TCR Registration and 10DLC Compliance:
What You Need to Know to Send SMS and MMS with Ringover
As part of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) efforts to reduce spam and increase the reliability of SMS business communications, 10DLC (10-digit long code) registration through The Campaign Registry (TCR) is now a mandated process. While this requirement is beyond Ringover’s control, we are committed to providing the support and guidance our customers need for a successful and efficient registration experience.
Why Is TCR Registration Required?
The TCR registration process ensures compliance with FCC regulations and carrier requirements, helping businesses maintain trustworthiness in their SMS communications. By registering:
- Your messages are less likely to be flagged as spam.
- You gain higher deliverability rates and throughput.
- Your business demonstrates its commitment to regulatory compliance.
For businesses using 10DLC numbers to communicate with customers, TCR registration is a non-negotiable requirement to avoid interruptions in SMS traffic.
Ringover’s Commitment to Supporting Your Registration
To help our customers complete the TCR registration process smoothly, Ringover provides this detailed Registration Guide to assist with both the Brand and Campaign registration steps.
Key Highlights of the Guide:
Preparation Is Critical: Before starting, gather all the necessary information, including your legal business name, campaign use case, opt-in, opt-out, and help messages and keywords as well as sample messages.
Accuracy Matters: TCR allows only five registration attempts per campaign. Inaccuracies in submissions can lead to permanent SMS traffic blocks, so review the guide carefully.
Step-by-Step Support: Our guide walks you through every form field, reducing the chances of errors and delays.
Important Notes About the Process
Subject to Change:
TCR and 10DLC requirements can change unexpectedly. While Ringover strives to stay up-to-date and adjust our processes accordingly, there may be occasions when a registration is rejected due to unforeseen changes.
Customer Responsibility:
Since the content provided during registration is submitted directly by you, our valued customer, it’s vital to ensure all details are accurate and complete before submitting the forms.
Why Prompt Action Is Essential:
Delays or errors in registration can result in your SMS traffic being blocked. By acting quickly and carefully, you can ensure uninterrupted communications with your audience.
What Happens If You Don’t Register?
Failing to complete your TCR registration can lead to:
- Blocked SMS Messages: Unregistered 10DLC numbers may be filtered or blocked entirely by carriers.
- Service Interruptions: You risk losing the ability to communicate with customers via SMS.
- Compliance Issues: Non-registration may expose your business to potential fines or penalties.
Begin Your TCR Registration Today
Registering your 10DLC campaigns is critical for maintaining uninterrupted SMS communications with your customers. Start the process now by reviewing our Registration Guide or reaching out to Ringover’s support team for assistance.
Let’s work together to ensure your business stays compliant and connected!
Step One: Prepare to Register
The checklist below will ensure that you are ready to for registration:
Brand Information:
- Brand Name / Company Name AS REGISTERED with the State and as listed on your website
- Entity type: Private for Profit, Tax-Exempt, etc.
- Tax number/ID/EIN
- Legal company name
- DBA or brand name is applicable (should match website information)
- Vertical / Industry Type
- Website address
- Company address: Street address, City, State/Province, ZIP/postal code, Country
- Contact details
- Support email address
- Support phone number
Messaging Information:
- Campaign name and description
- Campaign purpose - choose up to 5: 2FA, Customer Care, Account Notification, Higher Education, Security Alert, Polling and Voting, Fraud Alert Messaging, Public Service Announcement, Marketing, Machine to Machine
- Information on how you are obtaining consent (your opt-in methodology, aka “Call-to-Action”)
- Sample messages (3): at least one of them should include your opt-out
- Opt-in messages and keywords, opt-out messages and keywords, help messages and keywords
- Your Privacy Policy and/or Terms and Conditions: a link to the message program privacy policy, or language referring to the privacy policy, that indicates that mobile opt-in data will not be shared
Detailed Guidance
About the Privacy Policy
When a campaign is being vetted, the language presented in a sender's Privacy Policy is heavily scrutinized to ensure the message sender doesn't improperly claim to have the consumer’s consent to share end-user data with third parties for marketing purposes. While it's permissible for a business to share end-user data essential for business operations, the fundamental practice of sharing data to sell consumer information (leads) to third parties is a prohibited campaign type and will be rejected.
