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 an App 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 brand vetting? 

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

• Pending: A “Pending” status means that the Brand submission has not yet been processed and has been queued. Once processed, the status will change to either Verified or Unverified. Campaigns cannot be created for a Brand in this state.
• Unverified: The Brand was not able to be verified using the information entered. The most common reason for this status is the Legal Company Name and EIN do not match what is filed with the Federal Government. 
• Verified: A “Verified” status is a requirement to register campaigns and send messages on 10DLC. In this status, you can now register campaigns for the Brand.
• Vetted Verified: Brands that have registered and their identities have been verified through external vetting.

For “Verified” brands, Classes (AT&T) or Tiers (T-Mobile) are assigned according to whether a verified Brand is part of the Russell 3000 list or not. A Verified brand that is on the Russell 3000 list will automatically have access to the highest throughput level for both AT&T (Class: A or B) and T-Mobile (Tier: TOP). Verified Brands who are not part of the Russell 3000 list will automatically have access to the entry-level throughput for both AT&T (Class: E or F) and T-Mobile (Tier: LOW) and can improve their Class/Tier assignment through vetting.

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

What types of brand vetting exist? 

• Standard Vets are optional and should be used if you want to potentially improve your throughput or help verify an "unverified" brand. A Standard vet is an automated review of compliance history, employee count, etc. Please note that your score could be improved, but it could also be downgraded. Aegis Mobile and WMC Global are the two vetting partners that handle standard vets.
• Enhanced Vets are optional and should only be used AFTER a Standard vet is completed. An Enhanced vet is a manual process that looks deeper into the history, lawsuits, employee count, etc of the brand. Enhanced vets are only offered by Aegis so the standard vet will need to be completed by Aegis prior to applying for an enhanced vet. Current timelines for enhanced vets are 2-3 months.
• Political Vets are required for non-profit brands without a 501(c)(3/4/5/6) Tax Exempt Status that want to utilize the Political special use case. Political vets can be completed by Campaign Verify or Aegis Mobile.

What happens if I resubmit a brand for vetting and receive a lower score?

The campaign resubmit which updates throughputs will use the highest score, not the latest to determine throughputs. 

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 by the carriers?

Campaigns for standard use cases should be approved immediately. Specialty use cases will require additional review 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? 

You will not be able to send traffic in the US if you do not register. As of February 1, 2025, unregistered outbound traffic is being blocked in the industry. 

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 App 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 oftentimes 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 App 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 phone numbers to the campaign in the Bandwidth App. Once selected, these numbers will be activated on the messaging campaign. Please visit our 10DLC brand and campaign registration overview 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. A brand should represent a single message sender on your end so yes, you will need a separate brand and campaign for each of your customers.

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 messaging at this time. If you're sending messages only within Canada, registration is not currently needed. However, if you're sending traffic from a Canadian number to a US number, it will need to be registered.

Can I register sole proprietor campaigns through Bandwidth?

Bandwidth is not supporting Sole Proprietor use cases at this time, please reach out to your Bandwidth Support Team with any questions.

Does 10DLC support group messaging?

Yes, group messaging is supported on 10DLC.

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!