New ways AT&T, Sprint, Verizon & T-Mobile are taking on robocalls [telecom]

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By Janet Perez

In the ongoing battle against robocalls, mobile phone carriers are trying to strengthen changes to their devices to help consumers stop the assaults. Usually to no avail. A crucial step in this process was a decision by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that now allows mobile carriers to block robocalls without having to first get permission from users.

Changes range from placing blocking defaults on phones to services that allow users to separate the calls they need from the nuisances. Some carriers are also dipping their toes into the protocol nicknamed SHAKEN/STIR that can verify the legitimacy of a number through a digital signature.