Telemarketers To Pay More As US Raises Do Not Call Registry Fees
WASHINGTON, DC- The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced higher fees for telemarketers accessing the National Do Not Call Registry, which contains telephone numbers of consumers who do not want to receive most marketing calls.
The revised charges will take effect on October 1, the beginning of the US government’s 2027 fiscal year.
Telemarketers will pay $85 to access numbers registered under a single telephone area code, an increase of $3 from the $82 fee charged during fiscal 2026.
The maximum annual payment for accessing all area codes across the United States will rise to $23,425 from the current nationwide maximum of $22,626.
Telemarketers seeking access to an additional area code for six months will pay $43, compared with $41 during fiscal 2026.
The FTC approved publication of the revised fee schedule in the Federal Register by a 2-0 vote.
The National Do Not Call Registry allows American consumers to register telephone numbers on which they do not want to receive most telemarketing calls. Telemarketers calling consumers in the United States are required to download numbers from the registry to identify and avoid numbers placed on the list.
Access to the first five area codes remains free, a provision that can reduce costs for businesses operating within a limited geographic market that do not require nationwide data.
Telemarketing organizations must renew their subscriptions every year to continue accessing the registered numbers.
Some organizations are exempt from paying the fee. The FTC said certain charities and political callers may obtain the entire registry without charge.
The fee announcement does not alter the categories of organizations eligible for free access. It is limited to setting the amounts that covered telemarketers must pay during the coming fiscal year.
The fee for one area code will increase by about 3.7 per cent, while the nationwide ceiling will rise by $799, or about 3.5 per cent. The revised half-year fee will increase by $2, or nearly 4.9 per cent.
The FTC did not announce any changes to the requirement that telemarketers check the registry before calling consumers.
The announcement covers telemarketing organizations subject to the registry’s requirements. The FTC separately encourages consumers to report fraud, scams and questionable business practices through its online reporting system.
The commission also warned that it will not demand money, make threats, direct consumers to transfer funds or promise them a prize. Such demands can be warning signs that a caller is impersonating the agency or attempting fraud.
The National Do Not Call Registry was established by the federal government in 2003. (IANS)
