SMS Privacy Policy - Southern Software ICAware

Effective Date: February 12, 2026 | Last Updated: February 12, 2026

1. Introduction

Southern Software, Inc. ("Southern Software," "we," "us," or "our") operates the ICAware Emergency Notification System, a public safety communications platform used by law enforcement agencies, emergency management agencies, and other public safety organizations ("Agencies") to send critical emergency alerts, public safety notifications, and community information to opted-in subscribers ("you" or "Subscribers").

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share information in connection with our SMS/text messaging notification service. By opting in to receive SMS alerts from an Agency using our platform, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

When you subscribe to receive SMS notifications from a participating Agency, we may collect the following information:

Mobile phone number — Required to deliver SMS/text messages to your device
First and last name — To personalize notifications (optional)
Email address — If you also opt in to receive email notifications (optional)
Physical address or location data — If you opt in to location-based (geo-targeted) alerts (optional)
Opt-in consent records — Date, time, and method of your consent to receive messages

3. How We Use Your Information

Your information is used solely for the following purposes:

Delivering emergency alerts, public safety notifications, and community information via SMS/text messages on behalf of the subscribing Agency
Processing opt-in and opt-out requests
Maintaining delivery logs for service reliability and compliance
Responding to your inquiries or support requests
Complying with legal obligations and regulatory requirements

SMS Data Non-Sharing Commitment: We do not sell, rent, lease, or share your mobile phone number, SMS opt-in data, or any personal information collected through the SMS notification service with any third parties for their marketing or promotional purposes. Your SMS consent and phone number information will never be shared with or sold to third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

We will not share your opt-in to an SMS campaign with any third party for purposes unrelated to providing you with the services of that campaign. We may share your Personal Data, including your SMS opt-in or consent status, with third parties that help us provide our messaging services, including but not limited to platform providers, phone companies, and any other vendors who assist us in the delivery of text messages.

4. Third-Party Service Providers

We use the following third-party service providers solely to deliver SMS messages on behalf of the Agencies:

Telnyx LLC — Telecommunications provider for SMS/MMS message delivery and voice call delivery

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it to perform services on our behalf. They are prohibited from using your personal information for their own marketing purposes.

5. Data Retention

We retain your subscriber information (phone number, name, email) for as long as you remain an active subscriber to an Agency's notification service. Message delivery logs are retained for up to 24 months for compliance and service reliability purposes.

When you opt out of the service, your phone number is removed from the active subscriber list. Historical delivery records may be retained in anonymized form for compliance reporting.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information, including:

Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
Role-based access controls limiting who can view subscriber data
Secure cloud hosting on Microsoft Azure with SOC 2 compliance
Regular security assessments and monitoring

7. Your Rights and Choices

Opt-Out of SMS Messages

You may opt out of receiving SMS messages at any time by:

Replying STOP to any message you receive from us
Contacting the Agency that enrolled you in the notification service
Contacting us directly at the information provided below

After opting out, you will receive one final confirmation message and no further SMS messages will be sent.

Opt-In Confirmation

After subscribing, you will receive a confirmation message. You may reply HELP at any time for assistance or contact information.

Access and Correction

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and to request correction of any inaccurate information. Contact us using the information below.

Deletion

You may request deletion of your personal information by contacting us. We will process your request within 30 days, subject to any legal retention requirements.

8. Children's Privacy

Our SMS notification service is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can delete it.

9. Compliance

Our SMS messaging practices comply with:

Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA)
Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) Messaging Principles and Best Practices
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations
The Campaign Registry (TCR) requirements for A2P 10DLC messaging
Applicable state consumer protection laws

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the SMS notification service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

Southern Software, Inc.

150 Perry Dr

Southern Pines, NC 28387

Phone: (910) 693-0911

Email: support@southernsoftware.com

Website: www.southernsoftware.com