SMS compliance
SMS compliance is the set of rules for US business texting, from two sources: 47 CFR 64.1200, the FCC's regulation under the TCPA, which is law, and CTIA's Messaging Principles and Best Practices, industry guidance the carriers apply. The regulation requires prior express written consent for marketing texts sent with an autodialer (64.1200(a)(2)) and honors opt-out by any reasonable method including "stop" (64.1200(a)(10)), read September 28, 2026.
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Check a draft text
This text is 118 characters in GSM-7: 1 segment, each billed as a message.
The checker reads the words of one text. Whether a campaign is lawful turns on facts no text shows, such as how consent was collected and recorded; the rules are quoted in full below.
What SMS compliance covers
SMS Comparison sets each US business texting rule beside the FCC or CTIA document that publishes it. SMS compliance covers three layers. The first is law: the TCPA is the statute and 47 CFR 64.1200 is the FCC's rule under it, covering consent, opt-out and sending hours. The second is carrier guidance: CTIA, the wireless trade association, publishes the Messaging Principles and Best Practices (May 2023 edition), which the carriers apply to traffic on their networks. The third is registration: A2P 10DLC registration is a separate carrier step, covered at 10DLC registration.
Consent and opt-out under the FCC rules
These rules are law. 47 CFR 64.1200(a)(2) bars any call to a wireless number "that includes or introduces an advertisement or constitutes telemarketing, using an automatic telephone dialing system" without "prior express written consent". The FCC's consumer guide states the split plainly: "Commercial texts require written consent; for informational texts, your consent may be oral."
Opt-out sits in 64.1200(a)(10): the recipient may revoke consent by any reasonable method that clearly expresses a desire not to receive further messages. Replies of "stop", "quit", "end", "revoke", "opt out", "cancel" or "unsubscribe" count, and the request is honored within 10 business days. One confirming text is allowed under 64.1200(a)(12) if it "merely confirms" the request; sent within five minutes it is presumed within the rule.
Sending hours: 64.1200(c)(1) bars telephone solicitation "before the hour of 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. (local time at the called party's location)", and 64.1200(e) applies that paragraph to text messages to wireless numbers. 64.1200(c)(2) bars solicitation to a number on the National Do Not Call Registry. One part of the opt-out rule is delayed: under Order DA 26-12, released January 6, 2026, the FCC delayed until January 31, 2027 the part that makes a revocation in reply to one type of informational message apply to all future messages.
What CTIA asks of the first text
These rules are industry guidance, published in CTIA's Messaging Principles and Best Practices, May 2023 edition. A call-to-action states the program or product description, the number or short code the messages come from, and the identity of the organization represented.
The opt-in confirmation for recurring messages contains five items: the program name or product description, customer care contact information, how to opt-out, a disclosure that the messages are recurring with their frequency, and "clear and conspicuous language about any associated fees or charges" and how they are billed. The SMS segment calculator counts how many parts a confirmation with these items takes. CTIA also states that senders honor opt-outs with one final confirmation and send nothing after it, and that senders do not use rented, sold or shared opt-in lists.
