10DLC (SMS) FAQ

What is 10DLC?

10DLC stands for 10-digit Long Code. 10DLC messaging lets businesses send sanctioned Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging traffic over local phone numbers, also known as “long codes”.

What is The Campaign Registry?

The Campaign Registry (TCR) is a new component of the Long Code messaging ecosystem. It’s a third-party company that’s been selected by some mobile carriers, such as AT&T and T-Mobile, to administer the registration of 10DLC messaging campaigns on their behalf.

Why do I need to register 10DLC campaigns?

The industry has been working for many years to find ways to support the use of local numbers to deliver A2P messaging traffic to mobile subscribers at volume. Following the recognition by the CTIA in 2019 that local and toll-free numbers are valid methods for delivering A2P traffic, mobile carriers have been developing their 10DLC solutions.

Verizon charges a blanket surcharge on top of messages without additional registration, while AT&T and T-Mobile do require registration and additional fees to increase throughput caps for campaigns that should be granted a higher messaging class. They also require the use of TCR to get additional information on A2P message senders and the type of traffic being sent to their mobile subscribers.

Will I need to apply for external vetting? 

It depends on your use case and the amount of throughput you need. Brands are considered either:

  • Self Declared: Sole proprietors who self declare to their CSP – no verification done
  • Unverified: Companies that register and TCR can’t verify their identity
  • Verified: Companies that register and TCR can verify their identity
  • Vetted Verified: Companies that have registered and their identities have been verified through the external vetting

Verified status grants access only to AT&T message classes E/F and T-Mobile brand tier Low. The classes/tiers in the middle require external vetting. If a brand is a Russell 3000 brand, then it’ll receive access to class A/B and the highest T-Mobile tier.

Will we need to register campaigns for each brand that a Global VoIP customer supports? 

Yes, each brand will need to be registered individually. This means similar use cases for different companies can’t be lumped together in one registration. 

How long will it take for a campaign to be approved?

Campaigns for standard use cases should be approved immediately. Specialty use cases will require additional vetting and we’ve seen this take up to a few weeks, depending on the carrier review cadence. 

What happens if we choose not to register campaigns with TCR? 

If you choose not to register but would still like to utilize 10DLC routes, you’ll receive the higher carrier per-message surcharge, and lowest throughput, but will still be able to send traffic. If there is blocking on an unregistered number, we currently have no path to get this traffic unblocked. Eventually, there may be blocking on all unregistered traffic.

If the traffic is blocked by a carrier, will it also be blocked by its subsidiaries?

Yes, any blocking by a carrier extends to its subsidiaries. For example, if your traffic is blocked by AT&T, it’ll also be blocked by Cricket Wireless.

How many phone numbers can be associated with a campaign? 

T-Mobile has determined the upper limit associated with a campaign is 49 phone numbers (TNs) unless a Number Pool/Sub ID request has been approved. Global VoIP has an internal vetting process if you anticipate needing more than 49 TNs (requiring a Number Pool/Sub ID) on a campaign, so please reach out to your Account Manager to get the conversation started or send us an email to: Support@gVoIPc.com .

What if I don’t agree with the messaging class I was assigned? 

If you don’t agree with the class that’s been assigned to a campaign and you’ve entered all of your information accurately, you may request external vetting from a third-party provider for a fee. Global VoIP does not assist or mediate messaging class disputes with TCR. There’s a risk of being assigned a lower class than initially given if you choose to dispute. 

Who do I contact for troubleshooting issues with TCR? 

TCR has a ticketing system where a ticket can be opened by emailing support. 

What happens after a campaign is registered? 

After successful registration of a campaign, you’ll need to assign the Campaign ID to the phone numbers that will be associated with the campaign. Once selected, these numbers will be activated on the messaging campaign.

Which Vertical should I choose?  

Choose one that aligns with the majority of your customer base. If there’s no direct fit, please choose the closest option. 

Do I have to register a campaign and brand for every single customer I have? 

A Campaign ID will need to be attached to each phone number to ensure it doesn’t experience any blocking. T-Mobile and AT&T per-message fees for unregistered traffic increased on March 1, 2021.

Should I register with Global VoIP or with TCR directly? 

If you support a large number of brands, we encourage you to reach out to TCR directly to explore becoming a Campaign Service Provider (CSP). You’ll have the option to begin registering campaigns immediately through them. 

If I have two customers with similar use cases, can they be placed on the same brand or campaign?

No, each brand will need to have its own campaign unless they all fall under a larger parent company. Each campaign should be associated with a single company. The actual message sender (who the end user perceives to have sent the message) is who should be registered as the brand. Brands can not be shared by multiple message senders.

Is 10DLC only for SMS messages? 

No, it’s for both MMS and SMS messages. 

Does 10DLC apply to Canadian messaging?

No, 10DLC applies only to US domestic messaging at this time. 

What is changing about the sole proprietor use case?

The Sole Proprietor (SP) use case is designed to allow sole proprietors without an EIN to be
able to register and send 10DLC messaging. It is not intended as a low volume use case
alternative to the existing verified sending categories for normal businesses that have EINs.

As 10DLC evolves, there have been some changes to the sole proprietor use case to encourage proper registration and better identification of brands and message senders. Previously, sole prop brands were not vetted the way standard and special campaigns were. Starting November 3, 2022, all sole prop brands will be reverted to an unverified status and will undergo vetting to determine if the campaign qualifies as a true sole proprietor. If the brand does not qualify, associated campaigns will be deactivated by TCR at a later date (likely early 2023). 

The campaigns that do not qualify as sole prop should register low volume campaigns before the end of December to ensure service continuity.

Sole prop requirements:

  • 1 campaign per brand with a maximum of 1 associated telephone number
  • 1,000 messages per day (T-Mobile), 15 messages per minute limit (AT&T)
  • Mandatory monthly reporting (see TCR for details)

Where can I ask additional questions?

Please reach out to your Account Manager if you have any questions not listed above or open a support case by sending an email to: Support@gVoIPc.com .