As of February 1, 2025, significant changes have been implemented regarding SMS registration, particularly affecting businesses that utilize SMS for communication.

Here is a breakdown of what this new ruling has affected and how to prepare your business to stay in compliance with new regulations.

Mandatory Registration for Business SMS Campaigns:

U.S. mobile carriers now require all businesses to register their SMS campaigns through The Campaign Registry (TCR). This initiative, known as 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code), aims to enhance the security and reliability of SMS communications by ensuring that all business-related messages are sent from verified sources. Unregistered SMS traffic is subject to blocking by carriers, leading to potential disruptions in message delivery. Therefore, businesses must complete their registration to maintain uninterrupted SMS services.

Registration Process and Requirements:

The registration process involves providing detailed information about the business, including the legal name, tax identification number (EIN), and a description of the intended SMS campaign. Businesses are also required to submit sample messages and outline their opt-in and opt-out procedures to ensure compliance with regulations. The registration process can take several days, and businesses are encouraged to initiate it promptly to avoid service interruptions.

Implications of Non-Compliance:

Failure to register SMS campaigns can result in messages being blocked or filtered by carriers, leading to communication breakdowns with customers. Additionally, businesses may face increased fees and potential fines for non-compliance. To prevent these issues, it is imperative for businesses to adhere to the new registration requirements and ensure all SMS communications are properly vetted and approved.

The changes effective from February 1, 2025, underscore the importance of compliance in business SMS communications. By registering through The Campaign Registry and adhering to the outlined guidelines, businesses can continue to engage with their customers effectively while maintaining trust and credibility in their messaging practices.

Fortunately, you are not alone. Tech Advisor Services has many partnerships with key SMS service providers, and we have pulled together how some of the leaders are handling support for customers. 

How Key SMS Providers Are Supporting Customers

Many of our technology supplier partners provide additional support for customers navigating SMS and MMS registration challenges. Here is a roundup of some of the leading SMS suppliers with links to their 10DLC support documentation.

RingCentral

RingCentral offers a comprehensive support system to guide businesses through the TCR registration process. They provide detailed instructions on their support portal, covering SMS/MMS content policies, consent requirements, and registration steps. Additionally, RingCentral has a dedicated SMS/TCR support team available for assistance via live chat or phone at 1-888-898-4591 (Option 3). To further aid compliance, they have introduced an automated SMS opt-out management tool that handles opt-out requests, sends auto-replies, and maintains a centralized opt-out list, ensuring adherence to regulations and enhancing customer communication preferences.

Sinch MessageMedia

Sinch MessageMedia specializes in business text messaging solutions designed to enhance customer communications. They support their customers with TCR registration assistance with tools and services to support compliance and registration needs. Sinch will provide customer 1-on-1 support and handle many aspects of the registration process. Customers should reach out to their solutions consultant or the primary point of contact on their Sinch account.

Additionally, Sinch has provided detailed instruction on 10DLC on their website.

IntelePeer

IntelePeer provides a Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) that includes Atmosphere Messaging, enabling businesses to configure their phone lines for SMS capabilities. Their platform offers tools that can be leveraged to meet regulatory requirements.

Review their detailed guide which explains how to navigate 10DLC and registration

AT&T

AT&T has published a comprehensive guide and checklist to outline AT&T's services related to TCR registration and compliance assistance. If your TCR campaign has been rejected and you have followed the recommendations in the linked article, you can contact the AT&T Technical Support Team at 1-800-615-0708, Option 1, Option 2.

For precise and up-to-date information, it is recommended to contact these service providers directly or visit their official websites to learn more about the support they offer for SMS registration and compliance.

Momentum
Momentum provides support for customers through its ContextRegister Portal. A detailed step-by-step guide is available directly from Momentum.

Contact Us

Need help working through SMS and MMS registration and 10DLC compliance? Let's talk. You can use our calendar to schedule an introductory conversation.