Please Note: This article pertains to accounts with a regular ten-digit number (10DLC). It does not yet apply to toll-free numbers (e.g., 833, 844, 855, 866, 888) or shortcode numbers (e.g., 22122).
If you’ve been sending Short Messaging Service (SMS) messages via Application-to-Person (A2P) platforms, you’ve got some business to take care of. Recently, American carriers have stopped supporting unregistered long codes for A2P SMS.
That doesn’t mean you can’t continue messaging your customers or keep your current number, however. You merely need to register your 10-Digit Long Code (10DLC) to keep using it for commercial messaging purposes.
Unique to your business, your number helps establish brand recognition and maintain 10DLC compliance—but to hold onto it, you’ll need to apply to The Campaign Registry. Let’s unpack the 10DLC registration process and learn how to quickly and easily register your number using Mozeo’s Trust Hub.
The Campaign Registry (TCR) calls itself “the backbone support for the 10DLC ecosystem.” Essentially, TCR serves as a central hub for Campaign Service Providers (CSPs) to register their clients’ brands and campaigns.
Non-consumer numbers often used unsanctioned long codes for their messaging campaigns—but those days are over. In order to get a better idea of who’s messaging whom and for what purpose, most major American cellular carriers now require businesses to register their campaigns’ including:
With all these large providers now requiring 10DLC registration, it begs the question: What is 10DLC, anyway?
As per The Campaign Registry, 10DLC is the approved standard for commercial (A2P) messaging using traditional 10-digit numbers. It’s essentially a messaging channel operated by mobile carriers specifically for businesses and their texting campaigns.
10DLC supports a reliable network with the capacity to handle high messaging volumes. It also allows users to make voice calls on the same number that they text.
Your phone number is already associated with your business, and if you fail to register it with TCR, there’s a high chance that you’ll lose it and be unable to get it back. Losing access to your number can:
Besides the fear of losing your historical, widely-known number, there are also the potential legal repercussions of not registering your 10DLC. All businesses that use text messages to communicate with their customers or employees must register—even if they don’t message for marketing purposes. There are also other 10DLC regulations governing registration workarounds, message contents, and more.
Failure to comply with 10DLC rules results in fines and penalties—but the exact amount varies depending on the severity of the violation. Under current rules, you could be fined for:
Brand recognition and fear of penalties aren’t the only reasons to register your number. The numerous upsides to complying with 10DLC regulations include:
Your bank account and customer base will both thank you for registering your 10DLC. So then, when should you get started toward compliance?
The primary deadline to register your 10DLC has long passed, and if you haven’t already done so, you’re probably already experiencing the repercussions. Nearly all mobile carriers began blocking messages sent from A2P numbers with unregistered 10DLCs as of August 31, 2023.
Some providers still offer service to unregistered numbers, but with plans to phase coverage out entirely by December 1, 2024, the days of unsanctioned 10DLCs are numbered.
If you’ve somehow managed to send messages without registering your 10DLC and are not on one of the few networks still offering the service, you’re likely subject to the fines outlined in this article. If you haven’t already registered, do so as soon as possible to avoid (further) liability.
Brands don’t apply directly with TCR. Instead, they register with a CSP that submits the application on their behalf. CSPs facilitate messaging and marketing efforts for individual businesses and ensure their compliance with 10DLC, among other regulatory guidelines.
To get started, you'll file things like:
TCR will then use third-party, independent sources to verify your EIN, tax information, company name, and address before issuing an Identity Status. If a brand’s application and public records contain inconsistencies, they’ll be labeled as Unverified until a review confirms their correct details.
If your brand is initially unverified, you’ll have 45 days from registration to submit an appeal and provide the correct company information. Once your brand achieves the Verified status, you can begin sending messages in line with 10DLC regulations.
Mozeo simplifies applying to TCR for your 10DLC registration and submits the form on your behalf. To get started, open up Mozeo’s dashboard and:
Please note: Obtaining full approval from mobile carriers generally takes one to three weeks. Mozeo has no control over this waiting period or the ability to expedite the process, so apply early if you wish to start messaging sooner.
Registering your 10DLC is essential if you want to keep your business number and continue messaging approved recipients among your clientele. Failure to register can result in blocked texts and steep fines—so make sure to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid legal repercussions.
Mozeo makes it simple to register your 10DLC with our intuitive TRUST HUB. After completing just one form, you'll soon be in line with TCR guidelines. And Mozeo doesn't just keep you above board in regards to 10DLC. We also help businesses maintain 100% SMS compliance across all their messages and campaigns.
Get started with Mozeo today—10DLC compliance and a smoother texting experience are waiting.