SMS Marketing Blog

Soundbite Asks FCC to Declare Opt-Out SMS Messages Do Not Violate the TCPA

13th April 2012 - Posted by Derek Johnson in category SMS Marketing News

Remember when two consumers brought a class action lawsuit against Twitter for violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) after Twitter sent them a confirmation text message, confirming their request to stop receiving text messages from Twitter?

Since then, SoundBite Communications, Inc. has petitioned the FCC to declare that confirmatory, opt-out text messages do not violate the TCPA or the FCC’s rules. SoundBite argues in their petition that such text messages do not violate the TCPA because:

1. Confirmatory, opt-out text messages fall within the grace period under the TCPA for opt-out requests;
2. Confirmatory, opt-out text messages are not sent using an autodialer because the text messages are targeted towards the consumer opting out of further messages; and
3. Confirmatory, opt-out text messages are consistent with good public policy and good consumer practices.

I will continue to follow this story and report back on what the FCC declares in regards to the legality of these opt-out text messages.

For more information on the petition or how you can get involved, click here.