What Is 10DLC? Why It Matters for Business Messaging?

In March 2023, U.S. mobile carriers began actively blocking unregistered business SMS traffic sent from local 10‑digit phone numbers. By 2024, enforcement became strict across all major carriers and by February 2025, 10DLC (10‑digit long code) became mandatory.

If your business sends application‑to‑person (A2P) text messages to U.S. mobile users using local-looking phone numbers, you are now required to register your brand and messaging campaigns under the 10DLC framework. There are no exceptions based on company size, message volume, or industry.

10DLC exists to fix a long-standing problem in SMS: businesses were using local numbers without identification, carriers couldn’t tell legitimate traffic from spam, and consumers paid the price. The result was filtering, message loss, and inconsistent delivery.

With 10DLC, carriers now require businesses to:

• Identify who they are
• Declare why they are messaging users
• Prove how consent is collected
• Stick to approved message formats

If you comply, your messages are trusted and delivered. If you don’t, they’re throttled, blocked, or penalized.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what 10DLC is, who needs to register, what compliance looks like in practice, how much it costs, and how platforms like Conversive handle the entire process end to end

What is 10DLC and what are its business benefits

10DLC stands for “10-digit long code”, a format that looks like a standard local phone number but is now approved for application-to-person (A2P) business messaging in the U.S.

Before 10DLC, businesses using regular 10-digit numbers for texting had no formal vetting or throughput standards. Carriers couldn’t reliably distinguish legitimate senders from spammers, and users couldn’t trust the source of incoming messages.

That changed with the introduction of The Campaign Registry (TCR) in 2020 and full carrier enforcement rolling out between 2023 and 2024. Today, 10DLC is a carrier-managed channel that sits between toll-free messaging and short codes combining local presence with professional-grade delivery.

10DLC is now enforced by all major U.S. carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) and coordinated through TCR and partner SMS platforms. Registration is required before any campaign traffic can begin.

Businesses choose 10DLC because of these reasons:-

i) Higher throughput than regular local number

Depending on your use case and vetting score, 10DLC can deliver hundreds or thousands of messages per minute which is ideal for alerts, notifications, and promotions.

ii) Trusted local identity

Messages come from familiar 10-digit numbers instead of anonymous short codes, improving open rates and user trust.

iii) Lower cost than short codes

You don’t pay thousands in monthly leasing fees, and campaign setup is faster in days instead of weeks.

iv) Better compliance and deliverability

With campaign registration, your use case is pre-approved, your message templates are validated, and your chances of getting filtered are significantly reduced.

10DLC gives your SMS traffic the legitimacy, speed, and local credibility that today’s carriers and consumers expect.

Who Needs to Register for 10DLC

If your business sends automated, bulk, or scheduled SMS/MMS messages to U.S. mobile users using local 10-digit numbers, you’re required to register for 10DLC. This includes application-to-person (A2P) messaging that includes alerts, confirmations, appointment reminders, or promotional messages.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a solo real estate agent using a CRM, a healthcare provider with SMS reminders, or a marketing team automating campaign flows. If you’re sending texts from a 10-digit number via an SMS platform, 10DLC applies to you.

Here are common examples of businesses that need to register:

• Businesses using A2P SMS and communication platforms.
• CRMs or customer support platforms that send SMS on your behalf.
• AI assistants, chatbots, or drip campaign engines that push scheduled or triggered texts.

This also applies to SaaS platforms and marketplaces that enable other businesses to send messages via 10-digit numbers, you may need to register both your brand and each customer’s use case.

You are exempt from 10DLC if:

• You only use toll-free numbers or short codes (these have their own compliance paths).
• You do not send any SMS/MMS to U.S. numbers (e.g., only use WhatsApp, RCS, or DLT-compliant channels in India).
• You’re sending person-to-person (P2P) messages manually (though this gray area is getting tighter).

If you’re unsure, assume you need to register. Unregistered traffic is now blocked or penalized by U.S. carriers, so it’s better to align with 10DLC from the start.

What Are the Compliance Requirements for 10DLC?

To get approved for 10DLC, you need to demonstrate that your messaging is consensual, transparent, and compliant with carrier policies.

Before you register, make sure your messaging practices meet these essential requirements:

i) You must collect clear, verifiable opt-in consent

Users must explicitly agree to receive messages from your business before you send anything. Double opt-in is strongly recommended, especially for marketing or promotional campaigns.

ii) You must include opt-out instructions in your messages.

