Compliance guides
Messaging Compliance in the United States
SMS, WhatsApp, voice and RCS rules for businesses messaging customers in the United States.
Overview
Business texting in the US is shaped by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), CTIA messaging guidelines and carrier requirements such as 10DLC brand and campaign registration or toll-free verification. Marketing texts generally require prior express written consent and clear opt-out (STOP) handling; some states add their own rules.
The US has a patchwork of state privacy laws, including California's CCPA/CPRA, plus sector rules. Websites should include a clear privacy policy and honour opt-out requests where required.
Search competition in major US markets is intense, so local SEO (Google Business Profile, reviews, neighbourhood pages) and long-tail content are often the most efficient entry points.
WhatsApp is a major business channel in much of Latin America, while in the US and Canada it is used alongside SMS. Consent and data protection laws in each country apply to WhatsApp marketing.
Automated and prerecorded calls are tightly regulated in the US (TCPA and the National Do Not Call Registry) and Canada (CRTC Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules), and other countries in the region have their own registers and rules.
Advertising Rules
Advertising must follow FTC rules on truthful advertising and endorsements, including clear disclosure of influencer and sponsored content.
Guides by Channel
SMS in United States
Business texting in the US is shaped by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), CTIA messaging guidelines and carrier requirements such as 10DLC brand and campaign registration or toll-free verification.
Read the guide →WhatsApp in United States
WhatsApp is less dominant in the US than in India, but popular with many communities and international customers.
Read the guide →Voice Call in United States
The TCPA restricts autodialed and prerecorded calls, especially marketing calls to mobile numbers, which typically need prior express written consent.
Read the guide →RCS in United States
RCS business messaging is available on supported networks and devices in the US, including newer iPhones with RCS support, but sender verification and consent requirements still apply and SMS fallback remains important..
Read the guide →State Rules and Market Notes for the United States
Americans are heavy SMS users, and business texting is common for appointment reminders, delivery updates, two-factor codes and promotions, while WhatsApp is popular mainly in immigrant communities and for international contacts. Application-to-person texts sent from ordinary 10-digit numbers must be registered through 10DLC, the carriers' brand and campaign registration run through The Campaign Registry, and toll-free numbers need verification before sending at volume; unregistered traffic is filtered or blocked by carriers.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) requires prior express written consent for marketing texts and calls sent with automated systems, and statutory damages of $500 to $1,500 per message make class actions common. Since April 2025, FCC rules require businesses to honour opt-out requests made by any reasonable means, such as replying 'stop', 'quit' or 'unsubscribe', within ten business days. The National Do Not Call Registry applies to telemarketing calls, and several states, including Florida, Oklahoma, Maryland and Texas, have their own stricter texting laws and calling-hour limits. CTIA's messaging principles, which carriers enforce, expect clear programme descriptions, HELP and STOP keywords and message frequency disclosures.
Practical Details
Country code +1; time zone America/New_York; currency US dollar (USD).
Cities we cover in the United States
- New York
- Houston
- Dallas
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- Atlanta
- Seattle
- Edison
- Washington, D.C.
- Boston
- Phoenix
- Philadelphia
- Austin
- San Jose
- San Diego
- Denver
- Miami
- Orlando
- Charlotte
- Detroit
- Minneapolis
- Las Vegas
- San Antonio
- Fort Worth
- Plano
- Jacksonville
- Tampa
- Columbus
- Indianapolis
- Nashville
- Raleigh
- Sacramento
- Fremont
- Irvine
- Portland
- Salt Lake City
- Kansas City
- St. Louis
- Pittsburgh
- Baltimore
- Jersey City
- Cleveland
- Milwaukee
- Oklahoma City
- Louisville
- Honolulu
- Albuquerque
- Tucson
- Omaha
- Richmond
- New Orleans
- Memphis
- Buffalo
- Cincinnati
- Boise
- Des Moines
- Madison
- Spokane
- Tulsa
- Wichita
- El Paso
- Fresno
- Bakersfield
- Long Beach
- Oakland
- Scottsdale
- Mesa
- Durham
- Greenville
- Charleston
- Savannah
- Knoxville
- Chattanooga
- Lexington
- Grand Rapids
- Ann Arbor
- Rochester
- Hartford
- Providence
- Newark
- Stamford
- Princeton
- Sunnyvale
- Santa Clara
- Bellevue
General information, not legal advice, as of October 2026.
Compliance in the United States: FAQs
Which messaging channels need registration in the United States?
It depends on the channel. Sender IDs for SMS often need registration with operators or the regulator, WhatsApp requires a verified business account and approved templates, and RCS needs brand verification. Each channel guide explains the details.
Does data protection law apply to messaging in the United States?
The US has a patchwork of state privacy laws, including California's CCPA/CPRA, plus sector rules. Websites should include a clear privacy policy and honour opt-out requests where required.
Is this legal advice?
No. These guides are general information. For significant campaigns, take advice from a local lawyer.
Plan Compliant Campaigns in United States
Tell us what you need and we will get back to you, usually within one working day.
- Free requirement discussion
- Clear written quotation, in USD on request
- No long lock-in for most services
Prefer to talk? Call +91 88890 28885 or message us on WhatsApp.