Does Tennessee have its own Do Not Call list?

Yes. Tennessee maintains its own Do Not Call registry separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC) administers it. Telemarketers calling into Tennessee must scrub against both the state list and the federal registry.

How do I register my phone number on the Tennessee Do Not Call list?

Register at https://www.tn.gov/tpuc/tennessee-do-not-call-program.html. Registration is administered by Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC) and is permanent. You should also register on the federal National DNC Registry at donotcall.gov for full protection.

Is the Tennessee Do Not Call registry free?

Consumer registration is free in every state. Telemarketers pay $500 for access to the list. You never pay to add your number.

Does the Tennessee DNC list cover cell phones?

Yes. Cell phones are covered. The federal registry has accepted cell phone numbers since inception. The Tennessee state list also covers mobile numbers. You can register any personal number — landline or wireless — to block telemarketing calls.

Does it cover text messages?

Yes — the Tennessee registry expressly covers text messages. Telemarketing texts to a registered number are violations on the same footing as voice calls.

What is the penalty for calling a registered Tennessee number?

Federal TCPA: $500 per call ($1,500 willful). FTC TSR penalties up to $51,744 per call. Tennessee state penalty: $10,000 per call — and you can sue the telemarketer directly under the state private right of action.

What do I do when telemarketers call after I registered?

Three steps. (1) Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list — that triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation. (2) File a complaint at donotcall.gov. (3) Document the call (date, time, number, company, what was offered). In Tennessee you have a private right of action — you can sue the telemarketer in small claims or state court.

Is registration permanent?

Yes. Federal registration is permanent — once your number is on the list, it stays until you remove it or disconnect the line. Tennessee state registration is also permanent.

Home / States / Tennessee

Tennessee Telecom Compliance Guide

Telecom Compliance Reference — Updated January 2023

Mini-TCPA State — High Risk

Calling Hours

8:00 AM–9:00 PM

Min Penalty

$10,000

Registration

Required

Overview Calling Hours Consent Registration DNC Compliance DNC Registry Enforcement Case Law Legislation

Tennessee Do Not Call Registry

How to register, what it covers, and how to enforce — 2026

Tennessee runs its own DNC registry

Tennessee maintains its own Do Not Call list separate from the federal National DNC Registry. Consumers should register on both lists for full protection.

Telemarketers calling into Tennessee must scrub their lists against the state registry AND the federal registry before each campaign. Scrubbing only the federal list is not enough.

How to register your number

Tennessee State Registry

Tennessee Do Not Call / Do Not Text Register

Administered by Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC)

https://www.tn.gov/tpuc/tennessee-do-not-call-program.html →

Federal National DNC Registry

donotcall.gov

Administered by the Federal Trade Commission. Free, permanent, covers landlines and cell phones in every state.

How long it takes effect

Federal: 31 days for telemarketers to scrub against your number. State registries vary — most align with the federal 31-day window. Reputable telemarketers stop calling within a week. Bad actors keep calling and rack up violations.

What the registry covers

Landlines

Yes

Cell phones

Yes

Text messages

Yes

What it blocks: Telemarketing sales calls and texts. Calls trying to sell you something.

What it does NOT block: Political calls, charitable solicitations, calls from companies you have a current business relationship with (within 18 months of last purchase / 3 months of inquiry), debt collectors, surveys, and informational calls.

Robocalls and AI voice: Already restricted by TCPA regardless of registration. Adding your number to the DNC list adds an extra layer of liability for callers.

Tennessee state list — details

Telemarketer access fee$500

Scrub frequencyMust scrub against the Tennessee DNC/DNT Register AND the federal NDNC. The Tennessee register is a SEPARATE list from the federal registry. Telemarketers must update their lists each time they receive a new copy of the register.

Consumer registrationPermanent

Governing statuteTenn. Code § 47-18-1501 et seq. (Tennessee Telephone Solicitation Act)

Tennessee maintains a SEPARATE state Do Not Call / Do Not Text Register administered by the TPUC since 1999. Amended in 2023 to include text messages (T.C.A. § 65-4-401 et seq.). Annual registration fee: $500, due May 1st each year (covers July 1st forward). The law applies to all solicitation calls/texts terminating in Tennessee. Consumer registration is free for residential subscribers (business numbers excluded; personal cell phones allowed). Exemptions: consumer permission, nonprofits (member callers), transactions within past 12 months, occasional telemarketing (max 3 random calls/week), political campaigns. Penalties: up to $2,000 per incident. Autodialing-specific registration may be required. Enforcement: TPUC Consumer Services Division.

What to do when telemarketers call after you registered

Tell the caller to put you on their internal do-not-call list. That triggers a separate 30-day cure obligation under federal law. If they call again after 30 days, that is an independent violation.
File a federal complaint at donotcall.gov/report. The FTC tracks these and pursues serial offenders.
Document the call. Date, time, number that called, company name, what they were selling. Screenshot or save voicemails. This is the evidence you need if you sue or file a state complaint.
Sue the telemarketer in Tennessee. Tennessee has a private right of action — you can recover $10,000 per call without proving actual damages. Federal TCPA adds another $500–$1,500 per call. File a complaint here →

Recent Tennessee DNC enforcement actions

Volunteer State Insurance Leads

insurance

Jan 2024

$425,000 penalty

TN AG major settlement for illegal insurance lead generation calls.

Calling a registered Tennessee number costs telemarketers: $10,000 per call under state law, plus $500–$1,500 per call under federal TCPA. Consumers can sue directly — no state agency involvement required.

Running a telemarketing operation?

This page is for consumers and Tennessee residents. If you operate outbound calls into Tennessee, the compliance scrub workflow is documented separately.

Tennessee DNC compliance for telemarketers →

Compare DNC Registry across states

Federal TCPA is the floor. Each state can — and many do — go further.

DNC Registry in FloridaFL DNC Registry in CaliforniaCA DNC Registry in TexasTX DNC Registry in New YorkNY DNC Registry in IllinoisIL DNC Registry in GeorgiaGA DNC Registry in WashingtonWA DNC Registry in OklahomaOK

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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 →