Mississippi do not call list: what callers must know

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the Mississippi Do Not Call list and who runs it?

Mississippi has its own statewide Do Not Call program, created under Miss. Code Ann. § 77-3-701 through § 77-3-723. The Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC) administers the list. It operates alongside, not instead of, the federal National Do Not Call Registry that the FTC and FCC jointly enforce under 47 U.S.C. § 227 and the Telemarketing Sales Rule. ^[1][2]

So any telemarketer calling Mississippi phone numbers has to scrub against two separate lists: the state PSC list and the federal registry. Skip either one and that's a separate compliance failure with its own enforcement track. A lot of out-of-state callers forget the state layer entirely. They find out later, the hard way.

The PSC handles complaints, issues fines, and can refer egregious violators to the Attorney General. The federal side goes to the FTC and FCC, with private rights of action available to consumers under TCPA for certain violations. Both tracks can run at the same time.

How do Mississippi residents register for the state Do Not Call list?

Mississippi consumers can register a residential or wireless phone number with the state program through the Mississippi PSC. Registration is free. Numbers stay on the list indefinitely unless the consumer removes them, though the PSC may periodically purge numbers that are no longer in service. ^[1]

For the federal side, consumers register at donotcall.gov, the FTC-maintained registry. Registration there is also free and permanent, though numbers that get disconnected and reassigned can fall off the list after a period. ^[3]

You can register the same number on both lists at once. Do both. A business that checks only one list is still violating the other, so covering both closes the gap.

Want your cell phone covered? Register it on both lists. The federal list has covered wireless numbers since 2003. The state list also accepts wireless numbers. For more on how mobile phones interact with DNC rules, see mobile phone do not call list.

What are the registration and scrubbing requirements for telemarketers calling Mississippi?

Any person or entity making telephone solicitations to Mississippi residents must register with the Mississippi PSC before making calls. ^[1] The annual registration fee for telemarketers has historically been set by PSC rule, so verify the current amount directly with the PSC. Fee schedules change between rulemaking cycles.

After registering, telemarketers must purchase access to the Mississippi DNC list and scrub their call lists against it before each calling campaign. The federal standard under FTC rules requires scrubbing against the national registry at least every 31 days, and Mississippi's rules apply a comparable standard. ^[4] Calling a number that appears on the list, even by negligence, is a violation.

For the federal National Do Not Call Registry, businesses pay a fee based on area codes accessed. As of the FTC's current fee schedule, access to numbers in up to five area codes costs $79 per year; each additional area code beyond five costs $79. The first five area codes are free for small organizations. ^[3]

Build a clean scrubbing workflow. Check both lists, timestamp every scrub, and keep those records for at least four years. That's the simplest way to stay out of trouble. See how do i get the do not call list for a step-by-step on pulling the federal list.

What are the penalties for violating Mississippi's Do Not Call law?

Mississippi's statute allows civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day for violations of the state DNC program. ^[1] Each call to a registered number can be treated as a separate violation. That math gets ugly fast for any campaign that ignores the list.

On the federal side, the FTC can seek civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation (as of the 2024 inflation-adjusted figure) for violations of the Telemarketing Sales Rule. ^[5] The FCC enforces TCPA, which gives individual consumers the right to sue for $500 per negligent violation or $1,500 per knowing/willful violation under 47 U.S.C. § 227(c)(5). ^[2]

Private TCPA class actions are the dominant risk for most outbound sales teams. A single auto-dialed campaign that hits a few thousand DNC-registered numbers can generate a class with statutory damages in the millions. Courts have certified such classes repeatedly. The state fine mechanism is real, but the federal private right of action drives most lawsuit exposure.

Documenting every scrub is your best defense. Show that you checked the list and the number was not on it at the time of the call, and that safe harbor matters. The FTC's safe harbor under the TSR requires that callers access the registry no more than 31 days before the call and that the number was not on the list at that time. ^[4]

Which calls are exempt from Mississippi's Do Not Call rules?