The rules, quoted
| Section | Law or guidance | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 64.1200(a)(1) and (a)(1)(iii)Federal Communications Commission (FCC) | Law | "(1) Except as provided in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, initiate any telephone call (other than a call made for emergency purposes or is made with the prior express consent of the called party) using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice; ... (iii) To any telephone number assigned to a paging service, cellular telephone service, specialized mobile radio service, or other radio common carrier service, or any service for which the called party is charged for the call." |
| 64.1200(a)(2)FCC | Law | "(2) Initiate, or cause to be initiated, any telephone call that includes or introduces an advertisement or constitutes telemarketing, using an automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial or prerecorded voice, to any of the lines or telephone numbers described in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section, other than a call made with the prior express written consent of the called party or the prior express consent of the called party when the call is made by or on behalf of a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, or a call that delivers a "health care" message made by, or on behalf of, a "covered entity" or its "business associate," as those terms are defined in the HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 CFR 160.103 ." |
| 64.1200(c)(1)FCC | Law | "(c) No person or entity shall initiate any telephone solicitation to: (1) Any residential telephone subscriber before the hour of 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. (local time at the called party's location), or" |
| 64.1200(e)FCC | Law | "(e) The rules set forth in paragraph (c) and (d) of this section are applicable to any person or entity making telephone solicitations or telemarketing calls or text messages to wireless telephone numbers to the extent described in the Commission's Report and Order, CG Docket No. 02-278, FCC 03-153, "Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991."" |
| 64.1200(c)(2)FCC | Law | "(2) A residential telephone subscriber who has registered his or her telephone number on the national do-not-call registry of persons who do not wish to receive telephone solicitations that is maintained by the Federal Government. Such do-not-call registrations must be honored indefinitely, or until the registration is cancelled by the consumer or the telephone number is removed by the database administrator." |
| 64.1200(a)(10)FCC | Law | "(10) A called party may revoke prior express consent, including prior express written consent, to receive calls or text messages made pursuant to paragraphs (a)(1) through (3) and (c)(2) of this section by using any reasonable method to clearly express a desire not to receive further calls or text messages from the caller or sender. Any revocation request made using an automated, interactive voice or key press-activated opt-out mechanism on a call; using the words "stop," "quit," "end," "revoke," "opt out," "cancel," or "unsubscribe" sent in reply to an incoming text message; or pursuant to a website or telephone number designated by the caller to process opt-out requests constitutes a reasonable means per se to revoke consent. ... If a reply to an incoming text message uses words other than "stop," "quit," "end," "revoke," "opt out," "cancel," or "unsubscribe," the caller must treat that reply text as a valid revocation request if a reasonable person would understand those words to have conveyed a request to revoke consent. Should the text initiator choose to use a texting protocol that does not allow reply texts, it must provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure on each text to the consumer that two-way texting is not available due to technical limitations of the texting protocol, and clearly and conspicuously provide on each text reasonable alternative ways to revoke consent. All requests to revoke prior express consent or prior express written consent made in any reasonable manner must be honored within a reasonable time not to exceed ten business days from receipt of such request. Callers or senders of text messages covered by paragraphs (a)(1) through (3) and (c)(2) of this section may not designate an exclusive means to request revocation of consent." |
| 64.1200(a)(12)FCC | Law | "(12) A one-time text message confirming a request to revoke consent from receiving any further calls or text messages does not violate paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section as long as the confirmation text merely confirms the text recipient's revocation request and does not include any marketing or promotional information, and is the only additional message sent to the called party after receipt of the revocation request. If the confirmation text is sent within five minutes of receipt, it will be presumed to fall within the consumer's prior express consent. If it takes longer, however, the sender will have to make a showing that such delay was reasonable. To the extent that the text recipient has consented to several categories of text messages from the text sender, the confirmation message may request clarification as to whether the revocation request was meant to encompass all such messages; the sender must cease all further texts for which consent is required absent further clarification that the recipient wishes to continue to receive certain text messages." |
| para. 1FCC, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau | Law | "In this Order, we extend the waiver of section 64.1200(a)(10) of the Commission's rules to the extent the rule requires callers to treat a request to revoke consent made by a called party in response to one type of informational message as applicable to all future robocalls and robotexts from that caller on unrelated matters. Specifically, we find that good cause exists to extend the effective date for this requirement until January 31, 2027, to allow sufficient time to review the record compiled in response to a recent Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and to avoid imposing potentially unnecessary compliance costs on affected parties." |
