What's happening
This bill requires telecommunications companies in New York to block certain fraudulent or invalid phone numbers, with exceptions for emergency calls and subscriber requests.
Why it matters
Targets "spoofed" or fraudulent calls. By mandating the blocking of calls from numbers that are invalid, unallocated, or unused, the bill aims to reduce scam and fraudulent robocalls, making it harder for bad actors to deceive consumers using fake caller IDs.
Empowers both subscribers and providers. Subscribers can request blocks on calls purportedly coming from numbers used only for inbound calls (e.g., customer service lines), and providers are explicitly authorized to implement proactive blocking based on official numbering databases.
Protects essential and opted-in communications. There are built-in safeguards—calls to 911 cannot be blocked, and subscribers can opt out of call blocking, ensuring that emergency and desired communications are not unintentionally disrupted.
Relies on established telecom infrastructure. The bill relies on existing numbering administrators and caller ID technology, meaning implementation leverages current industry systems and standards, potentially enabling faster and more consistent adoption.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Block Scam Phone Numbers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer protection
- Referred to consumer protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Block Illegal Robocall Numbers
In Assembly Committee · Rules · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4764
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KAMINSKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to telecommunication companies blocking certain numbers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 399-z-1 to read as follows:
§ 399-z-1. Telecommunication companies blocking certain numbers. 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "caller identification information" means information provided by a caller identification service regarding the telephone number and the name of the person calling;
b. "caller identification service" means a service that allows a telephone subscriber to have the telephone number, and, where available, name of the calling party transmitted contemporaneously with the telephone call, and displayed on a device in or connected to the subscriber's telephone;
c. "pooling administrator" means the thousands-block pooling administrator as identified in 47 C.F.R. § 52.20; and
d. "provider" means a telecommunication company that provides voice communications services to customers in this state.
2. Consistent with authorization provided by federal law and rules of the federal communications commission or its successors:
a. providers shall block a voice call when the subscriber to which the originating number is assigned has requested that calls purporting to originate from that number be blocked because the number is used for inbound calls only; and
b. providers shall block calls originating from the following numbers:
(i) a number that is not a valid North American numbering plan number;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01125-03-9
S. 4764 2
(ii) a valid North American numbering plan number that is not allocated to a provider by the North American numbering plan administrator or the pooling administrator; and
(iii) a valid North American numbering plan number that is allocated to a provider by the North American number plan administrator or pooling administrator, but is unused, so long as the provider blocking the calls is the allocatee of the number and confirms that the number is unused or has obtained verification from the allocatee that the number is unused at the time of the blocking.
c. providers shall not block a voice call if the call is an emergency call placed to 911.
d. providers shall not block a voice call to a subscriber who has requested that no inbound calls be blocked.
3. For purposes of blocking calls from certain originating numbers as authorized in this section, a provider may rely on caller identification service information to determine the originating number.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to telecommunication companies blocking certain numbers
Purpose or general idea of bill
To allow telecommunication companies to block robocalls from certain numbers.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of the bill amends the general business law by adding a new section 399-z-1. Subdivision one sets out relevant definitions. Subdi- vision two sets out the types of calls that telecommunication providers shall block.
First, providers shall block a voice call when the subscriber to which the originating number is assigned has requested that calls purporting to originate from that number be blocked because the number is used for inbound calls only. Next, providers shall block calls originating from the following numbers: (i) a number that is not a valid North American numbering plan number; (ii) a valid North American numbering plan number that is not allocated to a provider by the North American numbering plan administrator or the pooling administrator; and (iii) a valid North American numbering plan number that is allocated to a provider by the North American number plan administrator or pooling administrator, but is unused, so long as the provider blocking the calls is the allocatee of the number and confirms that the number is unused or has obtained verification from the allocate that the number is unused at the time of the blocking.
Section one also states that providers shall not block a voice call if the call is an emergency call placed to 911 or if a subscriber has requested that no inbound calls be blocked.
Section two provides the effective date.
Justification
Unwanted robocalls are the top consumer complaint received by the Feder- al Communications Commission (FCC), representing over sixty percent of all
Fiscal implication
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.