On September 9, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler a request signed by 39 state attorneys general for an opinion on telecommunication companies’ legal ability to implement call-blocking technology.

The letter brought to the attention of the FCC recent advancements in call-blocking technology such as Call Control, NoMoRobo, and Telemarketing Guard that can be used to prevent illegal telemarketing calls.

The letter was triggered by testimony a year ago from telecommunications industry groups before the U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance that outdated laws and regulations were preventing the industry from implementing advanced call-blocking technologies.

In their letter, the attorneys general asked the FCC to investigate and issue a formal opinion on any legal or regulatory roadblocks to implementing these call-blocking technologies.

The FCC has not yet issued a response to the request from the state attorneys general, but we will continue to monitor this story as it develops.