U.S. Consumer Best Practices for Messaging

U.S. Consumer Best Practices for Messaging

Version 7.0 V7.0 Publication Date: October 16, 2012

Effective Date: October 16, 2012

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION: US CONSUMER BEST PRACTICES FOR MESSAGING.......................... 4

SCOPE: STANDARD RATE, PREMIUM RATE, AND FREE TO END USER ............................................... 5 CTIA AUDIT STANDARDS ................................................................................................ 5 REFERENCES: MMA DOCUMENTS AND LINKS FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES .......................................... 5 RECENT CHANGES ......................................................................................................... 6

CROSS CARRIER STANDARDS .................................................................................... 7

SECTION 1: STANDARD RATE ........................................................................................... 7 Standard Rate Cross Carrier Guidelines ..................................................................... 7 1.0 General Guidelines ....................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Messaging Frequency Guidelines .................................................................................... 7 1.2 Guidelines for Advertising Messaging Programs ................................................................ 7 1.3 Advertising to Children ................................................................................................. 8 1.4 Opt-In ........................................................................................................................ 8 1.4.1 Program Messages .................................................................................................... 9 1.5 Program Termination, STOP and Opt Out .......................................................................10 1.6 Program Short Code Transfer .......................................................................................11 1.7 Customer Care and HELP Guidelines ..............................................................................11 1.8 Customer Record Maintenance......................................................................................12 1.9 Terms and Conditions ..................................................................................................12 1.10 Tobacco & Alcohol Programs .......................................................................................13 1.11 Sweepstakes & Contests ............................................................................................13 Standard Rate Examples ........................................................................................15 Advertising (Call to Action) Examples ..................................................................................15 Opt-In Examples ..............................................................................................................16 STOP Message Examples ...................................................................................................19 HELP Message Examples ...................................................................................................20 Change of Short Code Example Messages ............................................................................21

SECTION 2: PREMIUM RATE..................................................................................... 22

Premium Rate Cross Carrier Guidelines ....................................................................22 2.0 General Guidelines ......................................................................................................22 2.1 Messaging Frequency Guidelines ...................................................................................22 2.2 Tobacco & Alcohol Programs.........................................................................................22 2.3 Guidelines for Advertising Messaging Programs ...............................................................23 2.4 Advertising to Children ................................................................................................23 2.5 Opt-In Guidelines........................................................................................................24 2.6 Program Termination and Opt Out.................................................................................28 2.7 Customer Care and HELP Guidelines ..............................................................................29 2.8 Customer Record Maintenance......................................................................................31 2.9 Sweepstakes & Contests ..............................................................................................31 2.10 Terms & Conditions ...................................................................................................32 2.11 Affiliate Marketing .....................................................................................................32 2.12 Premium WAP Sites ...................................................................................................33 2.13 Subscription Programs ...............................................................................................34

Premium Rate Examples.........................................................................................36 EXAMPLE: STOP Messages (CCS-EG-02)..............................................................................37 EXAMPLE: PREMIUM Rate IVR (Initial Opt In IVR) (CCS-EG-04 ) .............................................38 EXAMPLE: Premium Rated Double Opt In? Alert Subscription (CCS-EG-05) ..............................39 EXAMPLE: Premium Rated Opt In for WAP (CCS-EG-06) ........................................................40 EXAMPLE: Billing Renewal Message (CCS-EG-10)..................................................................41

SECTION 3: FREE TO END USER (FTEU).............................................................................42 Free to End User Cross Carrier Guidelines .................................................................42 3.0 General Guidelines ......................................................................................................42 3.1 Guidelines for Advertising Messaging Programs ...............................................................42 3.2 Opt In .......................................................................................................................43

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? 2012 Mobile Marketing Association

US Consumer Best Practices (v7.0)



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3.3 Opt Out .....................................................................................................................43 3.4 Terms & Conditions .....................................................................................................44 3.5 HELP Guidelines..........................................................................................................45 FTEU Examples .....................................................................................................46

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? 2012 Mobile Marketing Association

US Consumer Best Practices (v7.0)



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Introduction: US Consumer Best Practices for Messaging

The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) is the premier global non-profit trade association representing all players in the mobile marketing value chain. With more than 700 member companies, the MMA is an action-oriented organization with global focus, regional actions and local relevance. The MMA's primary focus is to establish mobile as an indispensable part of the marketing mix. The MMA works to promote, educate, measure, guide and protect the mobile marketing industry worldwide. The MMA's global headquarters are located in the United States and it has regional chapters including North America (NA), Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America (LATAM), and Asia Pacific (APAC) branches.

The MMA Consumer Best Practices (CBP) for Messaging, for the United States market, provides a guide to implementing short code programs. This guideline document is a compilation of accepted industry practices, common wireless carrier policies, and regulatory guidance that have been agreed upon by representative member companies from all parts of the off-deck ecosystem.

The US Consumer Best Practices Committee for Messaging developed these guidelines in collaboration with representatives from the following member companies:

4INFO, Inc. Cincinnati Bell Wireless CTIA Mobile Messenger

For more information, please contact: Mobile Marketing Association Email: mma@

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? 2012 Mobile Marketing Association

US Consumer Best Practices (v7.0)



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Scope: Standard Rate, Premium Rate, and Free to End User

From a pricing perspective, there are three categories of short code programs. This document groups the standards according to these categories:

Standard Rate ? The consumer is charged standard messaging fees (per message, or decremented from their messaging bundle) when participating in the program. Premium fees are not charged.

Premium Rate ? The consumer is charged premium fees in addition to standard messaging fees applying.

Free to End User (FTEU) ? The consumer incurs no charges at all for participating in the program. The carrier waives standard message fees for these programs.

CTIA Audit Standards

CTIA Audit Standards were developed by a cross-carrier team in support of the CTIA Compliance Assurance Program. This Program has evolved to take a significant role in channeling common cross-carrier policies and defining compliance in the mobile market. The goal of the CTIA Audit Standards is to outline clear, objective, and executable rules against which program compliance can be evaluated. Rules are designed to meet the obligation of legal settlements entered into by the carriers, as well as to target deceptive practices that represent consumer harm.

References: MMA documents and links for reference purposes

The following documents provide additional sources of information and reference:

MMA Code of Conduct MMA Glossary of Terms Mobile Marketing Association Website Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) CAN-SPAM Common Short Code Administration COPPA CTIA Common Short Code Monitoring Playbook

Mobile Marketing Association

? 2012 Mobile Marketing Association

US Consumer Best Practices (v7.0)



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