DNC (Do Not Call)

The DNC stands for Do Not Call list—part of a U.S. federal regulation designed to protect consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls. Businesses making outbound calls must comply with DNC regulations to avoid fines and legal issues.

? What is the Do Not Call (DNC) List?

• National DNC Registry: Managed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), it allows consumers to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls.

• Purpose: Prevent telemarketers from calling phone numbers that have been registered by consumers who don’t want sales calls.

• Scope: Applies to calls for sales or promotions—not to informational calls, political calls, or surveys.

? How to List and Comply with the DNC Registry

1. Register Your Organization

• Visit the National DNC Registry website: https://telemarketing.donotcall.gov

• Create a Telemarketer Account under your business or organization name.

2. Obtain a Subscription Account Number (SAN)

• Request access to area codes where you plan to call.

• You get five free area codes; more require a fee.

3. Download the DNC List

• Once approved, log in and download the list of registered phone numbers in your selected area codes.

• Integrate this list into your dialing system to suppress numbers on the list.

4. Update Your Call Lists Regularly

• You must scrub your call lists against the DNC registry every 31 days.

• Ensure your systems automatically block numbers that appear on the DNC list.

5. Maintain an Internal DNC List

• In addition to the national registry, maintain your own list of customers who’ve asked your organization directly not to be contacted again.

⚠️ Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Fines can reach $51,744 per call for violations.

• Applicable even if you're using third-party dialers or platforms—you’re still responsible.