| RobotextsFCC, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau | Law | "FCC rules ban text messages sent to a mobile phone using an autodialer unless the phone owner previously gave consent to receive the message or the message is sent for emergency purposes. Commercial texts require written consent; for informational texts, your consent may be oral." |
| 5.1 Consumer ConsentCTIA | Guidance | "The messaging ecosystem should operate consistent with relevant laws and regulations, such as the TCPA and associated FCC regulations regarding Consumer consent for communications. Regardless of whether these rules apply and to maintain Consumer confidence in messaging services, Non-Consumer Message Senders are expected to: Obtain a Consumer's consent to receive messages generally; Obtain a Consumer's express written consent to specifically receive marketing messages; and Ensure that Consumers have the ability to revoke consent." |
| 5.1.1 Message Senders Should Provide Clear and Conspicuous Calls-to-ActionCTIA | Guidance | "A Call-to-Action should ensure that Consumers are aware of: (1) the program or product description; (2) the telephone number(s) or short code(s) from which messaging will originate; (3) the specific identity of the organization or individual being represented in the initial message; (4) clear and conspicuous language about opt-in and any associated fees or charges; and (5) other applicable terms and conditions (e.g., how to opt-out, customer care contact information, and any applicable privacy policy)." |
| 5.1.2 Consumer Opt-InCTIA | Guidance | "Message Senders should support opt-in mechanisms, and messages should be sent only after the Consumer has opted-in to receive them." |
| 5.1.2.1 Confirm Opt-In for Recurring MessagesCTIA | Guidance | "The confirmation message should include: (1) the program name or product description; (2) customer care contact information (e.g., a toll-free number, 10-digit telephone number, or HELP command instructions); (3) how to opt-out; (4) a disclosure that the messages are recurring and the frequency of the messaging; and (5) clear and conspicuous language about any associated fees or charges and how those charges will be billed." |
| 5.1.3 Consumer Opt-OutCTIA | Guidance | "Message Senders should acknowledge and honor all Consumer opt-out requests by sending one final opt-out confirmation message per campaign to notify the Consumer that they have opted-out successfully. No further messages should be sent following the confirmation message. Message Senders should state in the message how and what words effect an opt-out. Standardized "STOP" wording should be used for opt-out instructions, however opt-out requests with normal language (i.e., stop, end, unsubscribe, cancel, quit, "please opt me out") should also be read and acted upon by a Message Sender except where a specific word can result in unintentional opt-out. The validity of a Consumer opt-out should not be impacted by any de minimis variances in the Consumer opt-out response, such as capitalization, punctuation, or any letter-case sensitivities." |
| 5.1.4 Renting, Selling, or Sharing Opt-In ListsCTIA | Guidance | "Message Senders should not use opt-in lists that have been rented, sold, or shared to send messages. Message Senders should create and vet their own opt-in lists." |
| 3.3.3 Opt-InCTIA | Guidance | "Recurring-messages Short Code Programs should send a single opt-in confirmation message that displays information verifying the Consumer's enrollment in the identified Program. The opt-in confirmation message must be delivered immediately after the Consumer opts into the Program. ... Additionally, opt-in messages must contain the Program (brand) name or product description, customer care contact information, opt-out instructions, number of messages or recurring-messages Program disclosure, and with the exception of Free-to-End-User Programs, a "message and data rates may apply" disclosure." |
| 3.4 Customer CareCTIA | Guidance | "Short Code Programs should always respond to customer care requests, regardless of whether the requestor is subscribed to the Program. At a minimum, Message Senders must respond to messages containing the HELP keyword with the Program name and further information about how to contact the Message Sender." |
| 3.13 Free-to-End-User ProgramsCTIA | Guidance | "However, all FTEU Programs are exempt from displaying "message and data rates may apply" in advertisements, terms and conditions, and messages." |
| How To Report Spam Text MessagesFederal Trade Commission (FTC) | Guidance | "Copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM). This helps your wireless provider spot and block similar messages in the future." |
SMS compliance questions
Do short code programs follow different rules?
CTIA's Short Code Monitoring Handbook (v1.9) is the guideline. Its opt-in confirmation wording is "message and data rates may apply", and a short code answers HELP with the program name and sender contact. Short codes are covered at SMS short code.
When does one opt-out stop all future messages?
The part of 64.1200(a)(10) applying a revocation to all future message types is delayed until January 31, 2027, under FCC Order DA 26-12, released January 6, 2026.
Are free-to-end-user programs exempt from the fees disclosure?
Yes. The CTIA Short Code Monitoring Handbook (v1.9) exempts free-to-end-user programs from the "message and data rates may apply" disclosure.
Does the written consent rule cover informational texts?
Under the FCC's consumer guide, "for informational texts, your consent may be oral". The written consent rule in 64.1200(a)(2) covers texts that include an advertisement or constitute telemarketing.
What does the FTC say about spam texts?
The FTC's consumer advice is to forward spam texts to 7726 (SPAM).