Federal Messaging Law and Regulation
A source-linked guide to federal law and how this authority layer fits into U.S. A2P messaging programs.
What this authority layer covers
The federal statutes and regulations that form the national legal baseline for U.S. A2P text messaging.
Authorities and official sources
Each entry explains what the source says, where its limits are, and what it does not establish.
Federal law · Current
Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227
How this authority relates to messaging
This source is part of the national legal baseline for U.S. messaging programs.
What the source establishes
- The TCPA is the core federal authority for autodialed or prerecorded calls and texts and supplies consent, do-not-call, and private-action rules.
Limits and important context
- Operational controls include consent design, dialing and texting restrictions, do-not-call compliance, damages exposure, and vendor oversight.
- Section 227(b) text coverage remains comparatively settled; section 227(c)(5) text-based private actions are subject to a circuit split, including the Seventh Circuit limitation stated in Steidinger.
Official and supporting sources
Source and review details
- Jurisdiction
- United States federal
- Source type
- Federal law
- Current status
- Current
Federal regulation · Current
47 C.F.R. § 64.1200
How this authority relates to messaging
This source is part of the national legal baseline for U.S. messaging programs.
What the source establishes
- The FCC rule implements TCPA delivery, consent, do-not-call, internal-procedure, opt-out, timing, and recordkeeping requirements, including text-specific provisions.
Limits and important context
- Apply the rule to consent, quiet hours, internal do-not-call procedures, revocation and opt-out handling, and required records.
Official and supporting sources
Source and review details
- Jurisdiction
- United States federal
- Source type
- Federal regulation
- Current status
- Current
Federal regulation · Current
Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 310
How this authority relates to messaging
This source is part of the national legal baseline for U.S. messaging programs.
What the source establishes
- The Telemarketing Sales Rule governs disclosures, misrepresentations, calling times, do-not-call compliance, registry access, and recordkeeping for covered telemarketing.
Limits and important context
- Material to promotional messaging programs when the communication is part of covered telemarketing or lead-generation activity; the TCPA remains the primary federal SMS framework.
Official and supporting sources
Source and review details
- Jurisdiction
- United States federal
- Source type
- Federal regulation
- Current status
- Current
Federal law · Current
CAN-SPAM Act mobile and commercial electronic message layer
How this authority relates to messaging
This source is part of the national legal baseline for U.S. messaging programs.
What the source establishes
- CAN-SPAM supplies a secondary federal layer for specified mobile-service commercial messages and deceptive sender, routing, and header practices.
Limits and important context
- This authority is supplemental rather than the primary consent framework for ordinary SMS/MMS programs.
Official and supporting sources
Source and review details
- Jurisdiction
- United States federal
- Source type
- Federal law
- Current status
- Current
Federal law · Current
FTC Act Section 5
How this authority relates to messaging
This source is part of the national legal baseline for U.S. messaging programs.
What the source establishes
- FTC Act Section 5 reaches unfair or deceptive practices involving consent claims, lead forms, data-use representations, transactional labeling, and dark patterns.
Limits and important context
- Maintain truthful disclosures, substantiated consent evidence, lead-source controls, and vendor oversight.
Official and supporting sources
Source and review details
- Jurisdiction
- United States federal
- Source type
- Federal law
- Current status
- Current
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