To successfully address these requirements, we recommend adopting and including a process in the Privacy Policy that demonstrates senders will refrain from sharing information consumer data.
Example: "Mobile information will not be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties."
Message senders are required to acknowledge the consumer's right to opt out of a messaging campaign to ensure that message recipients’ consent remains intact. The Privacy Policy must also include instructions on how to opt out of future communications.
Example: “If you wish to be removed from receiving future communications, you can opt out by texting STOP, QUIT, END, REVOKE, OPT OUT, CANCEL, or UNSUBSCRIBE.”
We strongly suggest that each brand create a personalized Privacy Policy with accompanying SMS disclosures as discussed above. We cannot provide guidance on what is legally required within a Privacy Policy. It's the responsibility of the message sender to research and ensure the Privacy Policy meets TCPA laws, as well as, individual carrier compliance requirements. For new, non-established brands entering the messaging space, there are online resources that can help you develop the required operational processes and Privacy Policy templates that will fit the unique needs of your business.
Note: If you're using online resources, your Policy, Practices, and Procedures must still include the above SMS disclosures and functions. Failure to adopt these practices may result in receiving a registration and vetting rejection.
When requested in the registration form, please provide at least one link to either your Privacy Policy or Terms and Conditions meeting the above requirements. If your website does not contain a Privacy Policy addressing this specifically, you must update the website BEFORE registering, otherwise your campaign will be rejected.
About Obtaining Consent and Call-to-Action
We often see campaigns rejected for an insufficient Call to Action (CTA) section. This section should contain a clear and concise description of how an end user signs up to receive messages. Opt-in must be 1 to 1, can't be shared with third parties, and can't be implied. It must be clear, conspicuous, and can't be obscured within the terms & conditions and/or other agreement(s).
PLEASE NOTE:
All traffic on behalf of a business, entity, or organization must have prior opt-in/consent.
If the CTA mentions the opt-in collected on a website, the website must be provided. If it's not provided, the campaign will be declined.
Even if the CTA mentions opt-in collected elsewhere, lead intake forms on the brand's website will be reviewed. If the phone number field is required, the disclaimer about the SMS opt-in must be included. Otherwise, the campaign will be declined.
PLEASE review the examples provided below to ensure a clear understanding of the requirements.
Examples of how to get users to opt in:
- Entering a phone number through a website
- Example: Customers opt-in by visiting www.examplewebsite.com and adding their phone number. They then check a box agreeing to receive text messages from the example brand.
- Note: If using a website to collect opt-in, our aggregator should be able to find the place on your website where the customer is opting in. If this is missing, the campaign will be rejected.
- Clicking a button on a mobile webpage
- Note: Please provide a website somewhere in the campaign registration (in the brand details, campaign description, or the sample messages) if this is where the opt-in is being collected.
- Sending a message from the consumer’s mobile device that contains an advertising keyword
- Example: Consumers opt-in by texting START to (111) 222-3333.
- Important: If consumers can opt in by texting a keyword, the response should include the brand name, confirmation of opt-in enrollment to a recurring message campaign, how to get help, and a clear description of how to opt out.
- Signing up at a point of sale (POS) or another message sender on-site location
- Opting in over the phone using interactive voice response (IVR) technology
- Example: "Bandwidth: You’re now opted-in to our platform notifications. For help, reply HELP. To opt out, reply STOP."
Best practices for Sample Messages:
- Please make sure that at least one of your sample messages shows your opt-out.
- Ensure that the selected use case is consistent with the sample messages.
- Example: If you select charity as your use case but are sending appointment reminders, these would be rejected. You either need to update your sample messages or change your use case to better align with the content you are sending.
- Ensure that the content on the website, sample messages, and brand are all consistent.
- Example: If the Brand name is ABC Physicians, your would be rejected if you had sample content sent out regarding sales for a clothing shop, or had a website for a marketing firm. A good example would be the brand ABC Physicians, sending appointment reminders, and a link to their practice's webpage.
Opt-in, Opt-out, and Help Messages and Keywords
- Opt-in keywords initiate a customer’s subscription to your SMS messages, such as YES, START, etc.
- The opt-in confirmation message must contain the brand name, instructions on how to request help, message frequency, "message and data rates may apply" disclosure, and instructions on how to opt-out.
