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FCC Moves to Curb Offshore Call Centers, Sets March Vote on English Standard and Consumer Disclosures

The agency will solicit comment on its legal reach, including tariffs or bonds to deter foreign robocalls.

Overview

  • Chair Brendan Carr said the commission will vote this month on requiring overseas call takers at regulated providers to be proficient in American Standard English.
  • The proposal seeks input on capping the share of customer calls handled abroad and on requiring companies to disclose the location of their call centers.
  • Consumers could gain the right to request a transfer to a U.S.-based representative when connected to an overseas call center.
  • The FCC is taking comments on targeted tariffs or bonds aimed at discouraging illegal robocalls that originate outside the United States.
  • The agency is examining the scope of its authority over foreign call centers and cited last week’s CharterCox approval, which requires onshoring Cox’s offshore roles within 18 months.