In recent years, robocalls have become an increasingly pervasive threat for cell phone users throughout the US and across the globe. These unsolicited calls are not only a nuisance, but they can also be a major security risk. Fortunately, the FCC has taken steps to address this problem with the implementation of STIR/SHAKEN technology.

At Prescott-Martini, we are committed to providing secure communication solutions for businesses. We offer both verified ANIs and digital tokens to ensure that your outbound calls are not flagged as potential spam or fraud. In addition, we provide Mitigation Database registration services to help you stay STIR/SHAKEN compliant. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at STIR/SHAKEN technology, how it works, and the FCC’s plan for STIR/SHAKEN implementation.

What is STIR/SHAKEN?

STIR/SHAKEN is a framework developed by the telecommunications industry to combat robocalls and caller ID spoofing. STIR (Secure Telephone Identity Revisited) is a standard that provides a way to verify the calling party's identity using digital certificates. SHAKEN (Signature-based Handling of Asserted Information Using toKENs) is a framework that uses digital certificates to sign and verify caller ID information.

The goal of STIR/SHAKEN is to ensure that caller ID information is accurate and not being spoofed. This helps consumers and businesses identify and block unwanted calls while also providing law enforcement with the ability to track down and prosecute scammers and robocalls.

How does STIR/SHAKEN work?

STIR/SHAKEN technology uses digital certificates to verify the authenticity of a caller's phone number. When a call is made, the service provider uses the STIR/SHAKEN framework to verify that the caller ID information is accurate and has not been spoofed. The verification process involves the following steps:

1. The caller's service provider generates a digital certificate that includes the caller's phone number and other identifying information.
2. The certificate is then sent to the recipient's service provider, along with the caller ID information.
3. The recipient's service provider uses the digital certificate to verify the authenticity of the caller's phone number.

If the caller's phone number is verified, the call is allowed to go through. If the caller's phone number cannot be verified, the call is either blocked or flagged as potential spam or fraud.

Why is STIR/SHAKEN important?

STIR/SHAKEN is an important technology because it helps combat the growing problem of robocalls and caller ID spoofing. By verifying the authenticity of a caller's phone number, STIR/SHAKEN technology helps to ensure that consumers and businesses can identify and block unwanted calls while also providing law enforcement with the ability to track down and prosecute scammers and robocalls.

What is the FCC's STIR/SHAKEN implementation plan?

The FCC has implemented a plan that requires all voice service providers to implement the STIR/SHAKEN framework in their networks to help combat the growing problem of robocalls and caller ID spoofing. Under the FCC's implementation plan, voice service providers must authenticate and verify caller ID information using digital certificates. If the caller ID information is not authenticated or verified, the service provider must flag the call as a potential spam or fraud call.

How can Prescott-Martini help your business stay STIR/SHAKEN compliant?

At Prescott-Martini, we offer both verified ANIs and digital tokens to help ensure that your outbound calls are not flagged as potential spam or fraud. Verified ANIs are phone numbers that have been verified by a third-party service to ensure that they are valid and belong to the business making the call.

Digital tokens are unique identifiers that are used to sign and verify caller ID information. They are generated by our system and are unique to each customer, making it difficult for scammers to spoof your phone number.

In addition to our verified ANIs and digital tokens, we also provide Mitigation Database registration services to help you stay STIR/SHAKEN compliant. The Mitigation Database is a database maintained by the industry that lists phone numbers that have been flagged as potential spam or fraud. By registering your phone numbers with the Mitigation Database, you can help ensure that your calls are not blocked or flagged as potential spam or fraud.

Get in touch with Prescott-Martini for our STIR/SHAKEN tech services or to learn more about FCC STIR/SHAKEN implementation!

In conclusion, STIR/SHAKEN technology is an important framework that helps combat the growing problem of robocalls and caller ID spoofing. The FCC's implementation plan requires all voice service providers to implement the STIR/SHAKEN framework in their networks to help ensure that caller ID information is accurate and not being spoofed. At Prescott-Martini, we are committed to providing secure communication solutions for businesses. We offer both verified ANIs and digital tokens to help ensure that your outbound calls are not flagged as potential spam or fraud, and we provide Mitigation Database registration services to help you stay STIR/SHAKEN compliant. Contact Prescott-Martini today to learn more about our communication solutions and how we can help your business stay secure.