This typically looks like: “Reply STOP to unsubscribe” or “Text HELP for assistance.” These keywords must work.

iii) You must log opt-ins and opt-outs

Maintain records of who opted in, when, how (e.g., web form, SMS reply), and the messages they were shown. Logs should also reflect opt-out timestamps.

iv) Your message templates must match your campaign registration

Carriers cross-check message content with the registered use case. Don’t mix promotional and support content under one campaign.

v) You must avoid restricted or prohibited content

This includes SHAFT content (Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco), as well as deceptive claims, illegal services, or phishing links.

vi) Your privacy policy and terms of service must be accessible

This is required especially when collecting consent through web forms or chatbots.

Failure to follow these rules can result in message blocking, campaign suspension, or even fines. These aren't just best practices, they're carrier-mandated safeguards to prevent abuse and spam.

How to Register for 10DLC in Four Steps

Registering for 10DLC might sound complicated, but it’s straightforward if you know what to prepare. Here’s how to go from unregistered to compliant:-

Step 1 – Assess Your Messaging Setup

Before you begin registration, ask yourself:

• Are you using 10-digit local numbers to send automated SMS or MMS to U.S. numbers?
• What types of messages are you sending? Are they alerts, promotions, customer support, appointment reminders?
• What’s your expected message volume per month?

This context helps define your campaign use case and volume class, both of which influence approval speed and throughput.

Step 2 – Prepare Your Documentation

You’ll need to submit accurate business information and message samples:

• Legal business name, EIN (Employer Identification Number), and physical address
• Business website, industry, and point of contact
• Link to your privacy policy and terms of service
• Screenshots or text samples of your opt-in flow
• 3 to 5 sample messages for each use case (e.g., appointment reminder, shipping alert, welcome message)

Step 3 – Register Through Your SMS Provider

Your SMS or CPaaS provider (e.g., Twilio, Telnyx, Bandwidth) submits your details to The Campaign Registry (TCR) on your behalf:

• First, they register your Brand (your business entity)
• Then, they create one or more Campaigns based on your use cases
• Each campaign includes your message samples and opt-in details
• Carrier review typically takes 2–5 business days

Step 4 – Activate and Monitor Campaigns

Once approved:

• Assign 10-digit numbers to your active campaigns
• Test delivery to ensure messages reach recipients without errors
• Monitor logs for failed sends, carrier feedback, and opt-out behavior
• Update or re-register campaigns as your use cases evolve

Pro tip: Treat 10DLC as a living registration. If your message content or opt-in methods change, update your records to stay compliant.

Risks for Not Registering for 10DLC

10DLC registration is no longer optional for U.S.-bound business messaging. As of July 5, 2023, all major U.S. mobile carriers including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon began enforcing mandatory registration for A2P (application-to-person) traffic sent via local 10-digit numbers.

Here's what you risk if you skip registration:

1. Message Blocking

Carriers will automatically block any SMS or MMS traffic sent over unregistered 10-digit numbers. Even transactional or support messages may never reach your recipients, there is no guaranteed delivery for unregistered traffic.

2. Extreme Throughput Limits

Carriers throttle unregistered traffic to near-zero throughput. In some cases, only a few messages per minute may go through making it impossible to run time-sensitive campaigns or large-batch notifications.

3. Penalty Surcharges

Unregistered messages can incur additional surcharges ranging from $0.006 to $0.017 per message segment, depending on the carrier. These costs add up quickly and make even basic SMS usage financially unsustainable.

4. Suspension of Numbers or Campaigns

Carriers may temporarily or permanently suspend your sending numbers or associated brand if you repeatedly violate 10DLC compliance rules, especially if SHAFT (Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco) content is involved.

5. Brand or Provider Blacklisting

In severe cases, your business or messaging provider may be blacklisted across U.S. carrier networks. This can prevent any future A2P messaging using local numbers, regardless of provider.

6. Regulatory Fines

If you're found to be circumventing the rules or abusing the system, you may face fines up to $10,000 per violation. This applies to fraudulent consent capture, SHAFT content, or message spoofing.

How Much Does 10DLC Registration Cost

10DLC registration involves a mix of one-time setup fees, recurring campaign charges, and carrier-imposed surcharges. While the costs are relatively low, understanding them upfront helps you avoid surprises and stay compliant.

