ROBOCALLS: THEY’RE ALL YOUR FAULT

Everybody hates robocalls. They are the number one source of consumer complaints in the U.S., according to the Federal Communications Commission. Sure, you can put your number on the national Do Not Call Registry. You can also flap your arms and fly to the moon. According to figures from call-blocking service YouMail, consumers reported a new high of 2.64 billion robocalls in the U.S. last month, increasing 9.6% from July and averaging out to 986 robocalls per second. The robocall epidemic has prompted increased efforts from the Federal Trade Commission and the FCC in recent months to slow it. On July 22, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler called on major wireless and landline phone companies to allow better tools and do more to fight robocalls. Companies responded by creating the Robocall Strike Force, which held its first meeting on August 19. Led by AT&T, the collective of 33 companies included Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Verizon. The Robocall Strike Force has pledged to put forth plans by October 19. AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said government regulators, device makers, developers and carriers all have to work together in the fight. But YouMail Chief Executive Alex Quilici, who makes robocall-blocking apps, says, “In order to get rid of the robocall problem, it is going to require changing consumer behavior to destroy the economics of it,” he said. “The proposition we make is to just stop answering calls.”
* “Or get yourself a secretary to screen all your calls, like us big executives do.”
* Way to step up, Alex Quilici, Chief Executive of YouMail! YouSuck!
* How about the proposition I make is capital punishment?
* Mark your calendar: on October 19, the country will be presented with a plan to stop robocalls that will raise your phone bill.
* First the robocalls, then all Kardashian stories. Or vice-versa. Just please do something.