You may have recently been contacted by your service provider about a 10DLC campaign, asking you to submit business information and ensure your website is 10DLC-compliant. But what does this mean? Let’s break it down.
A 10DLC Campaign, also known as a Business Texting Campaign, is now required by all mobile carriers.
Mobile carriers have implemented this requirement to minimize spam and unauthorized business texting. A2P (Application-to-Person) texting refers to messages sent from a business to an individual, and 10DLC is designed to regulate and authenticate this type of messaging.
To send business-related text messages from your phone number, carriers now require businesses to register their 10-digit local numbers (10DLC) for texting. Messages will only be allowed if the number is linked to an approved SMS campaign.
The good news? Unicom will handle the entire registration process for you, including any necessary updates to your website, ensuring compliance without hassle.
Why is 10DLC Required?
Carriers now classify business texting as A2P messaging, which means all business communication with customers via text must go through an approved process. This ensures legitimate messaging and reduces spam.
Bottom line: If you send texts from a business number, you must register your number under a 10DLC campaign to comply with carrier requirements.
Who regulates 10DLC requirements?
Since 2020, major mobile carriers—including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile—have required businesses to register for 10DLC to send texts to customers. These rules were established following CTIA guidelines to help reduce spam and unwanted messages.
Unlike other messaging regulations managed by the FCC, the 10DLC initiative is directly controlled by mobile carriers. They have designated The Campaign Registry (TCR) to oversee 10DLC registration. To send business texts, each company must register both a Brand and a Campaign with TCR.
As of November 1, 2021, mobile carriers and TCR actively enforce penalties for non-compliance, meaning businesses that fail to register their numbers for 10DLC may face steep fines or blocked messages.
To stay compliant and avoid issues, businesses must ensure all SMS-enabled numbers are registered under a 10DLC campaign
10DLC Terminologies
10DLC: 10 Digit Long Code, is a local long code number approved for A2P (application-to-person) texting.
Brand: The company or entity initiating messages to the consumer.
Campaign: A campaign describes the intended goal or use case of the messages.
The Campaign Registry (TCR): The newly conceived third-party central hub designated by AT&T and T-Mobile for registering A2P 10DLC messaging campaigns.
Direct Connect Aggregator (DCA): A company that has a direct connection to a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) Gateway and transmits messages on behalf of its customers or “content providers”.
10DLC SMS Registration FAQs
Q: I don’t do marketing “campaigns” – why am I registering?
A. When it comes to 10DLC, “campaign” is simply a word used to describe the reason a business has for messaging its end users. All businesses that use SMS must register for a 10DLC SMS campaign.
Q. Does 10DLC apply to all phone numbers?
A. Yes, it applies to all DIDs intending to send outbound SMS/MMS. This does not include Toll Free numbers. Toll Free numbers require their own kind of campaign that require different verification processes. Contact a Unicom representative with any questions.
Q. What can be done for a business that legitimately uses more than 49 SMS enabled numbers?
A. If your business requires more than 49 SMS-enabled numbers, consider these options:
- Unicom can create separate campaigns per department or location or per use case. Ensure that each campaign description specifies the address or use case.
- Review the necessity for having more than 49 numbers and the associated SMS usage to determine if additional campaigns are warranted.
Q. Why does it take so long to get a campaign set up sometimes?
A. Setting up 10DLC involves multiple steps and the manual review process, combined with delayed compliance from other providers, has led to a surge in registrations, prolonging campaign approval times. Unicom takes care of all the submissions and revisions for you, and the average turn-around time can be about 2 weeks. A Unicom representative will be in touch with you with any website modifications or rejection reasons.
Q. Why do I need a Privacy Policy on my Website for SMS Campaigns?
A: While requirements may vary by industry, all businesses collecting phone numbers on their website for SMS purposes must follow these key guidelines:
- Opt-in Consent: Your contact form must include a disclosure stating that users are opting in to receive text messages.
- Privacy Policy: Your website must have a comprehensive privacy policy that clearly states:
- Mobile data will not be shared with third parties.
- Message frequency may vary.
- Standard message and data rates may apply.
Example of an SMS Opt-in Disclosure on a Contact Form:
(Note: The phone number field or disclosure checkbox must NOT be marked as mandatory—customers cannot be forced to consent to SMS messaging.)
“I consent to receive text messages about account notifications, appointment reminders, and relevant updates from [Company Name] at the phone number I provided. I understand that my consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency varies. Reply HELP for assistance or STOP to opt out at any time. Privacy Policy [Link here].”
Your Privacy Policy should be detailed and hosted on a separate webpage. It must explicitly state that mobile information will not be shared with third parties. Below is an example of a compliance-friendly mobile data policy:
Sample Privacy Policy Section for SMS Consent:
No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
In summary, navigating the complexities of 10DLC registration can be daunting, but with Unicom’s expertise, you can ensure seamless compliance and focus on what matters most—your business. Our dedicated team manages the entire registration process, liaising directly with carriers on your behalf.
Ready to streamline your business messaging? Contact us today to get started.
Last updated 2/21/2025