Welcome to FluentStream's 10DLC Registration Hub!
10DLC allows businesses to send text messages (“SMS”) using 10-digit phone numbers. Mobile carriers now regulate 10DLC to ensure messages are legitimate and not spam. Businesses are now required to register their company (Brand) and use case (Campaign) in order to continue sending SMS messages from their business phone number(s).
This page is your go-to resource for everything related to 10DLC registration for your business texting. It includes comprehensive FAQs, the customer registration form with a step-by-step guide and best practices. Navigating the 10DLC compliance landscape can be complex, but we’re here to simplify the process for you.
SUMMARY: To continue sending and receiving text messages via your FluentStream business phone number, click here to complete your registration and be sure to reference the Customer Guide: Registration Form Best Practices when filling out your application. Registration is required by November 1, 2024. SMS will be removed from all FluentStream accounts not registered after November 1, 2024.
A2P 10DLC stands for Application-to-Person 10-Digit Long Code.
In layman’s terms, it’s a text message sent from a business using a local phone number.
New 10DLC regulations are a new initiative imposed by the US Telecommunications industry in direct response to customer feedback: 10DLC is intended to reduce spam and unwanted texts.
From this point forward, we’ll refer to the requirements for this new regulation as “10DLC”.
If you intend to send text messages from your business phone number after November 1, 2024, you must register your business (“brand”).
A “campaign” is the use case of your outgoing SMS messages. For the majority of our customers, we recommend using a “mixed use” campaign which allows for up to 5 use case types. For 10DLC compliance, “campaigns” refers to any use of SMS, not just the traditional use of the term “campaign” which implies broad outreach and other marketing activities. As a result, if you use any SMS, even for direct communication such as texting customers, you will need to register that use case as a campaign.
Without registration, your business will not be able to send SMS messages but will continue to receive text messages from 10-digit phone numbers.
Complete the Customer Brand and Campaign Registration Form provided by FluentStream. Reference the Customer Guide: Registration Form Best Practices when filling out your application.
Ensure your website is up to date with the latest compliance measures covered in the Customer Guide: Registration Form Best Practices.
Registration must be completed by November 1, 2024 to avoid disruption to your texting service.
Please note: the registration approval process may take up to three weeks, so we encourage customers to take action immediately to avoid disruption to their texting activities.
Yes. The upstream carriers will block and impose penalties on any business that is sending an SMS from an unregistered phone number, including one-off messages sent to clients and internal communications.
Enhanced Trust and Legitimacy: The measures driving 10DLC compliance are aimed at reducing unwanted spam and fraudulent SMS messages. By ensuring your phone numbers are registered, it will drive increased trust and legitimacy in the communication between your company and your customers and will reduce the risk of message blocking by upstream carriers.
Support for Higher Messaging Volumes: Unlike traditional P2P (Person-to-Person) messaging, 10DLC supports higher message volumes, making it suitable for business needs.
Increased Customer Engagement: Using a local phone number to text your customers brings an added layer of trust and familiarity. Customers are more likely to trust and engage messages from area codes they recognize.
Improved Customer Experience: 10DLC texting provides a better customer experience for those that you are trying to reach. Being able to call or text the same number means your customers always know how to reach you. Local numbers can add to the perception that your business is accessible and easy to reach.
Yes. FluentStream will pass through charges from various upstream providers and include on customers’ invoices.
Customers who successfully register can expect three types of charges:
- One-time charge: $25 for brand and campaign registration, consolidated into a single item on the customer’s invoice.
- Monthly campaign fee: Variable based on usage, assessed by upstream carriers and passed through to customer invoices.
- Monthly SMS Service charge: Variable carrier fees per SMS message, with SMS bundles available. Contact Support for details on adding SMS bundles.
10DLC campaign registration requires companies to confirm the volume of text messages typically sent.
If your business sends more than 2,000 outbound SMS messages per day, you will register for a “high-volume” campaign. Customers sending less than 2,000 outbound SMS messages per day will qualify for a “low-use” campaign.
High volume campaigns have higher monthly costs associated with SMS service.
If you would like to know how many text messages are sent from your FluentStream account, including the number of SMS messages sent in the recent month, please contact FluentStream Support.
The following messaging features listed below are required in order to receive approval on a campaign. We’ve provided examples and guidelines to help you ensure your online presence is compliant.
