I've been in the telecommunications industry for over a decade, and I can tell you firsthand - the landscape has completely changed. Five years ago, you could blast out calls with a power dialer and expect decent pickup rates. Today? Forget about it.

Phone scams have ruined everything. Your customers don't answer unknown numbers anymore, and honestly, I don't blame them. But here's the thing - while everyone's complaining about low answer rates, smart operators are quietly dominating their markets with something called STIR/SHAKEN.

Let me break this down for you in plain English, because this technology is either going to make or break your calling campaigns.

What STIR/SHAKEN Really Means for Your Business

Picture this: You're running a sales campaign, dialing 500 numbers a day. Without STIR/SHAKEN, maybe 50 people pick up. With proper implementation? You're looking at 120-150 answered calls from the same list.

That's not theory - that's real data I've seen from clients who made the switch.

STIR/SHAKEN proves to phone carriers that you're legitimate. When your calls carry this authentication, they get treated like VIP communications instead of potential spam. The difference in performance is absolutely staggering.

The Federal Communications Commission isn't messing around with this either. They've made compliance mandatory, and carriers are cracking down hard on non-compliant calling.

Why Most People Get STIR and SHAKEN Wrong

Everyone throws these terms around like they're the same thing, but they're completely different pieces of technology.

STIR creates a digital fingerprint for your calls. Think of it like a tamper-proof seal that proves your identity. Scammers can't fake it, and carriers can verify it instantly.

SHAKEN is the rulebook that tells phone companies how to handle these fingerprints. It makes sure everyone across the industry follows the same standards.

Here's what matters: STIR does the heavy lifting of authentication, while SHAKEN makes sure it works everywhere your calls go.

The Attestation Levels That Control Your Destiny

This is where things get really interesting. Every call you make gets assigned an attestation level by your phone carrier. This level directly controls how many people answer your calls.

A-Level Attestation means your carrier has completely verified everything about you and your phone numbers. These calls get answered at rates that will blow your mind.

B-Level Attestation means they've verified you as a customer but haven't confirmed every detail about your number usage. Still much better than nothing.

C-Level Attestation is the bottom tier. Your carrier can't verify much about the call, so it gets treated accordingly.

I've seen companies improve their answer rates by 60% just by moving from C-level to A-level attestation. The difference is that dramatic.

Getting Your STIR/SHAKEN Certificate (The Right Way)

Here's where most people mess up. You can't just sign up for STIR/SHAKEN like you're opening a bank account. It requires serious preparation and the right approach.

Start with Your Provider Not all telecom providers are created equal when it comes to STIR/SHAKEN. Some treat it like an afterthought, while others have built their entire infrastructure around it. Choose wisely - your campaign results depend on it.

Document Everything Your provider is going to want proof of everything. Business licenses, phone number ownership documentation, details about your calling campaigns - the works. Companies that prepare this documentation upfront get certified faster and achieve higher attestation levels.

Verify Your Identity Completely Don't try to cut corners on identity verification. Providers are looking for any excuse to assign lower attestation levels, and incomplete verification gives them that excuse.

Clean Up Your Phone Numbers Every single number in your power dialer needs proper authorization. That number you borrowed from another department? That's going to hurt your attestation across all your campaigns. Clean it up before you apply.

Get Your Technology Right Your power dialer software needs to handle STIR/SHAKEN properly. Older systems often need updates or complete replacement. Budget for this upfront - trying to save money here will cost you in the long run.

The Real-World Results That Matter

Let me share some actual results I've witnessed from companies that implemented STIR/SHAKEN correctly:

A mortgage company in Texas saw their answer rates jump from 8% to 22% within 30 days of achieving A-level attestation. Same lists, same agents, same scripts - just verified calls.

An insurance agency in Florida reduced their blocked calls by 85% and improved their cost-per-lead by over 40%.

A debt collection company that was struggling with 3% answer rates is now consistently hitting 15-18%.

These aren't isolated cases. Proper STIR/SHAKEN implementation transforms campaign performance across every industry I work with.

