EBR (Established Business Relationship)

A TCPA exception that permits limited outreach to consumers based on prior transactions or inquiries.

An Established Business Relationship (EBR) under the TCPA permits a business to make telemarketing calls to a consumer's residential phone — even if that consumer is on the Do Not Call Registry — for a limited time after a prior transaction or inquiry.

The two EBR windows

• Purchase EBR: 18 months from the date of any purchase by the consumer. Permits telemarketing follow-up on residential numbers during that window.
• Inquiry EBR: 3 months from the date the consumer made an inquiry to the business. Permits limited follow-up on residential lines.

What EBR does NOT permit

EBR does not override PEWC requirements for autodialed calls or prerecorded voice to cell phones. The TCPA's cell-phone restrictions are separate from the EBR exception. EBR mostly matters for residential-landline telemarketing — which is a shrinking surface in modern lead generation.

State-level differences

State telemarketing laws sometimes shorten or eliminate EBR windows. Check FL, IN, MO, OK, and TX for stricter rules. The 18-month / 3-month windows are federal floors; states can override downward.