STIR-SHAKEN Compliance Update

STIR/SHAKEN Zero Trust Enablement Notification

Starting February 1, 2023, TelecomsXChange (TCXC) will begin rejecting all unsigned calls to the United States of America by default. This is STIR/SHAKEN Compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, which state that all calls originating in the U.S. must have a signature, with few exceptions.

As a provider of telecommunication services, TCXC is committed to ensuring that our client’s needs are met and that they are in compliance with all regulations. As such, we are taking this step to ensure that all calls sent through our network are fully compliant with the FCC’s regulations.

To ensure uninterrupted service, we urge all of our clients to ensure that all calls sent through our network have a STIR/SHAKEN signature before transmission. This process, known as call authentication, helps to prevent caller ID spoofing and protect consumers from unwanted robocalls.

If you are unsure of how to sign your calls or require assistance, please reach out to us. We will connect you with certified partners who can assist you with this task. Our team is dedicated to helping our clients navigate these regulations and ensure that they are in compliance with all relevant laws.

Requirements Summary

TelecomsXChange (TCXC) will require all customers terminating calls to the USA to comply with three following regulations requirements:

1) registration with the RoboCalling Mitigation Database.

2) FCC license for U.S based customers

3) STIR/SHAKEN signing of all calls sent to TelecomsXChange.

These regulations are in place to ensure that all calls are legitimate and verified while also protecting our customers from robocalls and unwanted calls. Failure to comply with these new regulations may result in termination of service. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we strive to improve our services.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TCXC will begin rejecting all unsigned calls to the USA by default starting February 1, 2023.

To ensure uninterrupted service, please ensure that all calls sent through our network have a STIR/SHAKEN signature before transmission. If you require assistance with signing your calls, please reach out to us and we will connect you with certified partners who can assist you with this task.

Technical Details

TelecomsXChange (TCXC) recently made changes to its b2bua and Radius AAA systems to reject any calls coming to its network without STIR/SHAKEN identity headers.

STIR/SHAKEN is a set of standards and protocols that are designed to help combat robocalls and caller ID spoofing. The STIR (Secure Telephone Identity Revisited) standard defines a way to digitally sign and verify the caller ID of a telephone call, while the SHAKEN (Signature-based Handling of Asserted information using toKENs) standard defines a way to validate the signature and pass it along with the call. Together, these standards provide a way for phone companies to authenticate caller ID information and ensure that it is legitimate.

To implement this change, TCXC first had to update its b2bua (Back-to-Back User Agent) system, which is responsible for handling the signaling of telephone calls. The b2bua system was modified to check for the presence of a valid STIR/SHAKEN identity header on incoming calls and to reject any calls that do not have one.

Next, TCXC updated its Radius AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) system, which is responsible for managing user authentication and authorization. The Radius AAA system was configured to check for the presence of a valid STIR/SHAKEN identity header on incoming calls and to reject any calls that do not have one.

With these changes in place, TCXC is now able to reject any calls coming to its network that do not have a valid STIR/SHAKEN identity header before it’s sent to the seller’s network, helping to protect its customers from robocalls and caller ID spoofing. This is a great step forward in the fight against unwanted and fraudulent calls.