Overview
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted new rules that expand the industry’s responsibilities around blocking calls from Do-Not-Originate (DNO) numbers. A DNO list identifies numbers that should never be used to originate outbound calls—for example, inbound-only government hotlines or numbers associated with impersonation scams.
Historically, only gateway providers (U.S.-based intermediate providers that receive and pass along calls from foreign service providers) were required to block outbound calls originating from numbers on their own DNO lists.
Under the FCC’s new rules (FCC 25-15), all U.S. voice service providers in the call path must block calls that appear to originate from a number on a “reasonable DNO list.” These rules take effect on December 15, 2025.
What Is a DNO List?
A DNO list contains telephone numbers that should never place outbound calls. When a provider sees an outbound call that appears to be originating from one of these numbers, the provider is required to block it before it reaches the end user.
The FCC’s goal is to prevent a common scam pattern:
A bad actor spoofs a trusted inbound-only number—such as an IRS hotline or a bank’s customer-support line—and then blasts outbound calls pretending to be that legitimate institution.
DNO protection helps break this pattern by ensuring that these inbound-only and fraud-associated numbers cannot be used to originate calls.
What’s Changing?
Previously, only gateway providers were obligated to maintain and enforce DNO lists. Under the FCC’s updated rules, all U.S. voice service providers throughout the call path must block outbound calls that present a number appearing on a “reasonable DNO list.”
This obligation applies regardless of your position in the call path. If you are listed in the Robocall Mitigation Database as a voice service provider, gateway provider, or non-gateway intermediate provider — this rule applies to you.
What Counts as a “Reasonable DNO List”?
The FCC does not mandate a single centralized DNO list. Instead, providers must maintain and consult a DNO list covering four categories of numbers:
Invalid Numbers
Numbers that are not dialable under the North American Numbering Plan.
Example: numbers with invalid NPA-NXX formats.
Unallocated Numbers
Valid NANP numbers that have never been assigned to a provider.
Unused Numbers
Numbers that a provider has been allocated but has not yet assigned to an end user.
Numbers Requested for DNO Blocking
Inbound-only numbers that the owner of the number has requested be added to the DNO list
Inbound-only government numbers when the government entity has requested DNO protection
Private-sector inbound-only numbers used in impersonation scams, when the number owner requests blocking.
Providers may also include additional categories, as long as the overall list remains “reasonable” as defined in the Order.