U.S. asks phone companies to provide 'robocall' blocking technology

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission on Friday pressed major U.S. phone companies to take immediate steps to make technology that blocks unwanted automated calls available to consumers at no charge. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, in letters to CEOs of major phone companies, said so-called robocalls, automated pre-recorded telephone calls often from telemarketers or scam artists, continue "due in large part to industry inaction." Wheeler's le