GLOSSARY OF TERMS

FCC

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the U.S. government tasked with overseeing and regulating interstate and international communications via different mediums such as radio, television, telephone, cable, and satellite.

Its responsibilities include formulating and enforcing communication policies and regulations, industry oversight, and promoting technological innovation. 

Notably, the FCC also has jurisdiction over the content of business-to-consumer text messages.

To enhance consumer protection, the FCC, in December 2023, adopted new measures that cover the following points:

  • DNC protections are now extended to text messages.
  • One-to-One Consent revolutionizes the definition of “Prior express written consent” to mean an agreement that “authorizes no more than one identified seller” to contact a consumer.
  • Phone calls must be logically and topically associated with the previous interaction that led to consent being given.
  • Lead buyers cannot rely on their lead sellers’ documentation of consent to call, but must keep their own documentation as proof of consent.
Discover the top 10 Q&A about FCC and TCPA for businesses