Here’s quick summary of how this cost looks like:-

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Now, let’s cover them in detail:-

1. One-time registration and setup

i) Brand registration

$4 to $50 depending on your SMS provider. This covers your business identity verification (legal name, EIN, etc.).

ii) Campaign review fees

Typically $15 to $50 per campaign. You’ll need to pay this each time you submit or resubmit a campaign for approval. Some platforms may waive these fees as part of bundled plans.

2. Monthly or quarterly campaign fees

i) Ongoing campaign fees

Most campaigns cost between $1.50 and $10 per month, depending on their type (e.g., marketing vs. customer care).

ii) Bundled billing options

Some providers charge $30 per quarter instead of monthly fees or include the fee in your regular messaging invoice.

3. Carrier surcharges per message

i) Registered traffic

Surcharges range from $0.002 to $0.004 per message segment. This applies on top of your base messaging rate and is passed through from carriers.

ii) Unregistered or grey traffic

If you send messages before registration is complete or outside of an approved campaign, surcharges spike to $0.006–$0.017 per segment, depending on the carrier.

4. Non-compliance and inactivity penalties

i) Inactive campaign fee

Some carriers may charge up to $250 if you register a campaign but fail to send traffic for a prolonged period.

ii) Violation penalties

Fines for serious compliance violations (like SHAFT content, phishing, or opt-in abuse) can go up to $10,000 per incident, especially if intent to deceive is proven.

For a typical business running 1–2 campaigns, expect to spend:

• Initial setup: $25–$100 (brand + campaign registration)
• Ongoing monthly/quarterly costs: $1.50–$30
• Per-message surcharges: ~$0.002–$0.004 per message

Estimated yearly cost for most compliant senders: $50–$200, excluding your base messaging rates. Remember, 10DLC is a low-cost investment for businesses compared to the risks of non-compliance. It ensures better message throughput, avoids surcharges, and preserves your reputation with carriers.

Why Choose Conversive for 10DLC Messaging

Registering for 10DLC might seem like a straightforward form, but staying compliant, avoiding penalties, and ensuring delivery at scale takes more than just ticking boxes. Conversive makes the entire process effortless.

Here’s how we help:

i) Guided registration with built-in consent workflows

We help you prepare all required documentation such as business identity, message samples, opt-in flows, and ensure they’re formatted correctly to reduce delays. Our built-in tools also create and enforce STOP/HELP language in every message.

ii) Real-time compliance and performance monitoring

Once your campaign is live, Conversive continuously tracks message delivery rates, opt-outs, and error responses. We alert you immediately if something breaks whether it’s an expired registration or carrier filtering issue.

iii) Built for regulated industries

If you're in healthcare, education, finance, or real estate, Conversive supports HIPAA, TCPA, and GDPR compliance alongside 10DLC. No need to duct-tape tools together.

iv) One platform for SMS, WhatsApp, and fallback orchestration

Whether a message goes over 10DLC, WhatsApp, or RCS fallback, Conversive routes it intelligently so your team doesn’t need to worry about delivery mechanics.

Book a demo with Conversive and Get 10DLC-Ready. Make 10DLC compliance effortless with Conversive. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need 10DLC if I use toll-free numbers or short codes?

No. Toll-free numbers and short codes have their own compliance frameworks and are not subject to 10DLC registration. But if you use 10-digit local numbers for any A2P messaging to U.S. recipients, 10DLC is mandatory.

Can I skip 10DLC and just send SMS to U.S. numbers?

No. In 2026, all major U.S. carriers require 10DLC registration for A2P traffic. Unregistered messages are now blocked or heavily penalized with increased surcharges and possible blacklisting.

How long does 10DLC registration take?

It usually takes 2–3 business days to get your brand verified and another 3–5 days for campaign approval assuming all documentation is accurate. Delays can occur if information is missing or inconsistent.

Is 10DLC only for large companies or high volumes?

No. 10DLC applies to any business regardless of size or messaging volume that sends automated or bulk SMS/MMS via 10-digit long codes to U.S. mobile users. Even small clinics, schools, or real estate teams need to register if they use local numbers for A2P messages.

How do I know if my provider supports 10DLC?

If you’re using Conversive, we help with provider integration and campaign registration on your behalf.