Takeaways

10DLC Compliance is necessary for US organizations using A2P texting.
There are 4 key requirements for 10DLC Compliance.
The 10DLC Compliance cost is a one-time $20 registration fee and a $2 or $10 monthly compliance fee, based on your Alive5 plan. These fees are included in your plan's price.
After meeting all 4 key requirements and submitting your application, you can begin texting via Provisional Compliance while awaiting full 10DLC compliance, which could take days or weeks.

What is 10DLC?

10DLC is a channel for B2C messaging over local landline numbers, developed due to the rising popularity of texting and increasing fraud. U.S. carriers aim to ensure it remains trustworthy and spam-free. They've adopted standards and registration processes for 10DLC numbers to track the usage and content across the network.

4 Key Requirements

Matching EIN and Legal Business Name
Valid Web/Online Presence
Contact Form Opt-In Language
Privacy Policy Compliance

1. Matching EIN and Legal Business Name

An Employer Identification Number (EIN), used to identify a business, must match the Brand's Legal Business Name for correct verification. Refer to IRS forms (W-2, SS-4) for the right EIN and Business Name. Sole Proprietors don't need an EIN.

2. Valid Web/Online Presence

To use A2P SMS services, your organization needs a web presence, such as a business website or an active social media profile (Facebook Page or LinkedIn).

3. Contact Form Opt-In Language

If you use a contact form that captures phone numbers, opt-in language must be visible to the user.

Example verbiage which may be used:

"By providing a telephone number and submitting the form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message from {your Business Name (DBA) here}. Message frequency may vary. Message & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging. Reply HELP for more information. See our Privacy Policy {your Privacy Policy URL here}"

4. Privacy Policy Compliance

Either append the following text to your current Privacy Policy or incorporate it at the bottom of your homepage (footer of your website) if you do not have a Privacy Policy.

“No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.”

additionally, if you are capturing phone numbers in an online contact form on your web site, include this paragraph:

"OPT IN CONSENT: By submitting your phone number, you are authorizing to send you text messages and notifications. Message/data rates apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe to a message sent from us."

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A common question we get is: Why do I have to make these changes on my website, I am not texting people who submit their information to us? The reason is that the DCA (Direct Connect Aggregators, ie the people who decide who gets approved with 10DLC) will manually visit your website or social media page to check for compliant verbiage. These requirements are out of our control (Alive5), and they are industry-wide procedures in order to use 10DLC.

10DLC Registration Timeline

This 5 step process illustrates from beginning to end of the 10DLC process.

10DLC Compliance