The Federal Communications Commission ruled Thursday that phone companies can block robocalls to customers automatically, making such services opt out rather than opt in. The ruling also says companies can let customers request that callers not in their contacts or on other preapproved lists automatically be blocked.
“I believe that a voluntary, industry-led process is most likely to achieve this goal,” he said in a statement. “And to date, I’ve been pleased by the progress that industry has made and am optimistic that the end-of-the year deadline will be met. But in case it isn’t, the FCC will not hesitate to take regulatory action.”