Answer Rates Skyrocket Verified calls simply get answered more. Customers see trust indicators and pick up the phone instead of letting it go to voicemail.

Brand Recognition Improves Your caller ID becomes trusted and familiar. Customers start answering because they recognize you, not because they're curious about an unknown number.

Carrier Blocking Disappears Compliant calls sail through carrier spam filters that destroy non-compliant campaigns. You spend your time talking to prospects instead of fighting deliverability issues.

Regulatory Protection Full compliance shields you from FCC penalties that are getting more expensive and more frequent.

Customer Conversations Improve People answer verified calls with positive expectations instead of defensive suspicion. Your agents have better conversations and close more deals.

Implementation Strategy That Actually Works

I've helped dozens of companies implement STIR/SHAKEN, and there's a pattern to success.

Audit Everything First Look at your current calling infrastructure with fresh eyes. Identify every potential compliance issue before you start the certification process. Problems you ignore now will come back to haunt you later.

Upgrade Your Technology Strategically Your power dialer software is the foundation of everything. If it can't handle STIR/SHAKEN properly, nothing else matters. Invest in modern, compliant technology before you do anything else.

Train Everyone Involved Your agents, supervisors, IT staff, and management all need to understand what STIR/SHAKEN means for your business. Half-informed teams make mistakes that hurt attestation levels.

Monitor Performance Continuously Set up tracking for attestation levels, answer rates, and blocking rates. Problems in this space develop quickly, and early detection prevents disaster.

Stay Current with Changes Telecommunications regulations change constantly. What worked six months ago might not work today. Build ongoing education into your compliance strategy.

The SMS Connection You Can't Ignore

If you're running both voice and text campaigns (and you should be), you need 10DLC compliance for your SMS messages.

10DLC provides text message authentication similar to what STIR/SHAKEN does for voice calls. Companies that authenticate both communication channels see dramatically better engagement and conversion rates.

Your customers need to trust all your communications, not just your phone calls.

The Bottom Line

STIR/SHAKEN isn't coming - it's here. Companies that embrace it properly are dominating their markets while competitors struggle with blocked calls and suspicious customers.

I've watched businesses transform their entire sales operations just by implementing proper call authentication. The companies that act now gain a massive competitive advantage. Those that wait get left behind.

Your customers want to trust your calls. Give them a reason to answer the phone. Implement STIR/SHAKEN correctly, achieve A-level attestation consistently, and watch your power dialer campaigns deliver results you never thought possible.

The choice is simple: authenticate your calls and thrive, or ignore the technology and watch your answer rates continue declining. Smart operators know which path leads to success

Ready to Supercharge Your Calling Results with STIR/SHAKEN?

Don't let poor answer rates kill your campaigns. PowerDialer.ai delivers fully compliant STIR/SHAKEN authentication that transforms your outbound calling performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does STIR/SHAKEN really work for small businesses?

Absolutely. Small businesses often see the biggest improvements because they're starting from the worst position. A local contractor went from 6% to 19% answer rates just by getting proper authentication.

How much will this cost me?

Most carriers include basic compliance in their standard packages. Premium features might cost extra, but the ROI from improved answer rates pays for itself quickly. I've never seen a properly implemented system that didn't pay for itself within 90 days.

Can I do this myself?

The technical implementation requires your carrier, but you control most factors that determine your success. Proper preparation and documentation make the difference between A-level and C-level attestation.

How long before I see results?

Most companies see initial improvements within days of activation, with full benefits realized within 2-4 weeks. The timeframe depends on how well you've prepared and which carrier you're working with.

What if my current provider doesn't support it?

Find a new provider. Seriously. Staying with a carrier that doesn't prioritize STIR/SHAKEN is like trying to compete with a horse and buggy on the interstate.

Will this solve all my calling problems?

STIR/SHAKEN dramatically improves answer rates and reduces blocking, but it's not magic. You still need good lists, trained agents, and compelling offers. Think of it as removing a massive obstacle, not solving every challenge.

How do I know it's working?

Monitor your answer rates, attestation levels, and blocking rates. Most carriers provide reporting dashboards that show your authentication performance in real-time.