Acceptable opt-out language must include at least one of the following words: END, STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL. If you’re using an opt-out phrase, it must be separated by spaces (i.e., STOP2END is not acceptable; it should be STOP 2 END). Please make sure that at least one of your sample messages shows your opt-out. - The STOP/opt-out confirmation message must contain the brand name, confirmation of opt-out, and confirmation they will receive no further messages.
- The HELP response must include the brand name and a toll-free number, email, or website where the consumer can reach out for help.
Common Rejection Reasons
SHAFT-C content
The following types of content are prohibited on 10DLC: CBD, Cannabis, Sex, Hate, Alcohol*, Firearms, and Tobacco*. It’s also not allowed to be on the customer's website at all.
*Alcohol and Tobacco can be supported with robust age-gating and proper opt-in.
Example: If a chiropractor's office has CBD oils on its website, the campaign will be denied even if it's not directly related to CBD marketing.
Lack of a website or online presence
Please make sure to include any website or online presence the customer has. This could be a social media page, as long as our aggregator can access it and verify the business is who they say they are. Even if the customer avoids putting their website, our aggregator will still search to see if there's one associated with them. If there’s prohibited content on their website, the campaign will be rejected.
Content attributes
Please confirm that your content attributes are correct when setting up your campaign. These fields can’t be changed, so you'll need to submit a brand new campaign if you’re rejected for any of these reasons.
Example: If you select "no" for the embedded link but the sample content provided clearly shows links, you’ll need to resubmit your campaign with "yes" selected for the embedded link.
To Register, Begin Here
After you have been fully onboarded and received your Welcome Call from your Customer Success Manager (CSM), your SMS compliance permissions will be enabled and the registration process can begin. Your CSM will hand off the initiation of TCR registration to our TCR Specialist within the Support team, who will reach out to you via email and via phone to advise on next steps. Please be attentive to your email.
⬅️Access the Dashboard Menu
- Access the dashboard at dashboard.ringover.com.
- Select the Settings wheel, and then SMS compliance.
Begin Brand Registration
- The registration process defaults to the Brands tab as the Brand must be registered before the Campaign can be registered or numbers assigned to the campaign. Click ‘Register Now’ to begin the process of filling out the Brand registration form, and select ‘Add New Brand’.. Refer to the “Brand Registration Best Practices” in this document to ensure that you properly fill out the form. ⬇️
Once the Brand registration form has been submitted, our TCR Specialist will be notified and will commence the process of overseeing and facilitating your registration.
When your Brand has been registered successfully, yourTCR Specialist will advise you, and direct you to begin the registration process for your Campaign:
Begin Campaign Registration
- The registration process proceeds to the Campaigns tab once the Brand has been registered.
- Select the Brand for your campaign to begin the process of filling out the Campaign registration form. Refer to the “Campaign Registration Best Practices” in this document to ensure that you properly fill out the form.
- Please note that this process can take up to 30 days, and rejections are possible. Your TCR Specialist will be able to troubleshoot any rejections or issues to ensure that everything is resolved and will provide guidance along the way.
General Questions about SMS and TCR Registration with Ringover
What is a Brand ID?
A brand ID is a collection of information used to identify the business sending an SMS. A brand represents the company or entity that the end user perceives as the sender of a message. For example, if an HVAC company, Acme HVAC, sends SMS maintenance reminders to its customers using Ringover, the brand would be identified as Acme HVAC. In most cases, a brand equals the legally registered company name.
What is an SMS Campaign ID?
A campaign ID indicates how your phone numbers are being used for SMS communications. Typically, a business will have one brand ID but may have multiple campaign IDs, depending on its SMS use cases. For example, Acme Healthcare might create an SMS campaign ID labeled “Appointment Reminders” to send appointment notifications to its clients.
Cost and Commitment
How much does TCR registration cost?
The cost of TCR registration is established by TCR (The Campaign Registry) and passed with no markup to our customers. There are one time and monthly charges associated with registration, as registration is carrier specific and carrying an ongoing registration carries a cost.
| One Time Charges | Monthly Charges |
|
$4: Brand registration $15: Campaign registration |
$1.50 / month for low volume Up to $10 / month for high volume (choose the volume on the dashboard) |
These fees are charged by The Campaign Registry (TCR), aggregators, and vetting agencies. Ringover does not charge additional fees for the TCR registration process.
