The Commission has adopted rules to protect consumers and businesses from unwanted electronic mail messages on wireless devices such as mobile phones. The Commission began this rulemaking process as directed by Congress in the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (CAN-SPAM Act). Congress passed the CAN-SPAM Act to address the rapid growth in unwanted commercial electronic mail messages.

The CAN-SPAM Act requires the Federal Communications Commission to issue rules with regard to commercial e-mail and some text messages sent to wireless devices such as cell phones—not e-mail in general. Specifically, section 14 of the CAN-SPAM Act requires the Commission to develop rules to protect consumers from “unwanted mobile service commercial messages.”

For information on stopping spam in general, not just messages for wireless devices, see the FTC’s website http://www.ftc.gov/spam/.)

Consumer Fact Sheet on FCC CAN-SPAM Rules:

CAN-SPAM Orders and Notices

04/19/07
The Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Reminds Commercial Mobile Radio Service Providers of Their Obligation to Register and Update Domain Names Used to Transmit Electronic Messages to Wireless Devices.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

03/22/07
Petition for Reconsideration filed by Cingular Wireless, LLC of the Commission's CAN-SPAM Order Denied.
Order: Word | Acrobat

02/07/05
CGB Announces the Availability of a Wireless Domain Names List.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

12/20/04
The CMRS Carriers have until January 21, 2005 to supply Wireless Domain Names to comply with the CAN-SPAM Act.
Public Notice: Word | Acrobat

09/20/2004
The Commission's Order Establishing Rules Implementing the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 Published in the Federal Register
News Release: Word | Acrobat
Order: Word | Acrobat

08/12/2004
The Commission adopts rules to implement the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003
Order: Word | Acrobat

08/04/2004
FCC Takes Action To Protect Wireless Subscribers From SPAM. Prohibits sending commercial messages referencing specified domain names
Press Release: Word | Acrobat
Powell Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat

04/01/2004
Dates Set For Comments on Rules to Eliminate Spam to Mobile Phones and Review of "Safe Harbor" For Telemarketing Calls to Mobile Phones
News Release: Word | Acrobat

03/19/2004
FCC Seeks Comment On Rules To Eliminate SPAM From Mobile Phones
NPRM: Word | Acrobat
Powell Statement: Word | Acrobat
Copps Statement: Word | Acrobat
Martin Statement: Word | Acrobat

03/11/2004
FCC Seeks Comment On Rules To Eliminate SPAM From Mobile Phones
News Release: Word | Acrobat