Mississippi's statute, like most state DNC laws, carves out a set of calls that are not "telephone solicitations" and therefore do not require scrubbing or trigger DNC liability. ^[1] The major exemptions:

• Calls to persons with whom the caller has an established business relationship (EBR). Under both Mississippi law and federal rules, a prior purchase within the preceding 18 months or an inquiry within the preceding 3 months creates an EBR. ^[4]
• Calls made with the prior express written consent of the called party.
• Calls that are not commercial in nature, including political calls, charitable solicitations, and survey calls.
• Calls from businesses to their own current customers, within the EBR window.
• Calls to businesses (most DNC rules, state and federal, apply to residential and wireless consumer numbers, not B2B calls).

The political call exemption is one people often misunderstand. Political campaigns, ballot initiative groups, and PACs are broadly exempt from DNC restrictions, both under federal law and in Mississippi. That's a statutory carve-out, not a gray area.

Charitable solicitations are also exempt. But note that for-profit fundraising companies calling on behalf of charities are treated differently from the charity itself calling. The fundraiser's status matters.

None of these exemptions remove TCPA obligations around autodialing or prerecorded messages. Those requirements run on a separate track under 47 U.S.C. § 227(b) and apply regardless of DNC list status. ^[2]

How does Mississippi's list compare to the federal National Do Not Call Registry?

Here is a side-by-side of the key differences:

Feature	Mississippi State List	Federal National DNC Registry
Administering body	Mississippi PSC	FTC (with FCC enforcement for TCPA)
Consumer registration cost	Free	Free
Business/telemarketer registration	Required, fee by PSC rule	Area-code-based fee ($79/5 area codes)
Scrub frequency	At least every 31 days	At least every 31 days
Max penalty per violation	$10,000 (state civil)	$51,744 (FTC TSR); $1,500 TCPA (private suit)
Exemptions	EBR, consent, political, charitable	EBR, consent, political, charitable
Wireless numbers covered	Yes	Yes (since 2003)

The practical upshot: the federal registry is bigger, easier to access online, and the one most compliance software integrates with by default. But Mississippi enforces its own list independently. Don't assume checking the federal list covers you at the state level.

Other states run active state-level DNC programs too, including Florida, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. If your campaign spans multiple states, each state layer needs its own review. ^[6][7][8] You can compare how this plays out in florida do not call list, indiana do not call list, and do not call list pa.

What counts as a telephone solicitation under Mississippi law?

Mississippi Code § 77-3-703 defines "telephone solicitation" as a call made to a residential or wireless telephone number for the purpose of encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services. ^[1] That covers most outbound sales and lead generation calls.

The definition matters because it sets the scope of who must register and scrub. Pure customer service calls, collections calls, or B2B calls are generally outside the definition. The moment a call has any commercial solicitation purpose layered in, it likely falls inside it.

Texts and SMS messages are a related but separate question. Mississippi's telephone solicitation statute was written mostly around voice calls. The FCC, though, has consistently read TCPA to cover text messages as "calls" under 47 U.S.C. § 227(b). For SMS-specific compliance, the rules operate mostly at the federal level. ^[2] The do not call list overview covers how SMS and voice rules intersect.

One gray area: calls that start as surveys but end with a sales pitch. Regulators and courts have consistently held that a call framed as research but used to generate leads or make sales is a telephone solicitation. Structuring calls as "surveys" to dodge DNC rules is a known tactic. It's also a known enforcement target.

How do you file a Do Not Call complaint in Mississippi?

Mississippi residents who receive a violating call can file a complaint directly with the Mississippi PSC. The PSC's consumer affairs office handles DNC complaints and can start investigations. Document the date, time, calling number, and nature of the call before filing. ^[1]

For federal violations, complaints go to the FTC at donotcall.gov or through the FTC's complaint portal. The FCC also accepts TCPA-related complaints at fcc.gov. ^[3][9] Neither agency promises individual action on every complaint, but complaints feed the enforcement databases that trigger investigations and class action discovery.

