Communication has come a long way over the years – from smoke signals to telegraphs, and then from telephones to mobile devices. With text messaging being the most widely used form of communication in the world, it has become important for businesses to meet texting compliance standards. In 2023, the Federal Communications Commission will implement new texting rules that will introduce major changes and have a substantial impact on businesses. As such, it’s important to understand what these changes are and how they’ll affect your business. In this blog post, we’ll explore the 2023 compliant texting rules and what they mean for businesses.
Opt-in and Opt-out Options
One of the major changes that the new texting rules will introduce is how businesses obtain opt-in consent from customers. Currently, companies can send text messages without permission to customers who have provided their phone numbers. However, under the new rules, businesses must obtain opt-in consent from customers before sending text messages. Moreover, customers can also opt out of text messaging at any time, and businesses must respect the requests to stop texting.
Frequency of Messaging
The new texting rules also limit the number of text messages that businesses can send to customers within a 24-hour period. Businesses can send one text message immediately after the opt-in process, and then only three messages per week at the maximum. Furthermore, businesses can’t text customers between 9.00 pm and 8.00 am, according to the new rules.
Disclosure of Terms and Conditions
Another new rule required by the FCC is that businesses must notify their customers about text messaging terms and conditions. This means that businesses must give customers written information on how to opt out (i.e., to stop receiving text messages) and the types of messages they will be receiving.
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
The 2023 compliant texting rules also require businesses to maintain the security of personal information like names and phone numbers communicated through texts. Companies are required to keep a record of all consent forms and should make them accessible upon request by customers or authorities. Businesses are also accountable for the security of plaintext elements, which is crucial to ensuring secure communication with clients and avoiding the exposure of sensitive information.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The FCC is taking the 2023 texting rules very seriously. Businesses that fail to comply with these rules will face hefty fines and legal action. For example, businesses that send texts to customers without consent may be required to pay up to $1,500 per message in penalties. Therefore, businesses must ensure that they are complying with these new rules to avoid any fines or other penalties.
The new 2023 compliant texting rules will significantly impact the communication strategies of modern businesses. Businesses must ensure that they are following these new rules to avoid any legal action and penalties. Furthermore, the importance of complying with these rules goes beyond avoiding penalties as it signifies loyalty and professionalism. These rules align with the best practices that businesses should be adopting to safeguard their clients’ privacy and personal information, which should be paramount to any company that values trust and customer satisfaction. The implementation of these rules ensures that businesses only use text communication with clients who have willingly given consent, preserving their peace of mind and privacy rights. By complying with these rules, businesses can benefit from this highly efficient marketing channel while remaining agile and adherent to the new requirements.
