# POL-176 — SMS terms must state message frequency and that rates may apply

> The SMS terms section must disclose message frequency and that message and data rates may apply.

- **Rule ID:** POL-176
- **Layer:** Policy pages (`POLICY_PAGE`)
- **Checks:** `terms body`
- **Severity:** HIGH — Rejected by at least one carrier or provider, and a common cause of failure at the rest.
- **When it bites:** Gates approval — get this wrong and registration is refused
- **How it is detected:** AI judgement over the crawled website or policy page
- **Fix type:** Fix the privacy policy or SMS terms
- **Required by:** CTIA, TCR
- **Applies:** Applies to every 10DLC registration.
- **Canonical URL:** https://ekas.io/rules/10dlc/policy-page/pol-176/

## Why this rule exists

These are the same two disclosures required at the point of opt-in, repeated where a consumer can find them later. A reviewer checking consistency between the opt-in and the terms will treat their absence here as evidence the programme is not documented.

## How to fix it

Add both statements to the SMS terms section, and make the frequency claim match what you tell people at the opt-in — a reviewer comparing the two will notice if one says "varies" and the other promises four a month.

## Example of a compliant value

```text
Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.
```