NTC cracks down on text spammers

The days of mobile spammers are numbered as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued the rules and regulations on broadcast messaging services.


The rules were crafted after a series of consultations and a hearing attended by telecom service providers, content providers and other interested parties in response to numerous consumer complaints received by NTC.

Under the rules, NTC has adopted the "opt-in regime" where it is prohibited to send unsolicited commercial messages or spam by SMS or MMS unless the subscriber has given permission or consent.

A subscriber who has not opted-in shall not be charged for received spams.

Subscribers who do not reply to these broadcast or push messages shall be considered to have optedout and such broadcast should be stopped or subscribers may opt-out without being charged.

Except on paid subscription services, broadcast or push messages shall not be sent between 9:00 pm to 7:00 am.

NTC also requires broadcast messages to display the names of the senders as well as valid addresses or numbers to which subscribers can send their requests to cease broadcast messages.

Mobile companies are to act on spam-related complaints within 30 days after they are received from consumers.

NTC will impose appropriate administrative and penal sanctions in accordance with law.

It is also preparing rules and guidelines for public hearings to address other complaints such as e-loads. (Edu H. Lopez)