10DLC FAQ

This article provides answers to the frequently asked questions about 10DLC. For information about the latest carrier requirements and fees, see our 10DLC Overview.

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.

Can I register via API?

Yes, Bandwidth has both a portal and an API for the registration process. TCR also has a portal and an API for customers who are going directly to them. 

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.

For information on how to apply for external vetting, see Brand vetting.

Will I need to register campaigns for each brand that a Bandwidth 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 I 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's 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.

What happens if a carrier suspends my campaign in TCR?

If you receive a suspension for your campaign or brand in TCR, Bandwidth will disassociate the telephone numbers that were assigned to that campaign. This means your traffic will no longer be registered and you need to check in TCR or the Bandwidth dashboard to see why your campaign was suspended. Usually, we see suspensions for high spam complaints, phishing, or other violations of the carriers' codes of conduct. Occasionally carriers will lift suspensions if the issues reported in the suspension are addressed, but often times you will need to register a new campaign after having addressed the suspension reason.

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 request has been approved. Bandwidth has an internal vetting process if you anticipate needing more than 49 TNs (requiring a Number Pool) on a campaign, so please reach out to your Account Manager to get the conversation started. Not sure who your Account Manager is? Please open a ticket with your Bandwidth Support Team or hit us up at (855) 864-7776!

Note: Checking the box for Number Pooling in TCR or Bandwidth Dashboard DOES NOT constitute a Number Pool approval. The application must still be submitted and approved by Bandwidth.

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. Bandwidth 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 within the Bandwidth Dashboard. Once selected, these numbers will be activated on the messaging campaign. Please visit Registering brands and campaigns for 10DLC for more information.

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 Bandwidth 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. If you are sending messages only within Canada registration is not needed. If you are sending traffic from a Canadian number to a US number it will need to be registered.

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's 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, SP 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 doesn't qualify, associated campaigns will be deactivated by TCR at a later date (likely in early 2023). 

The campaigns that don't qualify for the SP use case 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)

Does 10DLC support group messaging?

10DLC doesn't fully support group messaging at this time; however, Bandwidth is actively exploring the feasibility of fully incorporating this feature in collaboration with carriers. In response to the high demand from partners who require special group messaging functionalities, certain carriers have already acknowledged their efforts toward finding a resolution.

Where can I ask additional questions?

Please reach out to your Account Manager if you have any questions not listed above. Not sure who your Account Manager is? Open a ticket with your Bandwidth Support Team or hit us up at (855) 864-7776!