SMS/MMS Messaging Policy
TCPA, CRTC, and 10DLC compliance requirements for business messaging services.
Policy Overview
This Messaging Policy outlines the requirements and responsibilities for using ReliaRing's SMS and MMS messaging services. As a business communications provider, ReliaRing is committed to ensuring compliance with all applicable telecommunications regulations, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) in the United States, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulations in Canada, and carrier requirements for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging.
Important: Failure to comply with this policy may result in immediate suspension of messaging services, account termination, and potential legal liability. You are solely responsible for ensuring your use of messaging services complies with all applicable laws and regulations.
Table of Contents
1. Definitions
"P2P" (Person-to-Person) means conversational messaging between individuals, typically characterized by two-way communication, manual sending, and personal relationship context.
"A2P" (Application-to-Person) means messages sent from an application or software to individuals, typically automated, one-way or bulk messages used for marketing, notifications, or alerts.
"TCPA" means the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, a United States federal law regulating telemarketing calls, auto-dialed calls, prerecorded calls, text messages, and unsolicited faxes.
"10DLC" means 10-Digit Long Code, a system for registering standard phone numbers for A2P messaging with carriers to ensure higher deliverability and compliance.
"CASL" means Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, which regulates commercial electronic messages including SMS and MMS.
"CEM" means Commercial Electronic Message, any electronic message that promotes or advertises a product, service, or organization.
"Toll-Free Verification" means the process of verifying toll-free numbers (8XX) for A2P messaging with carrier networks.
"Short Code" means a 5-6 digit phone number used for high-volume A2P messaging, requiring carrier approval and pre-registration.
2. Message Types (P2P vs A2P)
2.1 Person-to-Person (P2P) Messaging
P2P messaging is permitted on standard (unregistered) phone numbers when:
- Messages are conversational and manually sent by a human
- There is an existing business or personal relationship
- Volume is low (under 200 messages per day per number)
- Content is not promotional or marketing-related
- Replies are expected and monitored
2.2 Application-to-Person (A2P) Messaging
A2P messaging requires registration (10DLC, Toll-Free Verification, or Short Code) when:
- Messages are sent via automated systems or software
- Messages contain promotional or marketing content
- Messages are sent in bulk to multiple recipients
- Messages contain URLs, calls-to-action, or promotional codes
- Messages are one-way notifications without expected replies
2.3 Content Detection
ReliaRing automatically analyzes message content to detect potential A2P usage. Messages may be classified as A2P if they contain:
Marketing Keywords
sale, discount, offer, promo, buy, free, limited time, act now, deal, save
URLs & Links
https://, http://, bit.ly, or other shortened URLs
Calls-to-Action
click here, sign up, register now, learn more, call us
Promotional Codes
use code, promo code, coupon, discount code
3. Registration Requirements
3.1 10DLC Registration (United States)
10DLC registration is required for A2P messaging using standard 10-digit phone numbers in the United States.
3.2 Toll-Free Verification (US & Canada)
Toll-free numbers (8XX) require verification for A2P messaging. This provides higher throughput limits and better deliverability.
- -Submit business verification information
- -Provide use case description and sample messages
- -Verification typically takes 1-3 business days
- -Higher throughput than unverified numbers (up to 3 MPS)
3.3 Short Code Registration
Short codes (5-6 digit numbers) are required for high-volume A2P messaging campaigns.
- -Dedicated or shared short code options available
- -Requires carrier approval (8-12 weeks for dedicated codes)
- -Highest throughput available (up to 100 MPS)
- -Contact sales@reliaring.com for short code provisioning
4. Consent Requirements
4.1 Express Written Consent (Marketing)
For marketing and promotional messages, you MUST obtain express written consent that:
- Clearly identifies your business
- Describes the type of messages to be sent
- States that message and data rates may apply
- Provides instructions for opting out (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe")
- Is obtained BEFORE sending any marketing messages
4.2 Implied Consent (Transactional)
For transactional or informational messages, implied consent may be sufficient when:
- -There is an existing customer relationship
- -The message relates to a recent transaction or inquiry
- -The message is purely informational (order status, appointment reminders)
4.3 Opt-Out Requirements
You MUST honor opt-out requests immediately. Standard opt-out keywords include:
ReliaRing automatically processes these keywords and will block future messages to recipients who opt out.
5. Prohibited Content
The following content is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate service suspension:
6. Rate Limits & Throughput
| Registration Type | Daily Limit | Throughput (MPS) | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unregistered (P2P) | 200/day | 1 MPS | Conversational only |
| Toll-Free Verified | Unlimited | 3 MPS | A2P approved |
| 10DLC Standard | 2,000-10,000/day | 3-15 MPS | A2P (varies by trust score) |
| 10DLC Trusted | Unlimited | 60+ MPS | High-volume A2P |
| Short Code | Unlimited | 100+ MPS | Mass A2P campaigns |
MPS = Messages Per Second. Actual throughput may vary based on carrier conditions and content.
7. Auto-Responder Rules
7.1 Auto-Responder Requirements
Auto-responders that respond to ALL incoming messages are considered A2P and require registration. The following rules apply:
- -Keyword triggers: Allowed on unregistered numbers when responding only to specific keywords
- -After-hours responses: Allowed for business hours notifications
- -All-message triggers: Requires 10DLC or Toll-Free Verification
7.2 Rate Limiting
Auto-responders must implement rate limiting to prevent abuse:
- -Maximum 1 auto-response per recipient per hour (cooldown period)
- -Daily limits per phone number to prevent spam classification
- -Configurable business hours to avoid overnight responses
8. Shared Messaging Boxes
8.1 Team SMS Compliance
Shared messaging boxes allow multiple team members to send/receive SMS from a shared number. All members must acknowledge compliance requirements:
- P2P compliance acknowledgment required before sending
- Audit trail of all messages with sender identification
- Role-based permissions (send only, view only, admin)
8.2 Liability
The account owner is responsible for all messages sent through shared messaging boxes. Ensure all team members are trained on compliance requirements before granting access.
9. Compliance Acknowledgment
Before sending your first SMS message, you must acknowledge that you have read and agree to comply with:
- 1.This Messaging Policy and all applicable terms
- 2.TCPA requirements for United States recipients
- 3.CASL requirements for Canadian recipients
- 4.Carrier acceptable use policies
- 5.Registration requirements for A2P messaging
Your acknowledgment is logged with timestamp and IP address for compliance audit purposes.
10. Enforcement & Violations
10.1 Violation Consequences
10.2 Immediate Termination
The following violations result in immediate termination without warning:
- XSending prohibited SHAFT content
- XPhishing or fraudulent messaging
- XHigh complaint rates from carriers
- XIllegal activities or harassment
11. Contact Information
Compliance Team
Registration Assistance
For 10DLC, toll-free verification, and short code inquiries
Questions about this policy? Contact us at compliance@reliaring.com. We're here to help you navigate messaging compliance requirements.