FCC Opt-Out Rules Effective November 25, 2026: What Businesses That Text Should Change

Starting November 25, 2026, a business that texts customers can choose an exclusive way for people to opt out, such as replying with a standard word like STOP or using a website or phone number it names, as long as it clearly discloses that method in each text. It can also treat an opt-out sent in reply to an informational text, such as a payment reminder, as covering only that category of informational texts. The 10-business-day deadline to honor opt-outs and the consent rules do not change.

The changes come from FCC 26-67 (CG Docket No. 02-278), published at 91 FR 67214 on October 26, 2026, which rewrites 47 CFR 64.1200(a)(10) through (12). Paragraph numbers below refer to that order unless noted. This article is general information, not legal advice.

What changes on November 25, 2026

The order makes three changes that matter to businesses that text, and restates a fourth rule you should check at the same time.

1. You can name an exclusive opt-out method

Under the rule in force since April 11, 2025, people could opt out “using any reasonable method,” and a business could not limit them to one method of its choosing. From November 25, a business may designate any of three methods as the exclusive way to opt out (paras. 15 and 16):

• an automated, interactive voice or key-press opt-out on a call;
• replying to a text with one of seven standard words: “stop,” “quit,” “end,” “revoke,” “opt out,” “cancel” or “unsubscribe”;
• a website or telephone number the business designates to process opt-out requests.

A business can designate one or more of these methods (para. 16, note 42). If it does, it is not required to process opt-out requests made any other way. The FCC says this lets businesses process opt-outs automatically and ends case-by-case arguments about what is “reasonable” (para. 17).

The condition is disclosure. The business “must clearly and conspicuously disclose the designated method to revoke consent on the call or in the text” (new 64.1200(a)(10)). The FCC declined a request to let businesses decide for themselves when and how to tell people (para. 17). For texts, there is a practical shortcut: when reply texts are your designated method, including at least one of the standard words in each text satisfies the disclosure, for example “Reply STOP to opt out.” You still have to honor all seven words, not just the one you print (para. 17).

Two limits: a method set by another agency’s regulations cannot be your exclusive method (para. 18), and the opt-out mechanisms already required for exempted calls and prerecorded telemarketing calls stay as they are (para. 19).

If you do not designate an exclusive method, nothing changes for you: you must keep processing opt-out requests made by any reasonable means, and a request made some other way, such as a voicemail or an email, still creates a rebuttable presumption that consent was revoked (para. 16; new 64.1200(a)(11)).

2. An opt-out from one informational text can stay in that category

The 2024 rules would have required a business to treat an opt-out from one type of message as an opt-out from all of its robocalls and robotexts. That “revoke all” provision was delayed by waivers until January 31, 2027 (para. 3, note 7). The new rule replaces it before it ever took effect (para. 24).

From November 25, a business may treat an opt-out sent in response to an informational text, meaning one that “does not contain any advertising or telemarketing,” as applying only to that category of informational messages (paras. 10 to 12; new 64.1200(a)(10)). The FCC’s example: someone who opts out of payment reminders should not lose fraud alerts, multi-factor authentication codes, appointment reminders or outage notices without meaning to (para. 11).

Three points:

• It is optional. The rule says a business “may” interpret the request this way. Treating every STOP as a full stop is still allowed.
• It only covers informational texts. A reminder that also carries a promotion contains advertising, so it is not an informational text under the rule’s definition.
• The order does not define “category.” It gives examples rather than a list. The FCC is asking for comment on whether to require a one-step way to opt out of everything (para. 13).

3. An opt-out from a marketing text covers all marketing

The order states plainly that an opt-out sent in response to a call or text that contains an advertisement or is telemarketing revokes consent to all future marketing calls and texts from that business (para. 14; new 64.1200(a)(10)). There is no category split for marketing: one STOP to one promotion ends them all.

