Maryland AG Targets Four Telecom Giants in Robocall Fight
Your phone rings during dinner. Another robocall. You’ve blocked dozens of numbers, but they keep coming. Sound familiar? Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown gets it, and he’s taking action that could finally bring relief.
The Maryland Robocall Crackdown Enters Phase 2
Attorney General Brown just announced Phase 2 of Operation Robocall Roundup, and this time, he’s going after the big players. Four major telecom companies—Inteliquent, Bandwidth, Lumen, and Peerless Network—now face direct orders to stop transmitting suspected illegal robocalls across their networks.
This marks a significant escalation. The Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force, which includes attorneys general from all 50 states, previously focused on smaller providers. Now they’re targeting gateway providers that handle billions of calls.
“These four major providers transmit billions of fraudulent robocalls that interrupt Marylanders’ dinners, work, and family time,” Brown stated. His message to these companies? Stop these invasive calls now or face consequences.
Why These Four Companies?
The targeted companies aren’t small operations accidentally letting a few bad calls slip through. They continue routing hundreds of thousands—sometimes millions—of suspected illegal calls despite repeated warnings from industry investigators.
Industry traceback notices have flagged specific scam campaigns flowing through these networks. We’re talking about Social Security Administration impersonation scams, fake auto-warranty schemes, and bogus debt-collection calls. The kind that prey on vulnerable people and waste everyone’s time.
These companies carry a heightened responsibility as larger providers. They have the resources and technology to identify and block bad actors. Yet they continue accepting traffic from known fraudsters.
Phase 1 Already Delivered Results
Before launching this Maryland robocall crackdown against major players, the Task Force tested its approach on 37 smaller voice providers in August. The results speak for themselves:
Thirteen companies got removed from the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database. This effectively cuts them off from the entire U.S. telephone network. No legitimate provider can accept their call traffic anymore.
Nineteen companies completely stopped appearing in traceback results. They either cleaned up their act or stopped routing suspected illegal robocall providers altogether.
At least four providers terminated high-risk customer accounts that investigators identified as sources of illegal traffic.
These aren’t minor adjustments. The Maryland robocall crackdown created measurable changes in just a few months.
The Scale of the Problem
Illegal robocalls remain the top consumer complaint filed with both the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the FCC. That tells you something about how widespread and frustrating this problem has become.
Americans received an estimated 4.9 billion robocalls per month in 2024 alone, according to YouMail’s National Robocall Index. That’s billions with a “b.” Every month.
Maryland joined the bipartisan Anti-Robocall Task Force in 2022, recognizing that this problem requires coordinated action across state lines. Scammers don’t respect borders, so enforcement can’t either.
What This Means for You
The Maryland robocall crackdown could significantly reduce the number of spam calls hitting your phone. When major gateway providers face pressure to clean up their networks, the effects ripple throughout the entire system.
You don’t need to wait passively for results, though. Take action now to protect yourself:
Register your phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222. Legitimate businesses check this list.
File complaints when you receive illegal robocalls. Contact the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division online at www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov or call 410-528-8662. Your reports help investigators identify patterns.
Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 (SPAM). This helps carriers identify and block scam numbers before they can reach more victims.
The Bigger Picture
This enforcement action represents more than just another government press release. It shows that state attorneys general are willing to go after major telecommunications companies, not just the obvious bad actors.
The four targeted companies handle massive volumes of legitimate traffic alongside the fraudulent calls. Ordering them to clean up their networks requires sophisticated detection systems and real commitment to enforcement.
Will they comply? Phase 1 results suggest that strong enforcement works. When companies face real consequences—like removal from critical industry databases or legal action—they tend to make changes quickly.
The Maryland robocall crackdown sends a clear message to illegal robocall providers and the companies that enable them: the days of operating with impunity are ending.
What Happens Next?
The four companies now have a choice. They can implement stronger screening systems, terminate relationships with bad actors, and actively block suspected illegal traffic. Or they can face potential legal action from a coalition of 51 attorneys general.
Attorney General Brown and his colleagues aren’t making empty threats. They’ve already demonstrated their willingness to take action against non-compliant providers. The removal of 13 companies from the FCC database in Phase 1 proves these consequences are real.
For Maryland residents tired of constant interruptions from scammers, this represents the most aggressive enforcement action yet. The combination of federal regulations, industry cooperation, and coordinated state action creates multiple pressure points on the robocall ecosystem.
Your Voice Matters
Change happens when consumers demand it and officials respond with action. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office prioritized this issue because residents made it clear through their complaints that illegal robocalls represent a serious quality-of-life problem.
Keep reporting suspicious calls. Register for the Do Not Call list. Support enforcement efforts by providing information when you’re contacted by investigators.
The fight against illegal robocalls won’t end overnight. Scammers constantly adapt, finding new techniques and exploiting new vulnerabilities. But coordinated enforcement actions like Operation Robocall Roundup show that authorities are fighting back with equal determination.
Maryland’s aggressive stance—targeting major telecommunications companies alongside smaller bad actors—creates a model that other states can follow. When providers face real accountability, networks get cleaner. When networks get cleaner, your phone rings less with garbage calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop robocalls on my phone in Maryland?
Start by registering your number on the National Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222. This free service blocks legitimate companies from calling you. For active protection, enable your phone’s built-in spam blocking features and consider downloading a call-filtering app. When you receive illegal robocalls, report them to the Maryland Attorney General’s office at 410-528-8662 or online at www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov. Your reports help investigators track down scammers and build enforcement cases.
What companies is Maryland going after for robocalls?
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown is targeting four major telecommunications companies: Inteliquent, Bandwidth, Lumen, and Peerless Network. These providers handle billions of calls and continue routing suspected illegal robocalls despite repeated warnings. The state previously sent warning letters to 37 smaller providers in August, which resulted in 13 companies being removed from the FCC’s database and 19 companies stopping their transmission of illegal calls entirely. This escalation to major telecom players shows Maryland means business about stopping robocall fraud.
Are robocalls illegal in Maryland?
Yes, many robocalls are illegal in Maryland. Calls using spoofed caller IDs, pre-recorded messages promoting scams, or calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Registry violate state and federal law. Common illegal robocalls include Social Security impersonation scams, fake auto-warranty offers, and bogus debt-collection calls. However, some robocalls remain legal, including those from political campaigns, charities you’ve donated to, and companies you have an existing business relationship with. The key difference is consent—you must have given permission or have an established relationship with the caller.
How long until Maryland’s robocall crackdown reduces spam calls?
You may see results within weeks to months. Maryland’s Phase 1 enforcement in August produced measurable changes quickly—19 companies stopped appearing in traceback results almost immediately, and 13 got removed from the FCC database. However, completely eliminating robocalls takes time because scammers constantly adapt and find new providers. The current Phase 2 targets major gateway providers handling billions of calls, so the impact should be more significant than Phase 1. Expect gradual improvement rather than an overnight fix, and continue reporting illegal calls to help speed up enforcement efforts.
