What is 10DLC?
Understanding the Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging framework
10-Digit Long Code (10DLC) is an A2P messaging framework mandated by CTIA that requires businesses to register their brand and campaigns with The Campaign Registry (TCR) before sending commercial text messages. The framework validates sender identity, assigns trust scores (0-100 scale), and determines throughput limits based on business verification and reputation signals.
Spam Reduction
Validates legitimate business senders and filters fraudulent or spam-based messaging activity
Throughput Control
Assigns message velocity limits (60-4,500 msg/min) based on trust score and campaign use case
Carrier Approval
T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon review campaigns before enabling traffic delivery
Why 10DLC Matters for Your Business
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Higher Deliverability: Registered 10DLC campaigns achieve 95%+ delivery rates versus 60-70% for unregistered local numbers
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Increased Throughput: Send up to 4,500 messages per minute per campaign (vs 1 msg/sec for unregistered local numbers)
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Avoid Blocking: Carriers throttle or block unregistered business messaging, particularly high-volume campaigns
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Regulatory Compliance: Demonstrates TCPA and CTIA compliance efforts, reducing litigation exposure
Non-Compliance Consequences
- Message Blocking: Carriers filter unregistered business traffic at network edge
- Throughput Throttling: 1 message per second limit enforced (vs 4,500/min for registered)
- Sender Suspension: Repeated violations trigger permanent phone number blocklisting
- Cross-Carrier Enforcement: Violations shared between T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon
Step-by-Step Registration Process
Complete workflow from brand vetting through campaign approval
Gather Business Documentation
Required Information
- Legal business name (matches state filing)
- EIN/Tax ID number
- Business address (physical, not PO box)
- Business phone and email
- Business website URL
- Industry vertical/category
Optional (Improves Trust Score)
- DUNS number (+10-15 trust score points)
- Stock ticker (public companies)
- Business registration documents
- Domain age verification (6+ months)
Submit Brand Registration to TCR
The Campaign Registry validates your business identity through external data sources (DUNS, Secretary of State filings, domain registrars) and assigns a trust score (0-100) determining throughput limits.
1-3 business days for automated approval; 5-10 days if manual review required (trust score <50)
$4 registration charge (paid to TCR, non-refundable)
Select Campaign Use Case
TCR categorizes campaigns into use cases that determine carrier review processes, throughput limits, and monthly fees. Choose the most specific use case matching your messaging purpose.
2FA, account notifications, customer care, delivery notifications, fraud alerts
Marketing, promotions, mixed content, polling/surveys, public service announcements
Charity, political, emergency services, K-12 education, higher education
Provide Campaign Details
TCR requires specific campaign information for carrier review. Incomplete or vague descriptions trigger manual review delays.
Required Fields
- Campaign description (200 characters)
- Sample message(s) showing exact content
- Call-to-action (if applicable)
- Opt-in workflow description
- Opt-out mechanism (STOP keyword)
- Help message (HELP keyword)
- Message flow example
- Terms of service URL
Best Practices
- Use clear, specific language (avoid "and more," "etc.")
- Provide 3+ sample messages showing variation
- Match sample content to use case category
- Document explicit opt-in consent capture
- Include brand name in sample messages
- Specify message frequency expectations
Await Carrier Approval
T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon review campaigns independently. Approval timelines depend on trust score, use case, and content quality.
24-48 hour automated approval for low-risk use cases
3-5 business days with spot-check review
7-10 business days manual review required
Begin Messaging with Approved Throughput
Once approved, assign 10DLC phone numbers to campaigns and begin messaging within assigned throughput limits. Monitor deliverability and engagement metrics for ongoing optimization.
Post-Approval Actions
- Link phone numbers to approved campaigns
- Configure messaging platform with campaign ID
- Test message delivery across all carriers
- Monitor throughput and deliverability rates
Ongoing Compliance
- Maintain consent documentation (4+ years)
- Process STOP requests within 5 seconds
- Update campaign details if content changes
- Respond to carrier compliance inquiries promptly
Carrier-Specific Policy Requirements
T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon compliance frameworks and content restrictions
T-Mobile 10DLC Requirements
Registration Requirements
- Mandatory 10DLC registration (no exceptions)
- DUNS-verified brand registration strongly recommended
- EIN/Tax ID verification required
- Business website must be active and match brand name
Content Restrictions
- Cannabis/CBD/hemp products prohibited
- SHAFT content (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco) blocked
- High-risk financial services restricted (payday loans, crypto, debt relief)
- Phishing simulation requires pre-approval
T-Mobile Enforcement Actions
Ready to Register Your 10DLC Campaigns?
Schedule a consultation to review your brand setup, campaign strategy, and carrier approval optimization with MyTCRPlus specialists