🏛️ Federal Laws
- TCPA – The Telephone Consumer Protection Act regulates consent, autodialers, and calling hours. Prior express written consent is required for marketing calls or texts to cell phones. Prerecorded or artificial-voice messages must clearly identify the caller and offer an opt‑out. Fines range from 1,500 per violation.
- CAN-SPAM – Although best known for email, CAN-SPAM governs commercial SMS as well. Messages must accurately identify the sender, include a physical mailing address, and provide an easy way to opt out. Violations can lead to FTC enforcement actions.
- FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule – Covers disclosures at the start of a call, prohibits deceptive practices, and enforces the National Do Not Call Registry. It also sets payment restrictions for certain goods and services.
- FCC regulations – Define what qualifies as an autodialer and outline robocall rules. The FCC also oversees caller ID requirements and the STIR/SHAKEN framework to reduce spoofing.
- Other federal obligations – Industries that handle personal or financial information may also fall under HIPAA, GLBA, or similar laws that specify how data can be shared.
- Record keeping – Many federal rules require detailed logs of consent, call attempts, and opt-out requests that must be retained for years.
🗺️ State Regulations
Nearly every state layers additional restrictions on top of federal law. These include:- Varying quiet hours beyond the federal 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. window—for example, Florida limits sales calls to before 8 p.m.
- Registration fees or surety bonds for telemarketers in states like Washington and Louisiana
- State Do Not Call lists and mini‑TCPA statutes with steeper damages
- Special opt‑in language or double-consent requirements
- Two-party consent and other call-recording laws in states such as California and Pennsylvania
- Permits or disclaimers for political, emergency, and debt collection calls
📡 Carrier & Industry Rules
- 10DLC registration – Carriers require brands and campaigns to be registered with The Campaign Registry. Vetting determines daily throughput limits and helps avoid filtering.
- STIR/SHAKEN – Caller authentication technology for voice traffic. Numbers without proper tokens may be blocked or labeled as spam.
- CTIA guidelines – Outline acceptable message content, mandatory keywords like “STOP” and “HELP,” and pacing expectations. Ignoring these guidelines often results in filtering.
- Volume and content policies – Carriers monitor for sudden spikes, suspicious links, or restricted topics. Traffic that appears abusive can be throttled or suspended.
- A2P vs. P2P distinctions – Application-to-person messaging must use registered 10DLC numbers or short codes; unregistered traffic is typically blocked.
- Number reputation – Carriers and analytics providers keep internal spam scores. Numbers with poor reputations may be displayed as “scam likely” or blocked outright.
🚨 Spam Triggers & Consequences
- Missing identification or misleading content in calls or texts
- High complaint rates from recipients or regulators
- Ignoring opt-out requests or DNC lists
- Using shady links, aggressive capitalization, or emoji spam
- Aggressive volume spikes from new numbers
- Suspiciously short or overly long call durations
- Content that resembles phishing or illegal offers
- Unregistered numbers or unverified caller IDs
🔍 How leadping Simplifies It All
We build compliance into every interaction:- Automated opt-in tracking – We keep detailed consent records and manage opt-outs instantly.
- Carrier and campaign registration – Brand vetting, 10DLC setup, and ongoing reputation monitoring happen behind the scenes.
- Quiet hour enforcement – Dialing and messaging tools respect local time zones and pacing rules.
- Continuous monitoring – We stay on top of carrier feedback and regulatory updates so you can focus on conversations.
Note: This guide is for general awareness and isn’t legal advice. Always consult your own counsel to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations.