FTC Update: Telemarketer Fees for the Do Not Call Registry Will Not Increase in FY 2016

The Federal Trade Commission has announced FY 2016 fees for telemarketers accessing phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry. The fees will not increase, and are set forth in a Federal Register notice.

All telemarketers calling consumers in the United States are required to download the numbers on the Do Not Call Registry to ensure they do not call those who have registered their phone numbers. The first five area codes are free, and organizations that are exempt from the Do Not Call rules, such as some charitable organizations, may obtain the entire list for free. Telemarketers must subscribe each year for access to the Registry numbers.

The access fees for the Registry will remain the same as last year based on a re-evaluation as required by the Do‑Not‑Call Registry Fee Extension Act of 2007. Under the Act’s provisions, telemarketers will pay $60 for access to Registry phone numbers in a single area code, up to a maximum charge of $16,482 for all area codes nationwide.

The Commission vote authorizing publication of the Federal Register notice announcing the new fees was 4-0. (FTC File No. P034305; the staff contact is Nicholas Mastrocinque, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202‑326‑3188.)

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.

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