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Massachusetts

MA

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2020

Private Right of Action

Calling Hours

8:00 AM9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$5,000

Registration

Required

Massachusetts Do-Not-Call List

State DNC registry requirements for Massachusetts

Massachusetts Has Its Own DNC List

You must scrub against BOTH the federal National DNC Registry AND the Massachusetts state DNC list before making calls in this state. Scrubbing only the federal list is not sufficient.

Massachusetts Do Not Call Registry

Maintained ByMassachusetts Division of Telecommunications and Cable (DTC); list subscription through designated vendor
Subscription Fee$1,100
Scrub Frequency RequiredRegistry is updated quarterly. Telemarketers must subscribe and remove all names received quarterly from their call lists. Must also scrub against federal NDNC at least every 31 days.
Registration PermanentYes — once registered, stays on list

Covers

LandlinesCell Phones
Download FormatRegistry data delivered to subscribers after payment of annual fee. Quarterly updates provided.

Massachusetts maintains its own state Do Not Call Registry. The annual subscription fee for telemarketers to receive the registry is $1,100 (plus $60 for CD delivery). The registry is updated quarterly and companies must scrub against each update. Consumer registration is free and permanent. Telemarketers must also maintain their own company-specific DNC list and honor it for at least 5 years. Penalties: up to $5,000 per violation; intentional violations can result in criminal charges and fines up to $10,000 per violation. Exemptions: political polls/fundraising, established business relationships (until consumer opts out), debt collection, and calls to existing customers. Subscription line: toll-free (866) 339-1475.

Federal National DNC Registry (Always Required)

Scrub FrequencyEvery 31 days (minimum)
Free AccessUp to 5 area codes
Full Access$75 / 5 area codes / year

You must scrub the federal list regardless of whether Massachusetts has its own list. There is no opt-out from federal DNC compliance.

DNC Scrub Checklist

Subscribe to the National DNC Registry (telemarketing.donotcall.gov)
Subscribe to the Massachusetts state DNC list
Scrub your call list against both registries before each campaign
Re-scrub every 31 days (federal requirement) — more often if state requires
Maintain your own internal DNC list for opt-outs
Honor internal opt-out requests within 30 days
Document all scrub dates and list versions used
Calling a DNC-registered number in Massachusetts: $5,000 per call. The consumer can sue you directly — no AG required.

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This is a compliance reference tool, not legal advice. Data compiled from public statutes, LegiScan, CourtListener, state AG offices, and AI-assisted analysis. Verify all information with qualified counsel before relying on it. Full terms & data sources →