Quick Access:
1. T-Mobile RCS Traffic Violation Fines
2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. T-Mobile RCS Traffic Violation Fines
To protect end users and align with carrier policies, T-Mobile has introduced new penalties for any RCS for Business traffic that violates its Code of Conduct. These fines apply per Sev-0 violation and will be passed through to the originating customer.
The non-compliance fine(s) will be assessed for every Sev-0 violation issued to Company as follows:
| Violation Tier | Fine (USD) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $5,000 | Phishing, Smishing & Social Engineering |
| Tier 2 | $1,000 | For illegal content (must be legal in all 50 states and federally) |
| Tier 3 | $500 | For all other violations including but not limited to SHAFT |
Key definitions
- Social Engineering means all techniques aimed at getting a target to revealing specific information or performing a specific action for illegitimate reasons. Examples include but not limited to phishing, smishing, and pretexting purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.
- Illegal Content refers to any content that is not legal in all 50 states and federally. This list is outlined in the T-Mobile Code of Conduct section 5.1 “Unlawful, Unapproved or Illicit Content” (however not limited to) includes Cannabis, Marijuana, Adult Solicitation.
- SPAM
- Fraudulent or misleading messages
- Depictions or endorsements of violence
- Inappropriate content
- Profanity or hate speech
- Endorsement of illegal drugs
Programs must operate according to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. In addition, the content must be legal across all 50 states. All content must be appropriate for the intended audience. Additional legal and ethical obligations apply when marketing to children under age 13, and such programs might be subject to additional review by T-Mobile.
- All Other Violations refers to Subsection 5.7 of the T-Mobile Code of Conduct, which outlines, but is not limited to “Age Gating”.
5.7 Age Gating
T-Mobile may, at its discretion and at any time, suspend, terminate, or not Approve any Messaging Program it feels does not promote a legal, age-appropriate, or positive customer experience. All content must adhere to all applicable laws and support a functioning age gate when associated with but not limited to Sex, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and/or any other age-restricted content that must comply with legal regulations. Non-acceptable age-gating functions include but are not limited to Yes or No responses. The age-gate mechanism should include the date-of-birth verification during the consent opt-in of the consumer.
If T-Mobile determines that a Violation continues and is excessive during the Term of the Agreement, T-Mobile reserves the right to permanently suspend brand, campaigns, and/or Company’s access to the T-Mobile Network or the Company Connection.
Please review your RCS campaigns and ensure full compliance with the latest T-Mobile Code of Conduct to avoid these charges.
2. Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will Vonage contact me (a Vonage customer) to notify me of a violation and allow me to remediate before being fined?
In the event of a violations, Vonage will be alerted of the incident by the T-Mobile. We will notify our customer accordingly, providing information relative to the infraction and the corresponding fine.
We do not expect T-Mobile to allow appeals regarding traffic violation fines.
Please reach out to our support team or your account manager for further information.
Who will alert me if there is a violation?
Customers can expect to be notified of violations and their corresponding fines by our Fraud & Operations teams. Managed accounts will be notified by their account manager directly. Please note that our fraud teams will investigate every sev-0 violation.
Will the charge appear on my next invoice?
Fines will usually be applied one (1) month in arrears. Please reach out to our support team or your account manager for further information.
Are there filters in place so that Vonage can proactively inform me if traffic violations are occurring?
Vonage has traffic monitoring mechanisms in place. However, we encourage our customers to monitor their own network content for compliance.