Consumers can also hire a private attorney to sue under TCPA's private right of action, which is probably the fastest path to actual money. The $500/$1,500 per-call statutory damages provision makes individual suits viable against serious serial violators, and plaintiff's attorneys take these cases on contingency.

Businesses that receive a complaint should treat it as an audit trigger. Pull the call records, check the scrub logs for that number, verify consent documentation if any. The do not call list report guide walks through what enforcement agencies look for when a complaint escalates.

What should outbound sales teams do right now to comply with Mississippi DNC rules?

If you're calling into Mississippi and haven't checked your process lately, here's what actually matters:

First, confirm you're registered with the Mississippi PSC as a telemarketer if your calls qualify as telephone solicitations under state law. Registration before calling is mandatory, not optional.

Second, make sure your scrubbing workflow hits both the state list and the federal registry. Most compliance tools integrate the federal registry automatically. The state list is a manual add in many setups. Fix that gap.

Third, document every scrub. Your safe harbor depends on proving the number was not registered at the time of the call. A timestamp and a list version number are the minimum you need.

Fourth, audit your EBR records. If you're relying on established business relationships to call numbers that appear on either list, make sure you can prove the relationship date and that it falls within the 18-month or 3-month window as applicable.

LeadCompliant offers a free DNC checker and a one-time compliance kit that walks through the federal and state scrubbing setup step by step. That helps teams building this process from scratch without dedicated legal staff.

Fifth, train your team on exemptions. Reps who assume political calls or charitable calls are always exempt often apply that logic to commercial calls by accident. That's how violations happen.

For teams calling into multiple states, the state-law burden compounds. The do not call telemarketer list article covers the federal telemarketer registration process, which is the foundation everything else builds on.

Does Mississippi's Do Not Call law apply to texts and robocalls?

Mississippi's state DNC statute, centered on Miss. Code Ann. § 77-3-701 et seq., focuses on voice telephone solicitations. It does not have a separate robocall or autodialer provision the way TCPA does at the federal level. ^[1]

Robocalls and prerecorded messages into Mississippi are governed mostly by TCPA's 47 U.S.C. § 227(b), which requires prior express written consent before using an automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) or prerecorded voice to call mobile phones, regardless of DNC list status. ^[2] The FCC has issued multiple orders interpreting what qualifies as an ATDS, most recently reshaping the analysis after the D.C. Circuit's 2018 ACA International decision.

Texts to Mississippi numbers are "calls" under TCPA. The FCC confirmed this in its 2015 Declaratory Ruling and Order, stating that text messages are "calls" subject to the TCPA. ^[9] That means the consent requirements for texts match those for voice calls to cell phones.

Practically: if you're sending automated texts or using a predictive dialer to call Mississippi cell numbers, you need prior express written consent under TCPA even if the number is not on any DNC list. DNC registration and TCPA autodialer consent are two separate compliance tracks that both apply at once.

For how federal authority interacts with state rules, the government do not call list article covers the FTC/FCC division of authority in more detail.

How does Mississippi compare to other state DNC laws?

Most states either rely entirely on the federal registry or layer a state program on top of it. Mississippi is in the second group. Roughly 13 states maintain active state DNC lists with their own registration and enforcement mechanisms; the exact number shifts as state legislatures amend or defund programs. ^[10]

States with stronger or more actively enforced programs include Florida (enforced by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services), Indiana (the Indiana No Call List under the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission), and Pennsylvania (enforced by the PA Attorney General). ^[6][7][8]

New York City, for reference, does not run a separate municipal DNC list, though New York state has its own "Do Not Call" law enforced by the New York AG. NYC residents rely on the federal registry and state law rather than a city-specific program.

The practical advice for multi-state callers: don't assume one registration covers everything. Each state with its own list requires its own registration and its own scrub. Build a state-by-state compliance map and review it when you expand to new markets.

Mississippi's $10,000 per-violation cap sits in the mid-range of state penalties. Some states (Florida among them) have penalty structures that can exceed that on a per-call basis for willful violations, while others have lower caps. ^[6]

Where can you register for the Mississippi DNC list and get compliance help?

