By Reid Casey · Last checked November 3, 2026, 8:23 AM ET against 5 FCC and Federal Register sources.
Short answer: The TCPA consent revocation rule takes effect November 25, 2026, per the Federal Register. The FCC's own words: "We impose no new compliance obligation." The rule lets a business name its own opt-out methods and limit some opt-outs to one type of message. This week, check that your texts and voice line already handle opt-outs the way the rule allows.
Key takeaways
- The rule starts November 25, 2026, and the FCC refused to delay it.
- A business may name the ways customers can opt out if it discloses them on each call or text.
- Opt-outs still have to be honored within ten business days, a limit that isn't new.
What's going on?
New FCC options for how your customers opt out of automated calls and texts take effect November 25, 2026. The FCC is plain about what they ask of you: "We impose no new compliance obligation." The ten business day limit was already in place.
The FCC released the order on October 1, 2026, and the Federal Register published it on October 26, 2026. The FCC declined a request to push the start date back by up to 12 months.
As of November 3, 2026, 8:23 AM ET, we found no stay or court case. The FCC's filing system showed none through October 28, and its court cases page listed none as of October 29.
What does the TCPA consent revocation rule change on Nov. 25?
Two options open up. First, a business may name exclusive ways to opt out: a key-press or voice opt-out on a call, a reply text, or a website or phone number, per the order. If you pick one, it has to be disclosed clearly on the call or in the text.
Second, if a customer replies stop to an informational message, you may treat it as covering only that type of message, the order says. Informational means no advertising or telemarketing. A stop reply to a marketing message still ends all marketing.
This also replaces the "revoke all" part of a 2024 rule, which would have made one stop reply cover every type of message. The FCC had delayed that part to January 31, 2027, and the new rule supersedes it. What stays: if you don't pick a method, a request made in any reasonable way still counts.
Which of your shop's texts and calls does it cover?
Here "robocall" means autodialed calls and texts, and calls using an artificial or prerecorded voice. Whether your texting tool counts as an autodialer isn't settled in these documents, so ask your texting vendor and check with your attorney.
Appointment reminders are the FCC's example of an informational message. By our reading, on-my-way texts belong with them, and a tune-up special is marketing. If you send automated follow-up texts, sort each one into one of those two groups.
Which TCPA opt-out words and methods count?
The standard words are stop, quit, end, revoke, opt out, cancel and unsubscribe, per the rule text. If reply texts are your chosen method, each text can show one word, such as "stop," as long as you honor all seven.
If you haven't picked a method, any reasonable request counts. By our reading, that includes a customer telling your tech "stop texting me."
Can't receive replies? Then each text has to say two-way texting is not available and give another way to opt out.
How long does the rule give you to honor an opt-out?
A reasonable time, no more than ten business days from receipt. That limit isn't new.
One confirmation text is allowed if it only confirms and carries no marketing. Sent within five minutes, it's presumed to be within the customer's consent.
What about your automated or AI voice line?
Prerecorded telemarketing calls already need a key-press or voice opt-out, and the order leaves that in place. You may also name that same opt-out as your exclusive method.
Does a line that only answers incoming calls count? The order, the rule and the companion proposal don't say; we searched all three. Ask your attorney or phone vendor.
We cover how an after-hours voice line answers calls separately. This post is only about opt-outs.
What does it mean for an electrician, plumber or HVAC shop?
Three situations, each our reading, not an FCC example.
A customer of an HVAC shop replies STOP to a fall tune-up special the shop texted last week. That ends all marketing texts and automated marketing calls from the shop. Whether reminders keep going depends on how the shop splits its messages, so ask your attorney.
A plumber's customer tells the tech, "stop texting me." If the shop hasn't picked a method, that counts, so it has to reach whoever runs the texts.
An electrician's office runs prerecorded marketing calls. Those already need a key-press or voice opt-out.
Reid's take
Here's my test for any shop owner. A customer stands in the driveway and tells your tech, "stop texting me." Where does that go?
If the answer is "the tech will remember," you don't have an answer yet. If you haven't picked an opt-out method, the FCC says a request made in any reasonable way counts, and you get no more than ten business days to honor it. So that sentence has to land on the customer's record, where the office and your texting tool both see it. Anything the rule doesn't settle for your setup, ask your attorney.
What should you do this week?
Before November 25, check that your texts and voice line already handle opt-outs the way the rule allows. These steps are our guidance, not FCC requirements.
- List every automated text and call, and mark each informational or marketing.
- Walk the checklist below with your texting vendor.
- If you want an exclusive opt-out method, check with your attorney first.
- Keep opt-outs on one customer record in a CRM you own, so the office, techs and texting tool all see them.
