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      Online SMS Compliance for United States

      SMS compliance is essential for ensuring your messages are delivered and not blocked by carriers. Here are the key SMS compliance laws and guidelines you need to know when sending text messages online with Notifyre's online SMS service.

      If you’re sending SMS through Notifyre in the United States, you must comply with federal laws like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), as well as Notifyre’s Acceptable Use of Service Policy. These rules are designed to protect consumers and keep your messages compliant.

      1. Get permission first: You need prior express written consent before sending marketing texts.
      2. Say who you are: Every message must clearly identify your business.
      3. Make opting out easy: Include a simple way for recipients to unsubscribe, like “Reply STOP to opt out.”
      Notifyre is committed to helping businesses communicate responsibly and lawfully. If you use our SMS services in the U.S., here are the key areas you need to know about:
      1. SMS Marketing & the TCPA:  Understand what qualifies as a commercial message, when you need prior express written consent, and what must be included in every SMS.
      2. Notifyre’s Acceptable Use Policy: Our policy outlines what you can and can’t use Notifyre for, including prohibitions on unsolicited messages, impersonation, and harmful content.
      3. 10DLC Compliance & The Campaign Registry: If you use a 10-digit long code (10DLC) number for business messaging, you must register your Brand and Campaign with The Campaign Registry (TCR).
      4. CTIA Messaging Principles & Best Practices: The CTIA's guidelines are enforced by carriers and align with TCPA rules.
      5. CAN-SPAM Act: Though primarily for email, the CAN-SPAM Act also applies to SMS sent via email gateways
      6. National Do Not Call Registry: Telemarketing texts to numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry are prohibited unless you have prior express written consent or an existing business relationship.
      7. Reassigned Numbers Database (RND): The Reassigned Numbers Database helps businesses avoid texting numbers that have been reassigned to a new user.

      SMS Marketing & the TCPA

      The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a U.S. law that protects people from receiving unwanted calls and texts. It makes sure businesses only send messages to people who have agreed to receive them.

      Does the TCPA apply to all business text messages or only commercial ones?

      The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) applies to most business text messages, but the level of consent required depends on the type of message:

      Commercial (Marketing) Messages

      These are texts that promote or advertise products, services, or deals, like: “Get 20% off your next order! Reply Stop”

      SMS Marketing messages require:

      1. Prior express written consent (e.g., opt-in checkbox or signed agreement).
      2. Consent must be specific to your business.
      3. You must include a clear opt-out option (e.g., “Reply STOP”).

      Informational Messages

      These are texts that provide updates or service-related info, like: “Your appointment is confirmed for 3 PM tomorrow. Reply Stop”

      Informational messages require:

      1. Prior express consent, which is less strict.
      2. This can be given when someone provides their phone number for a related purpose (e.g., booking an appointment).
      3. Still must honor opt-out requests.

      Notifyre’s Acceptable Use Policy

      We’re all about helping you send messages the right way. Our Acceptable Use of Service Policy explains what you can and can’t do with Notifyre, how to handle consent and unsubscribes, and the types of content we don’t allow. It takes just a few minutes to read and can save you hours of rework (and potential headaches) later.

      Read the full Acceptable Use of Service Policy

      What you should do when sending SMS with Notifyre

      1. Get and keep consent records: Know who said “yes” and when.
      2. Always identify yourself: Use your business name and include an unsubscribe option.
      3. Stay on top of opt-outs: Remove people quickly when they unsubscribe.
      4. Use Notifyre’s tools: Features like opt-out links and STOP keyword handling make compliance easy.

      What you can’t do with Notifyre

      1. No sending texts without permission: Always get consent first.
      2. No messaging people who opted out: If they said “stop,” respect it.
      3. No pretending to be someone else: Be clear about who you are.
      4. No harmful or offensive content: Keep it respectful and professional.
      5. No scams or illegal stuff: Fraud, phishing, or banned products are not allowed.

      10DLC Compliance & The Campaign Registry

      If you're sending text messages from your business using a regular 10-digit phone number (like a local mobile number), you're using what's called a 10DLC, short for 10-Digit Long Code.
      These numbers are great for reaching customers because they feel familiar and personal. But to keep SMS a safe and trusted channel, mobile carriers in the U.S. now require businesses to register their business and messaging activity.

      Registration is done through The Campaign Registry (TCR), a central system that helps carriers verify who’s sending messages and what they’re about.