Subscriber Opt-in (required)
It’s required to have visible and distinct opt-in information when collecting customer mobile numbers. The simplest way to capture opt-ins is to have a checkbox that the customers click to consent when signing up for SMS from your business. Your Opt-in statement should include the following:
- Explicit consent:
Example language: “By providing your phone number you agree to receive SMS messages from [company name]." - Message and Data Rates
Example language: “message and data rates may apply” - Privacy Policy: Include a link to your privacy policy on the communication sign up page
- Message Frequency
Example Opt-in Language: “By checking this box, you agree to receive text messages from Always be Calling about upcoming appointments and delivery reminders. Messaging and data rates may vary. See privacy policy for more details.”
Subscriber Opt-Out (required)
Customers must have a clear way to opt out of text messages once subscribed. This most frequently takes the form of notices at the end of an SMS. Example: "You can opt out of our messages at any time by replying with 'STOP' or 'UNSUBSCRIBE’.”
Privacy Policy (required)
Your company’s website must include a privacy policy around how you manage customer information. The privacy policy must be clearly accessible on the page where you collect customer contact information. For reference, you can review FluentStream’s version: www.fluentstream.com/privacy-policy/
If you only receive inbound SMS messages and do not send outbound messages, you do not need to register for a 10DLC campaign.
If you have automated replies to inbound messages, that is considered outbound SMS and you will need to register for a 10DLC campaign.
Registration FAQ
As with most telecommunications rules and regulations, there are many players involved in the new 10DLC requirements.
10DLC is regulated at various levels starting with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) via the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
The Campaign Registry is the third party platform responsible for brand and campaign registration and approvals.
Mobile carriers, like AT&T and T-Mobile, control the traffic of SMS ensuring only intended (non-spam) messages are sent.
As soon as possible. All messages sent from unregistered phone numbers will be blocked beginning 11/1/24.
Registration timelines can range from 3 days to 3 weeks, so it’s imperative to begin the process immediately.
If registration is not completed by the deadline, FluentStream will assess additional fines for non-compliance, passed through from the carriers.
10DLC Registration includes multiple stages:
- As a business that utilizes texting, it is your responsibility to complete the Customer Brand and Campaign Registration Form.
- As applicable, your business websites are up to date with the compliance guidelines.
- After a brief review, FluentStream will submit the information to The Campaign Registry (“TCR”).
- TCR will review and vet each application which can take 3 days to 3 weeks.
- If the information is not filled out accurately, the application will be rejected.
- If rejected, FluentStream will inform you and collaborate to resubmit your application, thus restarting the process.
If you don’t complete your Brand and Campaign Registration Form prior to the November 1 deadline, your outbound SMS traffic will be blocked by the carriers.
We know strategies change and your business may decide to start sending text messages after November 1, 2024. If that’s the case, email us at support@fluentstream.com and we’ll initiate the enrollment process.
If your application is rejected you will need to fix the errors and resubmit your application. Once your application is approved by The Campaign Registry, your outbound messages will no longer be blocked by the mobile carriers.
No. FluentStream is a registered Campaign Service Provider (CSP) which provides access for our team to triage between The Campaign Registry and carriers on your behalf. There are technical and filing requirements completed on the backend that must be completed by a licensed CSP.
Application Approval and Rejection FAQ
The upstream carriers and third party compliance entities review and validate your customer information. Accuracy is critical: Web presence, opt-in options, EIN and business name are verified on every application submitted.
The approval process can take anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks to be completed. The review and vetting is handled by third parties. FluentStream is unable to expedite applications.
FluentStream will notify you once we receive an update from The Campaign Registry.
If you received a rejection on your Customer Brand and Campaign Registration Form, it means the campaign registry could not verify your company identity or campaign use case. If this occurs, FluentStream will send you a notification of the campaign rejection along with the rejection reason given by The Campaign Registry. Customers who fill out the form without referencing the Customer Guide: Registration Form Best Practices resource are more likely to receive a rejection.
The most common reasons for rejection are:
- Incorrect or incomplete Call to Action/Message flow entry
- Opt-In process is not compliant or does not exist
- Privacy policy is not clearly posted on the same page that collects customer contact information stated on your business website
If this occurs, your business will need to correct the errors and resubmit the application.
Your registered campaign will be valid as long as your business’ messages are within the registered campaign type.
If your company runs a new marketing campaign or outreach program, you will need to register those details. Please contact FluentStream Support for assistance.
If you registered with a “low use mixed” campaign, you will have flexibility with up to 5 use cases within that designation and up to 2,000 text messages sent within 1 month.