DNC (Do Not Call) Compliance
DNC (Do Not Call) compliance refers to the legal requirement for businesses to avoid contacting consumers who have registered on federal, state, or internal Do Not Call lists. Violations carry fines up to $51,744 per call. For businesses running AI-powered outbound campaigns, automated DNC scrubbing is critical to maintaining legal compliance and protecting brand reputation.
What Is DNC Compliance?
DNC compliance is the practice of screening outbound call and text lists against federal and state Do Not Call registries before initiating contact. The Federal Trade Commission maintains the National Do Not Call Registry, and individual states maintain additional lists with varying rules. Businesses that fail to scrub their contact lists risk significant fines, lawsuits, and reputational damage. Platforms with built-in compliance infrastructure automate this process so that no prohibited contact is ever initiated.
How Automated DNC Scrubbing Differs From Manual Processes
Manual DNC management requires teams to download registry files, match them against call lists, and update records on a regular schedule. This approach is slow, error-prone, and difficult to scale. Automated DNC scrubbing transforms compliance into a real-time safeguard:
- Real-time list screening before every call or text is initiated, not just on a weekly or monthly schedule
- Automatic suppression of flagged numbers across all campaign channels simultaneously
- State-level registry compliance in addition to the federal list, covering jurisdictions with stricter rules
- Internal DNC list management that captures opt-out requests from live conversations and applies them instantly
Why DNC Compliance Matters for Business Owners
A single DNC violation can cost up to $51,744 in federal fines, and class-action lawsuits regularly result in settlements reaching millions of dollars. Beyond financial risk, contacting consumers on DNC lists erodes brand trust and can trigger carrier-level spam flags that reduce answer rates across all your campaigns. How confident are you that every number in your dialer has been scrubbed against current registries? Are opt-out requests from live calls being captured and applied immediately? Could a compliance gap expose your business to regulatory action?
How Plura Fits This Category
Plura's compliance engine performs real-time DNC scrubbing across every outbound interaction, whether initiated by AI agents or human operators. Key capabilities include:
- Real-time registry screening: Every number is checked against federal and state DNC lists before any call or text is placed
- Internal DNC management: Opt-out requests captured during AI conversations are applied instantly across all channels
- Audit trail documentation: Every scrub action is logged for regulatory review and legal protection
- Integrated compliance stack: DNC scrubbing works alongside TCPA monitoring, dialer controls, and consent management in a single platform
FAQs related to
DNC (Do Not Call) Compliance
What is the difference between the federal DNC list and state DNC lists?
The federal Do Not Call Registry is maintained by the FTC and applies nationwide. Many states maintain their own separate DNC lists with additional restrictions, shorter exemption periods, or different registration requirements. Businesses must comply with both federal and applicable state lists to avoid violations.
Does DNC compliance apply to AI-generated calls and texts?
Yes. DNC regulations apply regardless of whether the contact is initiated by a human agent or an AI system. Automated calls and texts face additional scrutiny under TCPA rules, making real-time DNC scrubbing even more critical for businesses using AI voice agents or automated SMS campaigns.
How often should DNC lists be updated?
The FTC updates the National DNC Registry monthly, but best practice is to scrub lists in real time before every outbound contact. Relying on periodic batch updates creates gaps where newly registered numbers can be contacted in violation. Enterprise platforms perform scrubbing at the moment of dialing to eliminate this risk.
What are the penalties for DNC violations?
Federal penalties can reach up to 51,744 dollars per violation, and state-level fines vary. Class-action lawsuits for systematic DNC violations regularly result in multi-million dollar settlements. Beyond fines, violations can trigger carrier-level spam flags that reduce answer rates across all your outbound campaigns.
How can I ensure my AI calling platform is DNC compliant?
Choose a platform that performs real-time DNC scrubbing against both federal and state registries before every contact, captures and applies opt-out requests instantly from live conversations, maintains a complete audit trail of all scrubbing actions, and integrates DNC compliance with broader TCPA and consent management safeguards.