CCA Files FCC Comments on FYC

To the Communications Industry:

The Cloud Communications Alliance (CCA) has formally submitted its comments to the Federal Communications Commission in response to the proceeding on enhanced Know‑Your‑Customer (KYC) requirements for originating providers (CG Docket Nos. 17‑59 and 02‑278).

This filing represents an important milestone in the industry’s shared effort to restore trust in the voice network and to meaningfully reduce illegal and fraudulent robocalls.

Why This Matters

“For too long, bad actors have exploited gaps in identity verification to gain access to the network—eroding consumer trust and diminishing answer rates for legitimate businesses,” said Joe Marion, President of the CCA. The FCC’s current initiative aims to address this by strengthening KYC obligations across providers.

CCA strongly supports these efforts and underscores a central principle:

Only verified, legitimate entities should have access to originate traffic on the communications network.

CCA’s Core Position

In its comments, CCA highlights the direct connection between robust KYC onboarding and the future of trusted caller identity.

• KYC is foundational – The data collected during onboarding (e.g., identity, business formation, address) is the same information required to deliver verified caller identity to end users.
• Caller identity and branded calling are intertwined – KYC policy cannot be considered in isolation; it is central to enabling authenticated, trusted communications.
• Trust must be verifiable and portable – Verified identity should be based on secure, standardized credentials that can be independently validated across providers.

A Better Path Forward: Independent Identity Verification

CCA urges the Commission to go further by enabling a model that incorporates accredited third‑party identity verification, rather than relying exclusively on each originating provider.

This approach would:

• Establish a uniform, open, and trusted framework for identity verification
• Align with emerging global standards and financial regulatory models
• Reduce onboarding friction while maintaining strong safeguards
• Create a clear gating mechanism to prevent illegitimate actors from entering the network

The End Goal

A functioning, verified identity ecosystem will deliver real benefits across the industry:

• Consumers gain confidence in who is calling
• Businesses see higher answer rates and fewer blocked or mislabeled calls
• Providers operate in a more efficient, trusted environment

In short, KYC done right becomes the foundation for a trusted communications ecosystem.

What’s Next

CCA will continue to work closely with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to ensure that these frameworks are practical, scalable, and globally aligned.

We encourage all stakeholders to review the full filing and engage in this important dialogue.

👉 [View the full CCA filing]