A2P / 10DLC is an industry-wide compliancy initiative to monitor and protect consumers from receiving unwanted messages, including spam and fraud “robo-texts” that typically originate from illegitimate companies sending high-volume messaging traffic.

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), along with the wireless service providers, adopted “Messaging Principles and Best Practices” as an industry standard to monitor and protect consumers from receiving unwanted messages.  Part of the process included the industry making a distinction in the handling of “consumer” Person to Person (P2P) and “Non-Consumer” Application to Person (A2P) messages via 10 Digit Long Code (10DLC).  A business line with a local area code, or 10 Digit Long Code, is now considered a carrier-sanctioned messaging channel, and as a result, all messaging traffic from your business to your consumers is considered A2P.

Beginning in 2020, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and other major mobile network operators (MNOs) launched their own 10DLC programs designated for business-to-consumer (A2P) messaging over local phone numbers. These programs were created by following CTIA guidelines with the intention of stopping unwanted messages to consumer devices.

Unlike other messaging compliance mandates that are regulated by the FCC, the 10DLC initiative is exclusively regulated and managed by the major MNOs. The MNOs have appointed The Campaign Registry (TCR) to manage A2P/10DLC registration, with the requirement that each business organization who wants to send text messages must register a Brand and Campaign with TCR.  The “Brand” is the company initiating messages to the consumer.  The “Campaign” describes the types of messages that will be sent to consumers.

Effective November 1st, 2021, the major MNOs and TCR implemented their A2P/10DLC initiatives, including the enforcement of penalty fines for not following their guidelines. To avoid these steep penalties for each violation occurrence, 10DLC registration is now required for all SMS-enabled number messaging.

Any organization that sends or intends to send text messages must register for 10DLC Compliancy.  This includes non-profits, churches, schools, etc.  No company or organization is exempt from registration.  Companies that fail to register will not be able to send text messages to consumers as all carriers are auto-blocking messages from non-compliant businesses.

Companies that intend to send SMS text messages from their business phone numbers must register for 10DLC Compliancy and show evidence of the following:

• Privacy Policy
• Mobile Terms of Service
• SMS Disclosures
• Sample messages to consumers
• Supply examples of how consumers opt-in to receive messages

To learn more about 10DLC Compliancy and view FAQs, click here.

ACC Telecom is an industry veteran with over 45 years in the telecommunications sector.  ACC designs, installs, services and supports voice over IP services and cloud-based business communications systems.  All of their phone systems offer business SMS text messaging packages, so they will happily assist your business with any questions you may have regarding the 10DLC compliancy registration process.  Contact ACC Telecom today to learn more about the 10DLC Compliancy pre-registration requirements.