What is Cox doing to block illegal robocalls?

Fraudulent caller ID spoofing is illegal.  The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 was signed into law 22 Dec 2010 and prohibits spoofing for the purposes of defrauding or otherwise causing harm.  In turn, the FCC prohibits transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm or wrongfully obtain anything of value.

You cannot seriously consider caller ID a trusted platform.  Caller ID was trusted on the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) because it only involved telephones, telephone lines and switches at the exchanges.  Since VOIP connected computers to the telephone system, software can deliberately falsify names and numbers to disguise the caller's identity.  If the caller ID platform is still trusted, why would Congress sign a law to prohibit its abuse?  Why are people getting ripped off?  Why are people filing complaints?  Caller ID now has the same reputation as junk mail and spam because we have to be cynical and cagey with the intent of every call.

At best, the Do Not Call Registry is not effective.  However, Cox could take control by developing an online call-blocking program.  The program could include wildcard masking, such as blocking all 800 numbers.  The program could automatically block numbers from a list of nuisance calls previously reported by subscribers.  For customers not wanting to maintain a block list, the program could include an Allow Only List with the ability to turn it off and on if we're expecting a onetime call.

This service would spread like wildfire.  Not only would your customers be thrilled, but Cox would attract subscribers of other providers not offering this service as well as users fed up with standalone call-blocking devices.

For now, the only effective way to block all nuisance calls is to purchase a call blocker and maintain an Allow Only List.  Blocking specific numbers is useless because the numbers are fake and will soon change to another fake number.  Wildcard blocking is becoming obsolete because scammers are using your local area codes.  To successfully create an Allow List, you'll have to do your homework and reengineer your behavior...but that’s for another article.

For some reason the other threads related to Robo Calls, and NomoRobo, are closed and I cannot comment.  However, I want to add my voice to the list of those calling for Cox to either help block these unwanted calls, or to allow other services to step in and do the work for Cox. 

Cox allows me to block 31 telephone numbers from calling.  Most robocallers have more than 31 phone lines available for making calls, so the blocking feature is inadequate.  My call blocking list has been full for a very long time.

Cox has suggested that I use the DoNotCall service offered by the FTC.  I have, and have been on that list since its inception, but the robocalls persist.  It has gotten to the point that the only calls I get on my landline phone are robocalls.  It is almost worthless to me.

Please help!  There must be something a phone provider like Cox can do to help home subscribers without angering your business subscribers who may be doing the robocalling.. 

This is not something that requires FTC or FCC action.  This is something Cox can do without government intervention.

Thank you for anything you can do to help make the landline a meaningful service again.

As a thought, could you import your number into Google Voice then forward that number back to your normal line. Basically routing the phone calls through Google so you can use their call features. Its a stretch, and not sure if it would work, but thought I would mention it.

I like Bruce's idea. Basically Cox should treat telemarketers like they do spammers. Cox blocks spammers and intrusions without any customer interaction, so why is it needed to phone?

Last, if its a must have feature, Cox does offer a more elaborate call rejection feature in this Voicemanager, which is Cox Business phone system. I would only suggest this if you work from home or can afford it. Blows residential phone out of the water. You basically get virtual access to your own private switch.

jiggy, as you no doubt found out, Cox does not support the "Simultaneous Ring" feature, so we can't run Nomorobo to stop robo calls.  Cox suggests that we use the Do Not Call service, but it is virtually useless, and takes little or no action against unwanted callers.  Cox lets us block anonymous callers, but that won't help against robo calls.  Cox needs to implement Simultaneous Ring feature to let us avoid the multitude of political and sales robo calls, but I doubt if they will do that without a lot of pressure from their customers.

I am very frustrated by the dozens of robocalls received each week.  We are disappointed by the lack of options to end them.  We are on DoNotCall registry.  We need phone spam services.  We will not continue like this much longer. 

This is a number that calls all the time 402-858-6248.  How do I stop it?

Do the Call Rejection services cost money?  If so, how much per month?  Also, I have 187 recurring numbers I'd like to block.  Will Cox Call Rejection block them all?  Also, I get lots of single calls from STERLING VA, so can I block by Caller ID?