NUSO Compliance Center

The Importance of Compliance

Noncompliance can result in legal penalties, operational disruption, and loss of customer trust. Conversely, a strong compliance posture enhances brand reputation, fosters consumer confidence, and positions businesses for long-term growth.

Here are just some of the key regulatory compliance standards in business communications.

Data Privacy & Protection Compliance

These regulations govern how personal or sensitive data is collected, used, stored, and shared through business communications.

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – Europe
  • Requires consent, transparency, and control for individuals over their personal data. Applies to any business communicating with EU residents.
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – California, USA
  • Mandates disclosure of data collection and allows consumers to opt out of data selling.
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) – USA (Healthcare)
  • Requires secure communication and handling of Protected Health Information (PHI), including via email, phone, or messaging platforms.

Marketing & Messaging Compliance

SMS/MMS/Text Messaging standards regulate how businesses can contact consumers via phone, email, text, or other direct messaging tools.

• Free Caller Registry - USA
  
  • Register outbound business phone numbers for free. The Free Caller Registry enables you to submit information about your numbers to all major US wireless and wireline carriers for free through one centralized process.
• TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) – USA‍
  • Requires express written consent for promotional text messages and mandates opt-out mechanisms.‍
• CTIA Messaging Principles – Industry best practices‍
  • Guides proper use of short codes, 10DLC, opt-in/out procedures, and prohibited content.‍
• CAN-SPAM Act – USA (Email)‍
  • Governs commercial email practices including sender transparency, subject lines, and unsubscribe options.‍
• CASL (Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation) – Canada‍
  • Requires express or implied consent before sending marketing emails or messages to Canadian recipients.

Financial Services Compliance

For businesses in banking, lending, or investment sectors, specialized rules apply to ensure responsible communication and transparency.

• GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) – USA‍
  • Requires financial institutions to protect consumer information and disclose data-sharing policies.
• FINRA/SEC Regulations – USA
  • Mandate that broker-dealers retain and supervise communications related to securities transactions (email, chat, voice).

Telecommunications & Carrier-Level Compliance

Telecom providers and resellers must adhere to technical and ethical standards for how messages and calls are transmitted.

• 10DLC Registration (USA) 
  • Required for sending A2P SMS via long codes; improves deliverability and transparency.
• SHAFT Guidelines ‍
  • Prohibits SMS/MMS content related to Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco.
• STIR/SHAKEN ‍
  • Call authentication protocols to combat robocalls and spoofing in voice communications.

Accessibility & Anti-Discrimination Compliance

Regulations to ensure business communications are inclusive and accessible to all.

• ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)‍
  • Communications (e.g., websites, emails, digital messages) must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.‍
• Section 508 (U.S. federal agencies)‍
  • Requires ICT (information and communication technology) to be accessible.

Retention & Archiving Requirements

Many industries are required to retain and archive communications for legal and auditing purposes.

• ‍SEC Rule 17a-4 ‍
  • Requires retention of broker-dealer records, including emails and text messages.‍
• HIPAA Retention Guidelines
  • ‍Specifies how long PHI-related communications must be stored.

International & Cross-Border Communication Compliance

Businesses operating globally must consider regional differences in communication laws.

• ‍ePrivacy Directive (EU)
  • ‍Regulates electronic communications, cookies, and direct marketing.‍
• PECR (UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations)
  • ‍Similar to ePrivacy, it governs email and SMS marketing in the UK.

NUSO Compliant Communications

Compliance in business communications is multi-faceted and constantly evolving. Companies must consider:

• The medium of communication (email, SMS, phone, chat)
• The type of content (marketing, healthcare, financial)
• The geographic location of the sender and recipient

Working with a compliance-savvy provider like NUSO helps ensure businesses stay on the right side of the law—while maintaining trust with customers and partners.