4. One-way texting: the disclosure rule carries over

Some texting systems cannot receive replies. That has been allowed since April 11, 2025 under a rule from FCC 24-24 (para. 14 of that order), and the new 64.1200(a)(10) keeps it. If you send from a protocol that does not allow reply texts, each text must clearly and conspicuously say that two-way texting is not available due to technical limitations of the texting protocol, and must give reasonable alternative ways to opt out, such as a phone number or website. This is not new, but check your one-way messages while you rewrite footers.

What does not change

• The seven standard opt-out words. “Stop,” “quit,” “end,” “revoke,” “opt out,” “cancel” and “unsubscribe” are all valid opt-outs by reply text, whichever one you print (para. 17).
• The 10-business-day deadline. Opt-out requests must be honored within a reasonable time not to exceed ten business days from receipt (new 64.1200(a)(10) and (11)). FCC 24-24 encouraged honoring requests as soon as practicable (note 40).
• Confirmation texts. A text that only confirms the opt-out and contains no marketing is allowed, and one sent within five minutes is presumed to fall within the original consent (new 64.1200(a)(12)).
• Consent. The order says it imposes no new compliance obligation (para. 26). You still need consent to send autodialed texts unless an exemption applies, and written consent for automated marketing texts (note 2; 64.1200(a)(1) and (2)).
• Carrier registration. FCC 26-67 says nothing about carrier rules. If you text from a local 10-digit number through software, 10DLC registration with your texting provider still applies, along with the carriers’ own expectations for opt-in and opt-out wording. See our 10DLC registration guide.

How we got here

• February 2024, FCC 24-24: the FCC codified “any reasonable method,” listed reply-text words and websites or phone numbers as reasonable per se, banned exclusive methods, set the 10-business-day deadline and added the one-way texting disclosure (FCC 24-24, paras. 10 to 21).
• April 11, 2025: those rules took effect, except the “revoke all” provision, which waivers pushed to January 31, 2027 (para. 3, note 7).
• 2025: the FCC asked for comment on exclusive methods and on changing “revoke all,” and industry and consumer groups supported both (paras. 4 to 7).
• September 30, 2026: FCC 26-67 adopted, replacing “revoke all” and allowing exclusive methods.

What the FCC is still considering

The same document opens a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. These are questions, not rules:

• A shorter deadline. Whether to cut the 10-business-day window, for example to seven business days, now that automated exclusive methods are allowed (paras. 30 and 31).
• Ending one-way texting. Whether to require that people can opt out by replying, which would remove the one-way option (paras. 32 to 34).
• A “revoke all” option. Whether category opt-outs should be allowed only when the business also offers one step to opt out of everything (paras. 35 and 36). The FCC notes businesses can already offer this voluntarily (note 78).
• Affiliates and divisions. How consent and opt-outs apply across affiliates, lines of business and divisions (paras. 37 and 38).

Checklist before November 25

1. Decide whether to designate an exclusive opt-out method. If you do nothing, the current “any reasonable means” standard continues for you. If you designate, pick reply text, a website or phone number, a key-press option on calls, or a combination.
2. Put the method in every text. For reply-text opt-outs, a short “Reply STOP to opt out” in each message covers the disclosure. For a website or phone number, print it in each text. See our text message disclaimer examples for lines to adapt.
3. Make all seven words work. Test STOP, QUIT, END, REVOKE, OPT OUT, CANCEL and UNSUBSCRIBE on every sending number and confirm each one stops messages and shows on the contact.
4. If you use category opt-outs, list your categories. Write down which informational message types you send, such as appointment reminders, payment reminders or account alerts, and keep promotions out of them. Any text with advertising is marketing, and a STOP to it ends all marketing.
5. Check your one-way numbers. Each text needs the “two-way texting is not available” disclosure and a phone number or website for opting out.
6. Keep the clock. Process opt-outs as soon as you can and never later than 10 business days. Keep any confirmation text to a plain confirmation, sent within five minutes, with no marketing.
7. Train the team. Decide what staff do when someone asks to stop another way. Handling it anyway is the simpler habit.
8. Keep your registration in step. If your opt-out wording changes, make sure your 10DLC campaign samples still match.
9. Check each template. Paste drafts into our text message checker to confirm each one names your business and includes an opt-out line.

