10DLC regulations before launching your first campaign
Until 2021, wireless carriers did not allow companies to text from local phone numbers. Instead, they needed to use a shared short code (5-or 6-digit number used by many businesses across a variety of industries). SPAM became an issue when so many different companies were using the same short code.
Companies who wanted to continue texting were given the option to invest in own short code (dynamic short code) for opt-ins, convert to a toll-free number, or utilize a 10DLC (10-digit long code)—a more affordable alternative with high message throughput.
To use a 10DLC for texting, businesses need to follow several rules and regulations. Not following them could lead to carrier filtering—when carriers like ATG&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile block the delivery of text messages they recognize as spammy.
To help prevent spammers from utilizing 10DLCs, all numbers must be registered with The Campaign Registry (TCR), the third party that controls the U.S. wireless carriers’ new registration system. They collaborate with many carriers including the largest carriers such as T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T and smaller carriers.
AGE Texting takes these actions on your behalf before you send your first message to help avoid any carrier filtering issues or added fees.
The Process
When you sign up with AGE Texting, we register for your 10DLC with TCR and manage the process for you.
First, we request three pieces of information: Business name and contact information, campaign use cases, and campaign examples.
1. Business Information
Business information includes:
· Company’s legal name
· Your company name (DBA, if different than legal name)
· Company address
· Entity type (LLC, Corp, charity/non-profit, etc.)
· Tax number/ ID/ EIN
· Website URL
· Stock symbol and stock exchange (if public)
· Vertical or industry
2. Use Case
Briefly define what you’ll be using your 10DLC texting number for. For most companies, use cases fall under these categories: Most often, use cases fall under these categories:
· 2FA: any authentication, verification, or one-time passcode
· Account notifications: messages sent to contacts about their account
· Customer care: messages related to customer service and support
· Delivery notifications: information about order shipments and deliveries
· Fraud alert messaging: alerting customers of potential fraud
· Higher education: campaign sent by universities or colleges, can also include school districts and other educational institutions
· Marketing: any messaging that promotes your products or services
· Polling and voting: non-political voting and surveys
· Public service announcement: mass messaging to alert contact to information is of importance.
There are two other categories, known as Special Use Cases, that have additional requirements and fees for registration. These include:
· Charity: messages that come from a charity aimed at providing help and raising money for those in need. You must be a registered 501c3 charity, and this doesn’t include religious organizations.
· Emergency services: notifications during emergency situations that support public safety. This use case is restricted to government and healthcare organization and requires a special business review from T-Mobile.
3. Text Messages Examples (3)
We’ll ask you for three example text messages you would or plan to send. This gives TCR an idea of what your contacts can expect to receive from you.
You can write an example message from scratch, or you can provide a message you’ve already sent to your subscribers. Or we can work with you to draft something that is close to what you have in mind.
What does TCR do with the information?
After collecting all required company information, they evaluate this information to help the carriers determine how they will handle your messages. The evaluation process is based on several things: does the EIN exist, does it match the company name, etc. When they have determined company’s reputation, they share this information with the carriers. Each carrier reviews to determine throughput and speed of sending the company’s messages.
The brand and campaign information registered is never sold or shared outside of the registration process.
Secondary Vetting and Trust Scores
AGE Texting also submits the Brand (company) for "secondary vetting," which assigns a score from 0 to 100 and gives access to higher default throughput and message limits toward U.S. mobile carriers.
The Brand registration process uses a reputation algorithm to review specific criteria relating to your company and then assigns a “Trust Score”. The higher a brand’s Trust Score, the higher the messaging throughput.
A Trust Score may be low due to data discrepancies with the information initially submitted for registration, such as an address that does not match up with your registration number (e.g. EIN). Most small organizations with less business presence tend to receive lower Trust Scores.
What is throughput?
Throughput is the volume and speed in which a carrier allows your SMS campaigns to be delivered to the intended recipient. Different carriers use different variables—some report quantity per day, quantity per number, quantity per minute.
Do I have to get my number verified if I only send messages to contacts in Canada?
Canadian mobile carriers currently do not require registration for local numbers.