Commercial Mobile Radio Service carriers have until Jan. 21 to submit all of their e-mail domain names for wireless messaging to the Federal Communications Commission for inclusion in a master wireless domain names database. The agency made the announcement yesterday. It appeared in the Federal Register.
The database will include only domain names and not individual e-mail addresses of subscribers.
On Aug. 11, the FCC issued an order establishing rules to protect consumers from receiving unsolicited commercial messages on their wireless devices. With some exceptions, the order prohibits the sending of commercial e-mail messages, including e-mail and certain text messages, to wireless devices. The rule includes messages sent to cell phones.
Messages that meet the definition of “commercial” used in the CAN-SPAM Act, and messages in which the main purpose is a commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product or service are covered under the order. Noncommercial messages — such as those regarding political candidates or updates sent to existing customers about their accounts — are not subject to the rules.
To assist senders of e-mail messages in identifying wireless subscribers, the FCC requires that CMRS providers file with the FCC the names of all electronic domain names used to offer e-mail messages that are transmitted directly to a wireless device.
CMRS carriers may begin the submission process by accessing http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/policy and clicking on “Domain Name Data Entry for Wireless Providers Only.''
The FCC also said CMRS carriers must file any future updates to listings with the FCC not less than 30 days before issuing subscribers any new or modified domain name.
The rule prohibits sending any commercial messages to addresses that contain domain names that have been included on the official list for at least 30 days.
Melissa Campanelli covers CRM and database marketing for DM News.com. To keep up with the latest news subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter DM News Daily by visiting www.dmnews.com/newsletters
