Regulatory update: Maine’s RND Law

In an effort to further reduce robocalling, the Governor of Maine approved a new bill on March 25, 2024, requiring telephone solicitors to leverage the Reassigned Numbers Database (RND). Here is what you need to know.

Overview of the new rule

Evolving from the Act to Impede Robocalling initiated in June 2023, the new rule aims to make amendments to the law related to telephone solicitations requiring a telephone solicitor to use the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Reassigned Numbers Database to verify consumer telephone numbers have not been reassigned prior to initiating telephone sales calls to consumers.

Overall, the amendment accomplishes the original goals of the Act, while imposing stricter requirements on telemarketing solicitors in Maine, aiming to enhance consumer protection and reduce unwanted calls by ensuring calls are not made to reassigned numbers.  

This new law will take effect on July 16, 2024.

What this means for your business

1. Increased Compliance Burden: This new requirement for RND-use elevates the potential for penalties, fines, and audits due to non-compliance. 
2. Increased Processing Strain: The addition of RND includes yet another step in the data processing journey, potentially expanding process complexity and extra processing time to every impacted initiative. 
3. Additional Record Keeping Requirements: Record maintenance and documentation on the compliance process, including verifiable proof of RND checks, plus obligations to monitor and enforce compliance with established procedures will likely increase.
4. Increased Compliance Cost: Integration of the RND into the call initiation process may involve updating software systems and training staff on how to use the database effectively. Establishing and implementing written procedures, training staff, maintaining records, and monitoring compliance will likely involve additional costs; this could involve investment in technology, staff training programs, and administrative resources. 
5. Potential for Efficiency Gains: While there are upfront costs associated with compliance, using the RND should prevent calls to numbers that have been reassigned, reducing wasted call attempts and potentially improving the efficiency of telemarketing campaigns. 

How Gryphon can help

Certify compliance before outreach

Gryphon’s ONE platform is built for both phone and SMS/text channels, with overhauled SMS/text engines to account for new regulations. With Gryphon, you are able to certify calls/texts to comply with the new RND legislation before the June 16, 2024 effective date. 

Additionally, we offer client frequency controls for outreach and real-time established business relationships (EBR), as they are fully supported in the certification payload.  

Streamline consent management

Manage and track customer contact preferences using Gryphon’s exemption/consent management engine, which handles complex compliance requirements effortlessly. Gryphon supports features such as litigator/professional plaintiff list service dataset, lead recovery for reassigned numbers, EBRs, zip vs area code, and others.  Gryphon also enables real-time application of opt-outs via Web Service API layer and other methods.  

Let Gryphon help support your contact strategy with client frequency controls, and compliance with SMS/text short codes, to be in compliance by June 16, 2024 effective date. 

Gryphon ONE Platform

1. Revenue optimization: The ability to legally expand the marketing contact universe, by tapping into compliance areas currently over-suppressed and/or underutilized.  
2. Eliminate risk, not reach:   Lead recovery through internal Do Not Call (IDNC) expiration is a nightly hygiene process, removing telephone numbers 5+ years since last known effective date (or longer if mandated by state statutes). Initial recovery can be large, with new records reclaimed in perpetuity moving forward.  Lead recovery through RND can stand alone, or dovetail with IDNC Expiration, to further cleanse “changed ownership” records since last known effective date.   
3. Regulatory enforcement with speed & efficiency: Gryphon enforces regulatory compliance across internal and third-party entities for DNx/TCPA, data management, and other rules.  
4. Comprehensive logging, access & delivery: Gryphon ONE platform logs every event, providing transparency through dashboards, push reports, and other data exchange methods.  
5. Complexity management: As regulations evolve, Gryphon simplifies the complex landscape of jurisdiction-specific rules, ensuring adherence to protect brand reputation.  
6. Thought Leadership in compliance: Gryphon provides nearly 25 years of expertise in contact compliance, ensuring guidance across companies of all sizes.   

In a landscape where compliance is non-negotiable, Gryphon’s ONE platform stands as a robust solution to navigate the complexities of the Reassigned Numbers Database, offering unparalleled support for businesses aiming to protect their brand reputation and shareholders. 

If you are looking for a compliance solution to help with the ever-changing regulatory landscape, contact us today.

*This is a marketing blog and not intended nor should be interpreted as legal advice.