Index:
- Intro
- What is 10DLC and The Campaign Registry?
- Who needs to register?
- Pricing
- What do I need to do?
- What kind of information is required for 10DLC Registration?
- Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
- CTIA and Best Practices
- Prohibited use cases and limits
- Penalties for violations
- Terms to Know
- FAQs
Disclaimer:
10DLC campaigns are a mandatory industry-wide requirement established by mobile carriers to regulate business messaging and protect consumers from spam and fraudulent messages. These regulations are not unique to Talkroute; they apply to any business that uses 10-digit phone numbers to send text messages to customers.
The 10DLC registration process links your business and texting use case to your number(s) and ensures your usage is in compliance. Without an approved registration, outgoing messages will face increased filtering, delays, or, eventually, complete blocking. Full blocking of unregistered outgoing messages will be enforced as soon as December 1st, 2024.
There are no use cases that are exempt from these regulations. This includes marketing and non-marketing messages, appointment reminders, and replying to incoming messages.
Intro |
Welcome to Talkroute’s guide on 10DLC campaign registration. As businesses increasingly rely on text messaging to communicate with customers, ensuring that these messages are delivered efficiently and comply with regulations is more important than ever. 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) numbers offer a reliable and cost-effective solution for businesses to send messages using local phone numbers. However, to maintain the integrity and effectiveness of this communication channel, all business messaging using local phone numbers must be registered with The Campaign Registry (TCR). In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about 10DLC and the registration process. We will cover who needs to register, what steps you need to take, best practices for compliant messaging, key terms you should be familiar with, and provide samples along the way. Whether you're new to business text messaging or transitioning from using a personal cell phone for business purposes, this guide is designed to help you navigate the 10DLC registration process smoothly and ensure your messages reach your customers without any issues. Let’s get started! |
What is 10DLC and The Campaign Registry? |
10DLC (10-Digit Long Code):10DLC refers to a type of long code that is approved specifically for business messaging. Unlike short codes, 10DLC uses a standard 10-digit phone number and is designed for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging. This means businesses can use these numbers to send messages to their customers in a way that is scalable, reliable, and compliant with industry regulations. How is 10DLC different from a normal personal cell phone number (P2P)?While 10DLC and personal cell phone numbers (also known as Person-to-Person or P2P numbers) both use 10-digit phone numbers, there are significant differences between them, particularly in terms of usage, regulation, and capabilities. All text messaging traffic with Talkroute phone numbers are considered A2P: Key A2P and P2P Differences
Purpose and Usage: 10DLC is designed for business messaging (A2P), such as marketing, notifications, and customer service interactions. In contrast, personal cell phone numbers (P2P) are meant for direct, conversational messaging between individuals. Regulation and Compliance: 10DLC is subject to stricter regulations to prevent spam and ensure message deliverability. Businesses must register their campaigns with The Campaign Registry (TCR) and adhere to carrier guidelines. Personal cell phone numbers are less regulated, as they are assumed to be used between known contacts. Message Volume and Throughput: 10DLC supports higher message volumes and faster throughput, making it more suitable for businesses that need to send messages efficiently. Personal cell phone numbers have limited capacity, and high-volume messaging can trigger spam filters and result in message blocking by carriers. Reputation and Trust: Registered 10DLC campaigns help establish trust and legitimacy with carriers, improving message deliverability and reducing the risk of messages being marked as spam. Messages from personal numbers can be more easily flagged as spam if used for business purposes without proper registration. Opt-In/Opt-Out Mechanisms: Businesses using 10DLC must provide clear opt-in and opt-out mechanisms, ensuring recipients have control over the messages they receive. While opt-in and opt-out practices are still important for P2P messaging, they are less formalized and regulated compared to A2P messaging.
Campaign RegistryThe Campaign Registry (TCR) is an organization that manages the registration of 10DLC campaigns. It ensures that business messaging adheres to carrier regulations and helps to mitigate spam and fraudulent messaging. By registering, you gain legitimacy and improve your message deliverability. Talkroute will collect the required information for registration and submit it to TCR on your behalf. |
Who needs to register? |
Any business or organization that sends or responds to text messages using a 10-digit local phone number with Talkroute need to register a campaign. This includes both current and new customers who use Talkroute’s text messaging services. Effective 12/1/24, local phone numbers cannot be used to send text messages without an active campaign. The 10DLC registration requirements are for any kind of business text messages, whether they are marketing text messages or individual conversational messages. Essentially any messages that are sent or replied to using local Talkroute phone numbers will be impacted by this change. Current Customers: If you are already using Talkroute’s text messaging services for your business, you need to register your 10DLC campaigns to comply with carrier regulations and ensure your messages are delivered reliably. New Customers: If you are new to Talkroute and plan to use text messaging as part of your business communication strategy, you must register your campaigns before starting to send messages. This registration is essential to establish your legitimacy and avoid having your messages flagged as spam. What if I don't engage with message campaigns and just use texting for conversational messages? Carriers are requiring that all 10DLC A2P (application to person) phone numbers be registered with the campaign registry. All Talkroute phone numbers are considered AP2 , therefore requiring registration. The 10DLC registration requirements are for any kind of business text messages, whether they are marketing text messages or individual conversational messages. Essentially any messages that are sent or replied to using local Talkroute phone numbers will be impacted by this change. By registering your 10DLC campaigns, you not only comply with industry regulations but also enhance the trust and deliverability of your messages, ensuring that your communications reach your customers effectively. |
Pricing |
To comply with the new 10DLC requirements, several fees may apply during the registration process. Some fees are charged per submission attempt so it is important to make sure the information on your registration form is accurate to avoid delays, rejections, and possibly additional submission fees .
