Washington: The US Federal Trade Commission has increased the fees paid by telemarketing firms to access the National Do Not Call Registry, effective October 1, the start of the federal government’s 2027 fiscal year.
Under the revised rate structure, telemarketers will have to pay $85 annually for access to consumer numbers listed under one telephone area code. The charge is $3 higher than the $82 fee applicable in fiscal 2026.
The cost of obtaining access to the registry across all US area codes will rise to a maximum of $23,425 a year, up from the current cap of $22,626. The FTC has also set the six-month fee for access to an additional area code at $43, compared with $41 during the current fiscal year.
The commission voted 2-0 to approve publication of the updated charges in the Federal Register.
The National Do Not Call Registry enables consumers in the United States to list phone numbers on which they do not wish to receive most telemarketing calls. Companies covered by the rules are required to download the registry data and avoid calling numbers listed in it.
Businesses can continue to access information covering up to five area codes without charge. The provision is intended to support telemarketers operating only in limited geographic regions.
Telemarketing companies must renew their subscriptions annually to retain access to the registry. Certain organisations, including eligible charities and political callers, may obtain access to the complete database without paying a fee.
The FTC said the revised notification only changes the subscription charges for covered telemarketers and does not alter the eligibility rules for free access. It also leaves unchanged the requirement for telemarketing firms to screen their calling lists against the registry.
The annual fee for a single area code has increased by around 3.7 per cent, while the national subscription cap has risen by $799, or approximately 3.5 per cent. The half-year fee for an additional area code is up by $2, marking an increase of nearly 4.9 per cent.
The registry, established in 2003, is aimed at preventing unwanted marketing calls to consumers who have opted out of receiving them.
The FTC also advised consumers to report scams, fraud and suspicious business practices through its online reporting platform. It said the agency does not ask people to send money, threaten them, direct them to transfer funds or promise prizes, warning that such calls could be attempts to impersonate the commission.
(Inputs from IANS)