Illegal robocalls do not just originate in the United States. Many of the most persistent and damaging scam calls come from overseas—using spoofed U.S. phone numbers to trick consumers into answering.

The FCC has had enough. In October 2025, the Commission voted 3-0 to adopt a Ninth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) targeting foreign-originated calls.

For international carriers and gateway providers, these proposed rules represent a significant new compliance burden.

The FCC‘s proposals for foreign-originated calls are comprehensive:

Mark Foreign-Originated Calls: Gateway providers would be required to mark calls that originate outside the United States. Intermediate providers would pass this indicator through the network. Terminating providers would display a foreign-origin indicator to consumers.

Include Foreign Origin in Call Blocking Analytics: The FCC proposes to require voice service providers that use reasonable analytics to block calls to include whether a call originated from outside the United States as a factor in their analytics.

Prohibit Spoofing of U.S. Numbers: The FCC‘s proposals would prohibit the spoofing of U.S. phone numbers on foreign-originated calls.

Dedicated Area Code for Foreign-Originated Calls: The FCC is considering whether a dedicated area code should be established for foreign-originated calls.

Block Foreign-Originated Calls Using U.S. Numbers: The FCC is considering whether gateway providers should block foreign-originated calls that use U.S. numbers.

Country-of-Origin Information: The FCC is exploring the definitions of calls that originate outside the U.S. and the country of origin for a call.

Gateway providers are on the front lines of the foreign-originated call problem. They are the point of entry for international calls into the U.S. network.

Under the FCC‘s proposals, gateway providers must:

Vet Foreign Partners: Take reasonable steps to ensure that foreign originating providers are not using the gateway to carry illegal traffic.

Block Illegal Traffic: Block traffic from foreign partners that generate high volumes of illegal calls.

Mark Foreign-Originated Calls: Apply a foreign-origin indicator to calls from overseas.

Support Traceback: Respond to traceback requests within 24 hours to help identify the source of illegal calls.

One of the FCC‘s most significant proposals is the requirement to include foreign origin as a factor in call blocking analytics.

What this means: Carriers that use analytics to block calls must consider whether a call originated overseas. This will likely result in more foreign-originated calls being blocked or flagged as suspicious.

The Challenge: Foreign-originated calls are not inherently illegal. Many legitimate international calls—from family members, business partners, and customers—originate overseas. Carriers must balance blocking illegal traffic with allowing legitimate international calls to reach consumers.

Complying with the FCC‘s foreign-originated call rules presents unique challenges:

Identifying Foreign-Originated Calls: Accurately determining whether a call originated outside the U.S. requires sophisticated technology and cooperation with foreign partners.

Vetting Foreign Partners: Gateway providers must vet foreign partners that may be located in countries with different legal and regulatory frameworks.

Balancing Blocking and Access: Blocking too many foreign-originated calls can disrupt legitimate international communication.

Keeping Up with Changes: The FCC‘s proposals are evolving rapidly. Carriers must stay informed and adapt quickly.

The Bottom Line

The FCC is cracking down on foreign-originated calls, and gateway providers and international carriers are on the front lines. New rules requiring foreign-origin indicators, analytics inclusion, and blocking of spoofed U.S. numbers are on the horizon.

At Microtalk, we help carriers navigate the complexities of international call compliance—from vetting foreign partners to implementing foreign-origin indicators. Because in today’s global telecommunications environment, international compliance is just as important as domestic compliance.

Is your carrier business ready for the FCC‘s foreign-originated call rules?