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Major carriers, state AGs will work to combat robocalls

Americans get nearly 5 billion calls from scammers, telemarketers, debt collectors and others every month.
Credit: AP
FILE - This Aug. 1, 2017, file photo, shows a call log displayed via an AT&T app on a cellphone in Orlando, Fla. New tools are coming to help fight robocall scams, but don’t expect unwanted calls to disappear. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

Major phone companies are telling the country's state attorneys general that they will do more against robocalls.

It's the latest step from government and industry to combat the growing problem . Americans get nearly 5 billion calls from scammers, telemarketers, debt collectors and others every month. The agreement echoes some steps already taken by regulators and Congress, which is working on anti-robocall bills .

The state AGs say phone companies will offer call-blocking tools free to all but traditional landline users. They will also block calls for everyone at the network level. The Federal Communications Commission has called on phone companies to block unwanted calls and expects carriers not to charge. It also calls on them to make sure caller ID numbers are real, not faked.

RELATED: FCC approves new robocall rules to crack down on overseas callers, texts

RELATED: End of robocalls? Phone companies can block them for you, FCC rules

The agreement doesn't have a timeline.

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