By: Jeffrey Backman, Esq. and Roy Taub, Esq.
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) recently released its Biennial Report to Congress, covering Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, offering a comprehensive overview of the agency’s enforcement activities and consumer protection efforts.
Among the most notable findings for companies engaged in outbound calling, marketing, and lead generation is the sheer volume of consumer complaints related to telemarketing. According to the report, the FTC received more than 2.5 million telemarketing complaints in the last year alone, underscoring that unwanted calls and texts remain a persistent source of consumer frustration and regulatory scrutiny.
The report also reveals that the National Do-Not-Call Registry now contains more than 258 million registered telephone numbers, a staggering figure that highlights both widespread consumer awareness of the registry and the significant compliance obligations facing businesses that conduct telemarketing campaigns. With such a vast pool of presumptively protected numbers, the risk of inadvertent violations continues to grow for organizations that lack robust compliance systems.
The FTC emphasized that many of the complaints involved illegal robocalls, spoofed caller IDs, and calls placed without proper consent, all of which remain core enforcement priorities under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) and related regulations. The agency’s data reinforces a trend that practitioners have observed for years: even well-intentioned companies can face exposure if they rely on outdated calling lists, insufficient consent documentation, or third-party vendors that fail to follow TCPA requirements.
Importantly, the report signals that telemarketing enforcement is unlikely to slow. The FTC highlighted ongoing collaboration with state attorneys general and other federal agencies, as well as its continued use of litigation, civil penalties, and injunctive relief to combat unlawful calling practices.
For businesses, the takeaway is clear. As consumer complaints remain high and the Do-Not-Call Registry continues to expand, proactive compliance is essential. Companies should regularly scrub calling lists, confirm and document consent, monitor vendor practices, and stay current on evolving regulatory guidance.
The FTC’s Biennial Report serves as a reminder that telemarketing compliance remains a high-risk area and one that demands continued attention in 2026 and beyond.
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