegal robocalls through tighter numbering policies. Commissioners debated the proposals, ultimately voting to adopt them with editorial privileges.

The consumer‑service proposal outlines eight concrete requirements: limiting the share of calls handled abroad, mandating English‑proficient staff, requiring providers to disclose foreign handling at call start, offering on‑demand transfer to U.S. centers, reserving certain transactions for domestic facilities, banning centers in adversary nations, publishing foreign‑call percentages on broadband labels, and filing compliance reports. It also invites comment on extending these rules to non‑voice channels and on imposing bonds or fees to deter fraudulent robocall operations.

Commissioners Gomez and Trusty praised the measures as essential for restoring consumer trust and safeguarding privacy, while FCC Chair Brendan Carr highlighted industry examples such as Charter’s on‑shoring of call‑center jobs. The numbering proposal would extend robocall certification to all VoIP providers, tighten reporting in the Numbering Forecast Forum, restrict number resale to a single level, and address number‑cycling tactics, with an emphasis on coordination with state regulators and the North American Numbering Plan Administrator.

If enacted, the rules could spur reshoring of call‑center jobs, improve service quality, and reduce privacy and national‑security risks. Telecom firms will face new compliance burdens, but the anticipated decline in illegal robocalls promises measurable consumer savings and heightened confidence in the U.S. communications ecosystem.

Original Description

The FCC held an Open Meeting on the subjects listed below:

* Improving Customer Service and Consumer Protection

* Combatting Illegal Robocalls Through FCC Numbering Policies

* Modernizing Network and Communication Services

* Spectrum Abundance for Weird Space Stuff

* Modernizing Suspension and Debarment Rules

* Rescinding Obsolete Provisions