For select special use cases, multiple brands, multiple campaigns, or higher-tier campaign types may be required. Our team will notify you if your account falls under any special use cases upon reviewing your registration form. Toll-free phone numbers require a similar verification process, however, there are no additional fees involved. If you wish to swap your local phone number for a toll-free phone number, please let us know. Please see our Pricing Page if you have questions on what fees are included in your plan. |
What do I need to do? |
Important:If any fields in the verification form are incomplete or proof of consent (opt-in) is not provided, we cannot process your request. |
What kind of information is required for 10DLC Registration? |
You can reference our 10DLC Requirements article for a further explanation of what is needed. If you are not sure how to complete the 10DLC form, please contact us at support@talkroute.com before submitting. |
Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy |
Terms & ConditionsWhile a terms & conditions page is not required in most cases, this will depend on your opt-in method and use case. Your terms & conditions page should describe any applicable terms and conditions related to messaging (e.g., how to opt-out, customer care contact information, and link to any applicable privacy policy). 10DLC Requirements:
Privacy PolicyPrivacy policies are required for 10DLC registration (except for some Sole Proprietor use cases). Your privacy policy should describe how you collect, use and share information from end users. 10DLC Requirements:
If you do not already have a privacy policy in place, privacy policy generators may help you with this task. The following websites offer such generators:
|
CTIA and Best Practices |
Who is the CTIA?
Best Practices
By following these best practices and adhering to CTIA guidelines, you can ensure that your messaging campaigns are compliant, effective, and respectful of your customers’ preferences. |
Prohibited use cases and limits |
|||||||||||||||
Verification does not guarantee that your messages will not be blocked. Your number will not be whitelisted with a completed verification. To avoid having your messages blocked, it is important to follow best practices and avoid any improper uses. However, as long as the traffic you send matches what your verification application says and does not violate any prohibited use cases, your risk of receiving a block is low.
|
Penalties for violations |
There are penalties that will be passed on for any content violations. Each of these violations are designed to enforce compliance with regulations that protect both consumers and the integrity of the messaging ecosystem. Ensuring that all messaging practices are compliant with 10DLC guidelines is crucial to avoid these significant penalties. Talkroute is not responsible for any violations and Talkroute will not pay penalty fees on behalf of customers. 10DLC A2P Text Enablement Non-Compliance Violation - $10,000 (per violation): 10DLC A2P Program Evasion Non-Compliance Violation - $1,000 (per violation): 10DLC A2P Content Non-Compliance Violation - $10,000 (per violation): 10DLC A2P Gray Route Non-Compliance Violation - $10 (per message): |
Terms to Know |
CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association): MNO (Mobile Network Operator): CSP (Campaign Service Provider): A2P (Application-to-Person): P2P (Person-to-Person): 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code): Brand: Campaign: Opt-in: Opt-out: |
FAQs |
I already have active texting on my local numbers. Am I affected by this change?
Yes, all existing local numbers should be verified. Otherwise, you will experience service disruptions with text messaging moving forward. We recommend registering your local number as soon as possible. New numbers will need a completed campaign upon activation. If in doubt, check your ticket history or email communications with Talkroute, or contact us and we can check whether your number(s) are already verified.
My numbers were previously registered through my prior provider. Do I need to verify them again with Talkroute?
Yes, we strongly encourage our customers to submit campaign requests for their numbers once they port to Talkroute so we have a record of the campaign details in the case of a blocking event.
What if I don't wish to go through the campaign process?
If you do not want to go through the campaign process with your local numbers, you might experience service disruptions with text messaging. Please note that both local and toll-free phone numbers require registration before text messages can be sent.
How long does it take to complete a campaign?
Once you have sent us your completed form and proof of consent, we'll review and submit it to The Campaign Registry. The review and approval process, on average, can take up to 1-2 weeks. However, submission for multiple numbers or special use cases can take up to 4 weeks to complete.
Are there any other guidelines I should follow when sending text messages?
Yes, the CTIA, which represents the U.S. wireless communications industry, has provided a Messaging Principles and Best Practices document that most major carriers use as a standard.
What if I have more than one number I wish to text with?
Each message sender (business/entity/organization) should utilize only one primary sending number. Using a single number for messaging is not only a best practice but also a better user experience overall for the consumer!
In the case of a business/entity/organization with multiple locations or franchises, each location or franchise should have its own number. There is to be one number per message sender. Shared numbers (numbers used by multiple businesses) are disallowed and ineligible for verification. We understand there are use cases that require more than one sending number. You can use multiple numbers for the same business case by including them all on one application. If each number is for a different business case, you'll need a separate form for each. Will texting work during the registration process?
Effective 12/1/24, any numbers pending registration will be blocked from sending traffic. Only after your 10DLC registration has been approved will you be able to send text messages with your number.
|