In December 2018, the FCC announced a plan to create a reassigned number database. Callers would be able to scrub their number lists against this database in order to remove any numbers that have been reassigned to new users, thus decreasing the possibility of incurring Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) violations by calling these new users.
The FCC's long awaited reassigned number database has officially become a final rule. In December of last year, the FCC announced its intention to create this database, which will, "contain the most recent permanent disconnection date for toll free numbers and for each number allocated to or ported to each provider that receives North American Numbering Plan U.S.
As part of their continued effort to reduce illegal robocalls, specifically to reassigned numbers, the FCC issued a new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking last week. The purpose of the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is to seek comments on ways to address the reassigned numbers problem.
Are you a business-to-business marketer? If so, it is likely that your business has shown little concern for the TCPA and its consumer cell phone regulations. After all, you’re only seeking to solicit business on landlines which are exempt from DNC and TCPA. But in this era of rampant TCPA lawsuits, you should be as concerned as are business-to-consumer marketers.