How to Block Robocalls & Spam on Your Phone with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint

In recent years, unwanted calls have become a top priority for the FCC. In 2016, analysts estimated that US customers received over 2.4 billion robocalls per month. As a result, the FCC has provided carriers new tools to combat this problem.

The Federal Communications Commission has instituted five public policy initiatives to help slow down the widespread growth of robocalls and spam calls. The first deals with straight up blocking suspicious phone calls, and the primary call-blocking tool implemented involves allowing wireless carriers to legally reject calls at a network level, so they never reach your phone in the first place. Unfortunately, it’s not mandatory nor does it have to be a free service from voice service providers, but so far carriers are jumping on board with no cost to the consumer.

Second is blocking calls when switching numbers. Previously when changing phone numbers, consumers would receive calls intended for the previous owner of the number. Thanks to the FCC, new rules have been adopted to create a reassigned numbers database to minimize these unwanted calls.

The third initiative deals with the FCC heavily fining companies which spam users with calls or use robocalling equipment or software. The federal agency has already fined…