Messaging & Acceptable-Use Policy
This Policy applies to every program operated through bCode's text-messaging Service and is incorporated into the Platform Terms of Service. By onboarding, and again each time you upload or schedule a recipient list, you agree to follow it for all messages you send.
1. Consent is required
- You may only message recipients who have given prior express consent to receive texts from your program.
- Consent must not be a condition of any purchase and must be specific to your program.
- You must retain records of consent (timestamp, source, and the language shown) and provide them on request. Opt-ins collected through your hosted page are recorded for you.
- Per-send attestation. Each time you upload or select a recipient list and schedule a send, you attest that every recipient on that list has given prior express consent to receive texts from your program, that you will honor STOP/opt-out requests promptly, and that the send contains no prohibited content (no "SHAFT": sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco) — in compliance with the TCPA and CTIA guidelines. We record that attestation (who, when, from where) with the send, and sends without it are not delivered. The same standard applies whether a list is delivered application-to-person (A2P) or person-to-person (P2P).
2. Identify yourself
Messages must identify the committee or organization sending them, and your first/opt-in message must make clear who you are and how to get help or opt out.
3. Honor opt-outs
You must honor STOP (and equivalent) requests immediately and support HELP. Do not message a recipient after they opt out unless they opt back in.
4. Prohibited content and conduct
- No "SHAFT" content: sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, or tobacco.
- No unlawful, deceptive, fraudulent, or misleading content; no phishing or malware; no prohibited financial or "get-rich-quick" schemes.
- No harassment, threats, or content that violates carrier rules or applicable law.
- No evasion of filtering (e.g., "snowshoeing", URL cloaking, or unapproved content that differs materially from your registered campaign).
5. Frequency, timing, and links
- Keep message frequency consistent with what recipients consented to.
- Respect reasonable quiet hours and applicable time-of-day restrictions.
- Use standard, non-cloaked links; public URL shorteners shared across senders are discouraged.
6. Accurate registration
The campaign details you register (use case, sample messages, opt-in description) must match what you actually send. Material changes require re-registration.
7. Enforcement
Violations may result in message filtering by carriers, and suspension or termination of your program by bCode, a registry, or a carrier. Some violations carry statutory penalties under the TCPA and other laws.
Questions or to report a concern: support@bcode.io.