Shop-side opt-out checklist (our guidance, built from the rule text)
- ☐ Every automated text names a stop word.
- ☐ Stop, quit, end, revoke, opt out, cancel and unsubscribe all work (rule text).
- ☐ Texts that can't take replies say so and give another way out.
- ☐ A spoken "stop texting me" gets logged.
- ☐ Opt-outs take effect within ten business days (rule text).
- ☐ Confirmation texts only confirm.
- ☐ Prerecorded marketing calls offer a key-press or voice opt-out (order).
What we don't know yet
- The companion proposal. A proposal published October 26, 2026 asks about a seven business day deadline, required two-way texting, a "revoke all" option and affiliates. Comments are due November 25, 2026, replies December 28, 2026. None of it is a rule yet.
- Inbound voice lines. Does a line that only answers incoming calls count? The FCC documents don't say. Ask your attorney or phone vendor.
- Your texting tool. Whether it's an autodialer depends on how it works. Ask your texting vendor.
- Mixed messages. Where one message type ends and another starts, say a reminder that also offers a tune-up, isn't spelled out. Ask your attorney.
- A later stay. None found as of November 3, 2026, 8:23 AM ET, per the FCC's court cases page and filing system.
- Reconsideration. Petitions asking the FCC to reconsider the order can be filed through November 25, 2026, under the FCC's rules. A petition alone wouldn't pause the rule, so don't count on one to move your date.
- State and carrier rules. These sit outside the FCC documents. Ask your texting vendor.
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Caveats and methodology
- We read the FCC order, the Federal Register rule and the companion proposal on November 2, 2026, 9:35 to 9:45 PM ET, and checked the FCC's court cases page and filing system for a stay.
- Steps, checklist and "our reading" lines are our guidance. This isn't legal advice; check with your attorney.
- We sell, too. TechStackRx sells lead follow-up automation, 24/7 voice agents and CRM setup for home-service businesses.
Frequently asked questions
What is the TCPA consent revocation rule?
It's the FCC rule on how people take back consent to autodialed calls and texts and to calls using an artificial or prerecorded voice. The change that starts November 25, 2026 lets a business name its own opt-out methods and limit some opt-outs to one type of message.
When does the TCPA consent revocation rule take effect?
November 25, 2026, per the Federal Register. The FCC declined a request to delay it by up to 12 months, and we found no stay as of November 3, 2026, 8:23 AM ET.
Does the rule cover automated voice calls as well as texts?
Yes for calls made with an autodialer or an artificial or prerecorded voice, and those calls can use a key-press or voice opt-out. Whether a line that only answers incoming calls is covered isn't addressed; ask your attorney or phone vendor.
Which words count as a text opt-out under the TCPA?
Stop, quit, end, revoke, opt out, cancel and unsubscribe. If reply texts are the business's chosen opt-out method, each text can show just one of these words, but the business has to honor all seven.
How long does a business have to honor a TCPA opt-out?
A reasonable time, no more than ten business days from receipt. That limit is not new. The FCC is asking whether to shorten it, with seven business days among the ideas, but hasn't changed it.
Can a business choose how customers opt out?
Yes, from November 25 it can name a key-press or voice opt-out, a reply text, or a website or phone number, and has to disclose it clearly on each call or text. Without a chosen method, any reasonable request counts. Check with your attorney before relying on one.
Does a STOP reply to an appointment reminder stop all texts?
Not necessarily. The rule lets a business treat it as stopping that type of informational message only, while a STOP reply to a marketing text ends all marketing. Where your message types split is a question for your attorney.
Can a shop send a confirmation text after someone opts out?
Yes, one text, if it only confirms and has no marketing. A confirmation sent within five minutes is presumed to be within the customer's consent.
Sources
- Federal Communications Commission, "Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking" (FCC 26-67), October 1, 2026. FCC order (PDF). Accessed November 2, 2026, 9:35 PM ET.
- Federal Register, "Enhancing the Ability of Consumers To Control the Robocalls" (document 2026-21821, 91 FR 67214), October 26, 2026. Federal Register page. Accessed November 2, 2026, 9:35 PM ET.
- Federal Register, "Modernizing the Ability of Consumers To Control Robocalls" (document 2026-21820, 91 FR 67239), October 26, 2026. Federal Register page. Accessed November 2, 2026, 9:44 PM ET.
- Federal Communications Commission, "FCC and the Courts", updated October 29, 2026. FCC and the Courts page. Accessed November 2, 2026, 9:37 PM ET.
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, "§ 1.429 Petition for reconsideration of final orders in rulemaking proceedings" (47 CFR 1.429), as of October 29, 2026. eCFR rule page. Accessed November 2, 2026, 9:59 PM ET.