The Mississippi PSC website is the official source for telemarketer registration and consumer registration under the state program. The PSC's consumer affairs division handles both. ^[1]

For the federal National Do Not Call Registry, the FTC's donotcall.gov handles consumer registration, and the FTC's business portal handles paid access for businesses scrubbing call lists. ^[3]

If you're building a compliance process, the ftc do not call list article explains how to access and use the federal registry data. The dnc registry article covers how the registry database is structured and what the data looks like in practice.

For teams that need both the federal and state workflow documented in one place, LeadCompliant's free compliance kit includes a checklist for multi-state scrubbing setup, consent documentation templates, and a do not call list number reference for registration contact points. That's a reasonable starting point if you're setting this up without outside legal counsel.

One honest caveat throughout this guide: nothing here is legal advice, and Mississippi PSC rules can change through rulemaking without a legislative change. Before committing to a calling program in Mississippi, confirm current registration fees, scrub requirements, and enforcement priorities directly with the PSC or with a telecommunications attorney licensed in Mississippi.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add my number to the Mississippi Do Not Call list?

Mississippi residents register through the Mississippi PSC, which administers the state list. Registration is free. You should also register at donotcall.gov for the federal National Do Not Call Registry, which is separate. Registering on both gives you coverage under both state and federal enforcement. Your number stays on the list indefinitely unless you remove it or it's disconnected and reassigned.

How long does it take for a Mississippi DNC registration to take effect?

Federal rules require telemarketers to honor National DNC Registry registrations within 31 days of the registration date. Mississippi's state program applies a similar window, meaning you may still receive calls for up to 31 days after registering. After that window, calls from telemarketers without your consent or an established business relationship are violations subject to complaint.

Can businesses still call me in Mississippi if we have an existing relationship?

Yes. The established business relationship (EBR) exemption lets a company call you within 18 months of a purchase or transaction, or within 3 months of an inquiry you made to them, even if your number is on the DNC list. This applies under both Mississippi state law and federal TSR rules. The EBR expires after those windows, so it does not grant permanent permission to call.

Do political calls have to honor the Mississippi Do Not Call list?

No. Political calls are exempt from telephone solicitation rules under Mississippi law and federal law. Candidates, political parties, PACs, and ballot initiative campaigns can call registered DNC numbers. This exemption is written into the statute's definition of what counts as a telephone solicitation. It does not extend to commercial businesses using political messaging as a framing device to sell products.

What is the penalty for a company that calls my Mississippi number after I registered?

Under Mississippi's DNC statute, civil penalties can reach $10,000 per violation per day. Separately, under federal TCPA, you as the consumer can sue for $500 per negligent violation or $1,500 per willful violation. You would file a state complaint with the Mississippi PSC and a federal complaint with the FTC at donotcall.gov. You can also consult a private attorney about a TCPA lawsuit.

Does the Mississippi Do Not Call list cover cell phones?

Yes. Mississippi's state DNC program accepts wireless phone number registrations, and the federal National Do Not Call Registry has covered wireless numbers since 2003. Registering your cell phone on both lists gives you protection under both frameworks. TCPA also has independent autodialer and robocall consent requirements that apply to cell phones regardless of DNC list registration status.

Do I need to register as a telemarketer in Mississippi even if I'm only making a few calls?

The Mississippi PSC's registration requirement applies to any entity making telephone solicitations to Mississippi residents, regardless of call volume. There is no small-scale exemption written into the statute. If your calls qualify as telephone solicitations under Miss. Code Ann. § 77-3-703, you need to register before calling. Consult the PSC directly or a telecom attorney if you're unsure whether your specific activity triggers the definition.

How often do telemarketers have to scrub against the Mississippi DNC list?

At least every 31 days, consistent with the FTC's national standard under the Telemarketing Sales Rule. Calling a number that was on the list at the time of the call, even if you checked the list more than 31 days earlier, removes the safe harbor protection. The scrub date must be documented, because it's your evidence that the number was not on the list when you called.