How your CRM texting setup should handle it

Opt-out mistakes usually happen between systems: someone replies STOP to one number and another team texts them the next day. A CRM that sends texts should keep opt-out status on the contact so every rep and automation sees the same answer. Check:

• Keyword handling. All seven standard words are recognized on every sending number, and an opt-out removes the contact from sequences and campaigns.
• Footers in templates and automations. If you designate an exclusive method, the disclosure goes in every text, including automated ones and one-off texts from reps.
• Categories, if you use them. Informational texts should be tagged by category so an opt-out from one category can be applied without stopping the others. If your setup cannot tell categories apart, treat each STOP as a full opt-out.
• Marketing kept separate. A STOP to any marketing text should stop all marketing texts to that person.
• Records. Keep the date, channel and wording of each opt-out on the contact.

In Conduyt, texting runs on your own Twilio or Project Blue line connected to Conduyt, and text and email opt-outs and do-not-call status are kept on the contact and shown in the conversation (see CRM text messaging). How keywords, confirmation texts and one-way messages behave depends on how you configure your line with your provider and your workflows in Conduyt, so review both against the method you choose. For consent and quiet hours, see our SMS compliance guide.

FAQ

When do the new FCC opt-out rules take effect?

November 25, 2026. The FCC adopted the order, FCC 26-67, on September 30, 2026, and it was published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2026 at 91 FR 67214 with that effective date. It replaces the “revoke all” provision that had been delayed to January 31, 2027.

Can a business choose how customers opt out of texts?

Yes, from November 25, 2026. A business may designate replying with a standard word, a website or phone number it names, or a key-press option on calls as the exclusive way to opt out, if it clearly discloses that method on the call or in each text. Without a designation, any reasonable method still counts.

Do I have to list all seven opt-out words in every text?

No. When reply texts are your designated method, including at least one standard word in each text, such as “Reply STOP to opt out,” satisfies the disclosure. You must still honor all seven words: stop, quit, end, revoke, opt out, cancel and unsubscribe.

Does a STOP reply still stop every text from my business?

It depends on the text. A STOP sent in reply to a marketing text ends all future marketing texts from that business. A STOP sent in reply to an informational text, such as a payment reminder, may be treated as covering only that category of informational texts, though a business can still choose to treat it as a full opt-out.

How long do I have to honor an opt-out request?

A reasonable time, and no more than 10 business days from receipt. That deadline is unchanged by the November 2026 rules. The FCC is asking for comment on shortening it, for example to seven business days, but has not changed it.

What do I need to say if my texts come from a number that cannot receive replies?

Each text must clearly say that two-way texting is not available due to technical limitations of the texting protocol, and give a reasonable alternative way to opt out, such as a phone number or website. This rule has applied since April 11, 2025 and continues after November 25.

Do I still need 10DLC registration after the new rules?

Yes. The FCC order covers consent and opt-outs and says nothing about carrier registration. If you send business texts from a local 10-digit number through software, register your brand and campaign with your texting provider as before.

Sources

Checked November 13, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the source before relying on them. This article is general information, not legal advice.

• FCC 26-67, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CG Docket No. 02-278 (adopted September 30, 2026) (paras. 3, 10 to 26 and 30 to 38)
• Federal Register, 91 FR 67214, document 2026-21821 (October 26, 2026) (effective date and the text of the new 64.1200(a)(10) to (12))
• FCC 24-24, TCPA Consent Order (February 2024) (paras. 10 to 21 and note 40)
• 47 CFR 64.1200, Delivery restrictions

Related: What is 10DLC?, 10DLC registration, text message disclaimer examples and the text message checker