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

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.