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TCPA Compliance Basics
What TCPA Requires
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) governs automated business-to-consumer text messaging in the United States. For business SMS, TCPA requires:
- Express written consent before sending any marketing or promotional SMS
- Clear opt-in disclosure at the point of consent — the contact must know they are agreeing to receive texts
- Immediate opt-out processing — STOP, QUIT, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE must result in immediate suppression
- Business hours messaging — generally 8am–9pm local time for the recipient
Getting Consent
Every TextingOnly opt-in method — QR code, SmartLink, Text Us button — results in the contact actively sending a text message to your number. This inbound opt-in is generally considered express consent for the specific conversation triggered. For outbound campaign messaging, you need documented express written consent before adding contacts to campaign lists.
Handling Opt-Outs
TextingOnly automatically processes STOP opt-outs. When a contact texts STOP to your number, they are immediately suppressed from all outbound campaigns. OTTO will not send them any further automated messages. The suppression is recorded in their contact record with a timestamp.
TextingOnly Compliance Tools
- Automatic STOP processing — no manual action required
- Opt-in timestamp recorded for each contact
- Entry point source recorded — shows how each contact opted in
- 10DLC registration workflow built into the platform
- Agency Shield — compliance isolation between client accounts for agency users