Can I opt out of TCR registration?
Yes, you can opt out of TCR registration; however, your SMS messaging will be disabled. Ringover cannot allow unregistered SMS traffic to cross its network. If you choose to opt out, you may port SMS capabilities to another provider while continuing to use Ringover for voice and other services. Contact Ringover support if you wish to disable SMS capabilities on your account.
Registration Requirements and Management
Do I need to register with TCR for SMS usage?
Yes, you must register your brands and campaigns with TCR to use Ringover’s SMS features. Unregistered campaigns will result in SMS traffic being blocked.
Do I need to register for 2FA or non-marketing messages?
Yes, all SMS campaigns, including two-factor authentication (2FA), must be registered with TCR. This ensures compliance and avoids potential message blocking by carriers.
Do I need to register if I only receive SMS messages?
Yes, phone numbers used to send or receive SMS messages must be registered with TCR.
Who can register my business with TCR?
A super admin from your company can complete the registration process through Ringover’s system, which is connected to The Campaign Registry.
Does TCR apply to Canadian businesses?
If a Canadian company sends SMS messages to U.S. customers, TCR registration is required. However, registration is not needed for sending SMS messages within Canada at this time.
SMS Campaign Setup
Can multiple SMS brands and campaigns be created per account?
Yes, you can register multiple brands and campaigns, but most businesses will only need one brand and multiple campaigns.
What is SMS additional brand vetting?
Certain industries or use cases may require additional vetting to assess business trustworthiness. If your SMS volume exceeds 6,000 messages per day, you may also need additional vetting. This process involves a $40 fee and assigns your business a trust score, which affects message deliverability.
What type of phone numbers can I assign to a TCR campaign?
Any phone number provisioned through Ringover can be assigned to a campaign, including direct numbers, call queues, and company numbers. However, toll-free numbers and fax-only numbers cannot be assigned to TCR campaigns.
Do I need to register for TCR every time I add a new number?
No, but new numbers must be manually assigned to an existing campaign before SMS capabilities are enabled.
How many numbers can be assigned to a campaign?
Campaigns are limited to 49 numbers; however, if you have a single use case for more than 49 numbers, contact support to get a limit exception. Once Ringover removes the limit, you can only assign a batch of 50 numbers at a time. For example, if you have 250 phone numbers to assign to one campaign, you’d add them in five batches of 50.
Can I assign one phone number to multiple campaigns?
No, TCR and carriers don’t allow you to use one number for multiple campaigns. You can have one number assigned to one campaign only.
How long does it take to assign phone numbers to a campaign and have them enabled for text messaging?
If your TCR campaign is successfully registered, assigning a number to that campaign and enabling SMS on the number typically takes a couple of hours.
Do I need to list all the phone numbers I’ll use for my SMS campaigns?
Yes, you must add all of your numbers to a campaign. If you don’t assign each number to a campaign, SMS won’t be enabled on the unassigned number.
How Can I Expedite My TCR Registration?
To expedite approval, ensure your registration forms are complete and accurate. Errors may restart the process entirely.
Can I Reuse a TCR Registration From Another Provider?
No, you must re-register your brand and campaigns when transitioning to Ringover as your SMS provider.
Resolving Issues
What should I do if my campaign is rejected by TCR?
If TCR rejects your registration, Ringover will provide detailed feedback on the rejection reason and assist with the resolution.. Common issues include:
- Missing or inaccurate information or provided information not aligning with website information or Privacy Policy/Terms and Conditions concerned SMS
- Sample messages not meeting length requirements (20-1024 characters).
- Missing opt-in, opt-out, or help keywords.
Review the rejection details and make the necessary corrections to resubmit.
What are the consequences of not registering?
Failure to register results in blocked SMS messages and loss of messaging capabilities. Additionally, non-compliance could result in service interruptions or fines.
Support and Notifications
How will I know my numbers are registered with TCR?
You can view your brand and campaign registration status via the Ringover Dashboard. Navigate to Settings > SMS Compliance for updates.
Can I get updates about my TCR registration?
Yes, Ringover will send email notifications to account administrators regarding your registration status and any necessary actions.
Take Action Now
Avoid service interruptions by ensuring your SMS campaigns are registered and compliant with TCR requirements. For more information, visit our Registration Guide or contact Ringover support for assistance.