FCC Seeks Comment on Enhanced Know-Your-Customer Requirements

This rulemaking proposes extensive know-your-customer (KYC) expansions for telecommunications services, including mobile phone purchase and service requirements, "necessary to protect consumers". The rulemaking significantly erodes the rights of individuals to private and anonymous communications.

Comments are due on or before June 25, 2026 (five days from now) and reply comments are due on or before July 27, 2026.

While stated aims of the rulemaking are laudible, particularly in reducing fraud and just the sheer number of unsolicited phone and SMS messages reaching Americans (well in excess of 2 billion per month), the mechanisms sought have significant undesirable consequences. Other effective means of combating phone fraud and abuse are ignored.