RCS Compliance in the United States

Key Rules for RCS in the 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.

RCS availability in the Americas varies by carrier and device; consent rules that apply to SMS marketing generally apply to RCS too.

Practical Checklist

• Verify your brand with the RCS provider and keep the sender profile accurate.
• Confirm device and operator coverage for the country and configure SMS fallback.
• Apply the same consent rules you use for SMS marketing to promotional RCS.
• Keep suggested replies meaningful and do not hide key terms inside images.
• Track opt-outs and suppress those numbers on both RCS and SMS.

Contact data

Format numbers in international E.164 format with the +1 country code, remove duplicates and invalid numbers, and keep consent records linked to each number.

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.

Advertising Alongside Messaging

Advertising must follow FTC rules on truthful advertising and endorsements, including clear disclosure of influencer and sponsored content.

This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects our understanding as of October 2026. Rules change, so we check current requirements for the United States before every launch.