TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is 10DLC?

10DLC stands for ten-digit long code. Adding 10DLC phone numbers to your account allows you to use a local area code for your sending number. Unlike a personal phone number, 10DLC lets you send high volumes of texts quickly. 

Carriers only allow verified groups to use 10DLC. Verification requires registration, which involves confirming your organization's identity and how contacts sign up for your texts. Note: Registrations must be vetted by a third-party organization and can take 7-10 business days to complete once submitted to Scale to Win. Registrations can take longer if issues arise. 


Steps To Complete Your 10DLC Registration

1. Submit A Registration Form:  Navigate to your Phone Numbers page and fill out the registration form with details about your organization and texting goals. 

 2. Await Carrier Approval: Scale to Win reviews your submission and works with you to resolve any issues. We then register your organization with The Campaign Registry, the body that administers 10DLC. Note: This process typically takes 7–10 days or more, after which the registration will either be approved or rejected with feedback. For urgent help, contact our Client Support team.

3. Receive Email Confirmation: Once your registration is approved, Organization Owners receive an automated email confirming a 10DLC phone number has been added to your account. Your campaigns can now use the registered number to send SMS or MMS.

4. Manage Your 10DLC Number(s): You can manage your 10DLC number(s) and enable the addition of up to 49 phone numbers to your registration via your Phone Numbers page. Learn more about managing numbers in Scale to Win Text.

10DLC  Fees & Timelines

Only political organizations are required to pay a $95 vetting fee to a third-party organization, Campaign Verify, to receive identity verification. Mandatory identity verification, intended to protect political campaigns from spoofing, unlocks high-volume texting. Tokens issued on or after November 15, 2024 are valid until January 31, 2027.

No Fees to Add Additional Sending Phone Numbers: 10DLC registrations let you use up to 49 sending numbers at once. For more, reach out to our Client Support team. Adding sending numbers to your 10DLC registration is free with Scale to Win.

 
FAQs

What does 10DLC registration do?

Registration has been required since March 1st, 2022 by the mobile carriers (like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon). The stated aim is to allow the carriers to verify the identities of groups sending texts and mitigate spam.

What does 10DLC cost?

Political organizations must pay a $95 vetting fee to Campaign Verify in order to generate a verification token that unlocks high-volume texting. Scale to Win is covering all other 10DLC fees, backdated to April 1st, 2022.

 

What are the throughput limits for non-political registrations?

10DLC comes with throughput limits, or caps on how many texts you can send per day to subscribers of a particular mobile carrier like AT&T or T-Mobile. Each cap depends on your organization type (non-profit, private entity, labor union, etc). Read more about sending caps here.

Depending on the kind of traffic you're sending, you can register for a toll-free number. Toll-free registration is free and there are no daily caps from any carrier; however, toll-free is only recommended for warm outreach.   


Does Toll-Free follow the same rules?

Toll-Free texting (i.e. texts sent from a toll-free number) will not be impacted by 10DLC. Toll-free is available to all of our customers at no extra cost. You will need to go through a separate registration process to utilize toll-free. 

 

Can I text if I'm not registered for 10DLC?

You can register for toll-free phone numbers instead, which requires going through a separate registration process. Here's how to text with toll-free numbers in Scale to Win. 

If you have an urgent election or texting need, or a special use case that makes it difficult to register for either 10DLC or toll-free, submit a ticket to our Client Support team to discuss your options with us. 

 

I don't have an EIN - can I register?

10DLC requires an EIN - you can quickly apply for one here. Alternatively, you can register for a Toll-Free number instead, which does not require providing an EIN.

I haven’t registered for 10DLC yet - what do I do?

Learn how to register for 10DLC here, or book a time to chat with us about 10DLC here. The benefits of 10DLC include getting to send texts from phone numbers with local area codes, plus better deliverability than previously seen while texting with local phone numbers.


What if I can’t register for 10DLC?

If you’re a group unable to get an EIN, a non-profit without a letter of determination or 8976 form from the IRS, are a political organization experiencing blockers with Campaign Verify, or otherwise cannot register for 10DLC, Scale to Win will work with you on a case-by-case basis. Submit a ticket to our Client Support team or book a call with us here.

 
How should I define my use case(s) and what do I need in my scripts?

To complete your registration for 10DLC, you’ll need to provide information about your use case(s) and at least two sample scripts.

A use case describes the reason you’re sending texts, e.g. voter outreach, volunteer recruitment, vaccine outreach, polling, etc. Ideally, you'll also briefly describe your audience and why you’re texting them.

For each use case, you’ll need to submit two sample scripts for approval. You don’t have to send these exact scripts, just give an idea. Scripts must include sender identification and opt-out instructions. Click here to learn more about writing an initial script. 

 

If you anticipate having many use cases and would like to discuss the best registration options for your organization, schedule a time to talk with us here.

 

10DLC offers better deliverability of links in scripts than unregistered numbers. Please note, however, that public URL shorteners like bit.ly and tinyurl are not allowed on 10DLC. Read more about best practices for sending links here.


Where can I see the status of my registration?

You can view the status of your registration in your Phone Numbers page. Expect your registration to remain in "pending" status for 7-10 business days while downstream vendors read through your submission for approval.


What if my 10DLC registration is still in pending status?

If your 10DLC registration is still in a pending status after more than 3-5 days, or you have an urgent need to expedite your registration, please submit a ticket to our Client Support team.

What area codes will my 10DLC numbers have?

On the 10DLC registration form, specify your desired area code(s) for your first number. We'll try our best to acquire a number with one of these. Some area codes may be exhausted, requiring a 1-2 business day backorder. Rare area codes (e.g., 603, 212, 303) may not be available within a reasonable timeframe, in which case we'll discuss backup options. Learn more about managing numbers in Scale to Win Text here.

Is Toll-Free texting impacted by 10DLC?

10DLC rules don't affect toll-free texting, which is designed for high-volume messaging. However, toll-free numbers have their own registration and regulations. Read more about Toll-Free requirements here.



Questions or Issues?

 If you have questions about 10DLC, or want to talk through how this might impact your organization, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Scale to Win team.


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