What is the difference between the Mississippi DNC list and the national Do Not Call Registry?

The Mississippi list is administered by the Mississippi PSC under state statute and has separate registration, fee, and enforcement structures. The national registry is maintained by the FTC under the Telemarketing Sales Rule and TCPA. Both cover residential and wireless numbers. Both require scrubbing. Violations of each are handled by different agencies with different penalty structures. Checking only one does not cover you for the other.

Can I file a Do Not Call complaint in Mississippi online?

Yes. You can file a complaint with the Mississippi PSC through its consumer affairs office. For federal violations, the FTC accepts complaints at donotcall.gov and the FCC accepts TCPA complaints at fcc.gov. Document the date, time, calling number, and substance of the call before filing. Complaints to both agencies are logged and can contribute to enforcement investigations.

Does Mississippi's DNC law apply to text message marketing?

Mississippi's telephone solicitation statute focuses on voice calls. Text message marketing into Mississippi is primarily governed by TCPA at the federal level, which the FCC confirmed covers SMS messages as 'calls' under 47 U.S.C. § 227. You still need to scrub DNC lists for any commercial text campaign, and you need prior express written consent before sending auto-generated texts to cell phones regardless of DNC status.

Are there any free tools to check a number against the Mississippi DNC list?

The FTC's national registry has a business portal where companies pay to access and scrub lists. There is no free public lookup for the Mississippi state DNC list or the federal registry for commercial use. Consumer-facing tools can show whether a number is registered, but telemarketers must use the official access points. LeadCompliant offers a free DNC checker for federal registry lookups as a starting point for smaller teams.

If a number is on the Mississippi DNC list but not the federal list, is a call still a violation?

Yes. The two lists are independent. A number can be on one but not both. Calling a number registered on the Mississippi state list is a violation of Mississippi law regardless of its federal status, and vice versa. This is why compliance workflows must scrub against both lists separately, not assume one covers the other.

How does Mississippi's DNC law interact with TCPA for outbound sales teams?

They run on parallel tracks. Mississippi's DNC law covers who you can call based on list registration. TCPA under 47 U.S.C. § 227 covers how you can call, specifically governing autodialing, prerecorded messages, and consent requirements. A number not on any DNC list can still be protected by TCPA if it's a cell phone and you're using an autodialer without prior express written consent. Both layers apply simultaneously.

Sources

1. Mississippi Legislature, Miss. Code Ann. § 77-3-701 through § 77-3-723 (Telephone Solicitation Act): Mississippi's telephone solicitation statute, administered by the Mississippi PSC, with civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation per day and registration requirements for telemarketers
2. U.S. Code, 47 U.S.C. § 227 (Telephone Consumer Protection Act): TCPA private right of action for $500 per negligent violation and $1,500 per knowing/willful violation; autodialer and prerecorded message consent requirements for wireless numbers
3. Federal Trade Commission, National Do Not Call Registry (donotcall.gov): Free consumer registration; business access fee of $79 per year for up to five area codes with first five area codes free for small organizations
4. Federal Trade Commission, Telemarketing Sales Rule (16 CFR Part 310): Established business relationship windows (18 months for purchase, 3 months for inquiry); 31-day scrubbing requirement; safe harbor conditions for callers who checked the registry before calling
5. Federal Trade Commission, Civil Penalty Adjustments for Inflation: FTC civil penalties up to $51,744 per violation of the Telemarketing Sales Rule as of the 2024 inflation-adjusted figure
6. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Do Not Call Program: Florida maintains an independent state DNC list administered by FDACS with separate registration and enforcement
7. Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Indiana No Call List: Indiana maintains its own No Call list administered by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
8. Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania Do Not Call Registry: Pennsylvania enforces its own DNC registry through the Attorney General's office
9. National Conference of State Legislatures, State Telemarketing Laws: Approximately 13 states maintain active state-level DNC lists with independent registration and enforcement mechanisms beyond the federal registry