      10DLC Registration Compliance with Notifyre

      Notifyre acts as an intermediary between you and The Campaign Registry. Once you’ve signed up:

      1. Register your brand/company: This tells carriers who you are and confirms you're a legitimate sender. Learn how to register a brand
      2. Register your SMS campaign/use case – This explains what kind of messages you’ll be sending, like alerts, promotions, or appointment reminders. It also needs you to prove how you've collected consent to send these types of messages to recipients. Learn how to register a campaign

      You can complete both registration steps directly within your Notifyre account. And if anything needs updating for compliance or approval, our team will work with you to make sure everything is in order.

      CTIA Messaging Principles & Best Practices

      The CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) sets industry best practices for SMS and MMS messaging in the U.S. While CTIA is not a government regulator, its guidelines are enforced by mobile carriers and align closely with federal laws like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

      Following CTIA’s principles is essential for businesses using SMS. Carriers use these standards to determine whether your messages are safe, compliant, and trustworthy. Failure to comply can result in:

      • Message blocking or filtering
      • Campaign denial
      • Numbers being flagged as spam or suspended
      • Damage to your brand reputation

      How to Stay CTIA Compliant

      1. Obtain Clear Consent

        1. Get express written consent before sending marketing messages.
        2. Use a clear call-to-action so customers know what they’re signing up for.
        3. Double opt-in is recommended: confirm consent with a follow-up message.

      2. Provide Easy Opt-Out

        • Include an opt-out option in every message, e.g. “Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
        • Honor opt-out requests immediately. (Notifyre will automatically unsubscribe users with these SMS Opt-Out Subscriber features)

      3. Identify Your Business

        • Clearly state your business name in every message.

      4. Follow Content Rules

        • Avoid SHAFT content: Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco.
        • Do not use misleading or deceptive language.

      5. Respect Privacy and Security

        • Maintain a clear privacy policy explaining data use.
        • Implement reasonable security measures and conduct regular audits.

      6. Manage Frequency and Timing

        • Disclose expected message frequency during opt-in.
        • Avoid sending messages during quiet hours (generally 8 AM–9 PM local time).

      For full details, review the official CTIA Messaging Principles and Best Practices Guide.

      CAN-SPAM Act and SMS Messaging

      The CAN-SPAM Act is a U.S. law originally designed to reduce email spam, but it also applies to text messages sent through email to SMS gateways (for example, when an email is converted into a text message).

      What does this mean for businesses sending SMS with Notifyre?

      If you send marketing messages via email to SMS you must follow CAN-SPAM rules. These rules require:

      • Honest and clear information: No misleading subject lines or content.
      • Business identification: Include your business name and a valid physical address.
      • Opt-out option: Every message must tell recipients how to unsubscribe (e.g., “Reply STOP” or a clear email link).
      • Quick action on opt-outs: You must honor unsubscribe requests promptly.

      Violating CAN-SPAM can lead to fines and damage your brand reputation.

      Do Not Call Registry and Text Messaging

      The National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry was created to stop unwanted telemarketing calls, but it also applies to marketing text messages.

      What does this mean for your business?

      • If a consumer’s number is on the DNC list, you cannot send them marketing texts unless they have given you clear, prior consent.
      • The FCC recently confirmed that DNC protections cover SMS messages, not just phone calls.

      How to stay compliant when sending SMS with Notifyre

      • Always get permission first: Before texting someone for marketing purposes, make sure you have their express written consent.
      • Keep your lists clean: Regularly check your contact list against the DNC Registry (at least every 31 days).
      • Honor opt-outs immediately: If someone unsubscribes or says “STOP,” you must stop sending messages right away.

      Ignoring these rules can lead to hefty fines and legal action, and your messages may be blocked by carriers.

      Reassigned Numbers Database (RND)

      The Reassigned Numbers Database is a tool created by the FCC to help businesses avoid texting the wrong person. Here’s why it matters:

      • Phone numbers get recycled: When someone cancels their phone service, their old number may be reassigned to a new person.
      • If you keep texting that number without knowing it’s been reassigned, you could accidentally send messages to someone who never gave you consent, which is a violation of TCPA rules

      How to use the RND to keep SMS messages compliant

      Before sending messages, businesses can check the database to see if a number has been reassigned. 

      Register with the RND here or learn more in Notifyre's Business Owner’s Guide to SMS Compliance and the RND

       

      This is general guidance, not legal advice. If you’re unsure how the rules apply to your specific use case, consider getting independent legal advice.