FAC allows operators to block automated calls, but it can still cost a fee

The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to allow telephone operators to automatically block suspicious calls from their customers' phones, but not to prevent operators from charging fees for the service.

With the vote, Verizon, AT & T, T-Mobile and other telecom operators are now able to implement these default blocked call blocking features, unless the customer chooses.

These call blocking features were already available, but customers had to proactively request them or download them as an app. Customers unaware of the existence of these features have been left out.

FCC President Ajit Pai, who published an editorial Thursday before the vote, said he expects the phone companies to act quickly to implement these features.

"Among other things, the default call blocking will reduce the cost of processing automated calls that flood their networks and avoid problems by limiting customer complaints," he said.

The FCC receives more than 200,000 complaints related to automated calls each year, or about 60% of all complaints received, according to its website.

This week's decision also allowed phone operators to offer customers the option of limiting the number of calls they can receive. This "whitelist" of trusted callers can be based on their contact list and updated automatically as customers add and delete contacts from their device. An exception would be a call from emergency services, the FCC said.

"One possible use of this solution would be to help elderly parents, too often the target of robotic scams these days," Pai said in a video explaining the decision. "If you establish a list of phone numbers for your grandfather or grandmother, they will know that all the calls they receive come from calls of trust, relatives, their doctor, their pharmacy, etc.

Verizon, AT & T and T-Mobile applauded the FCC's decision in separate statements Thursday.

Verizon already offers a call blocking app called Call Filter. One version is free and another is a month.

T-Mobile also offers a free, no-app feature, called Scam Block, available through the T-Mobile user account, by dialing # 662 # from their T-Mobile phone or through the free T-Mobile ID app. -Mobile.

This Scam Block feature has alerted T-Mobile customers on an average of 225 million "Scam Likely" calls a week this year, the company said.

Similarly, AT & T offers a feature called AT & T Call Protect, available for download as an application or via the AT & T account of users.

Sprint offers customers the ability to block specific calls through their My Sprint app. For monthly service charges, users can filter calls from unknown numbers through its Premium Caller ID app.

FCC commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel has called the FCC's decision "long overdue," while "disappointed" that it does not prevent carriers from suspending automated calls at an additional price.

"Nothing in our decision today prevents operators from charging this blocking technology to consumers to stop automated calls," she said in a statement.

"I am also a consumer. I receive automated calls at home, in my office, on my landline, on my cell phone. I've even received several automated calls sitting here on this platform. I want it to stop. But I do not think I should pay for this privilege, "she continued. "I am disappointed that, despite all our efforts to support the new blocking technology, we can not have the courage to do what consumers want the most – stop automated calls and do it for free."