Takeaways

ANYONE who wants to send SMS/text messages from a local, US-based, VoIP phone number needs to be 10DLC compliant. This is not just for marketing, it’s for any type of text message!
Changes are likely needed to be made to your website.
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, the 10DLC registry will approve or reject your campaign within days or weeks. If approved, you can start texting.

Why?

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A common question we get: Why do I have to do this? You may wonder why website changes are necessary if you're not texting people who submit their information. The reason is that Direct Connect Aggregators (DCAs), who determine 10DLC approval, will manually review your website or social media for compliant language. These requirements are industry-wide standards for 10DLC use, not specific to Alive5. Not doing so will likely result in a rejection and declined 10DLC registration, which will not allow you to send texts from your VoIP number.

March 2025 update

Checkboxes are now required for contact forms, see below for details.
Starting February 4th, 2025 and onwards only fully approved 10DLC campaigns will be able to text.
As of February 4th, 2025, we are seeing industry-wide disruptions with non-compliant and compliant 10DLC campaigns not able to send out texts. Inbound messages are not affected.

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Let Alive5 fast-track your 10DLC compliance. Our managed service guides you through every step, helping you avoid common pitfalls that cause delays and campaign rejections. We'll handle the entire process to get your SMS campaigns approved and running quickly.

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
Opt-In Compliance
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. This is required for any business type who needs business SMS. Businesses without an EIN is no longer able to use SMS with Alive5.

2. Valid Web/Online Presence

To use A2P SMS services, your organization needs a web presence, either a business website OR an active social media profile (Facebook Page or LinkedIn). If you have a website, you CANNOT use your Facebook Page as your web presence (website will take precedence when it comes to the review process).

Website: must be https:// secured (http:// only website not allowed), and you (or someone within your organization) should have ability to make changes to it (see sections 3 and 4 below).
Facebook Page: Must be an active social media profile with followers and activity (cannot be a newly created Facebook Page). Under the “About” section, there’s a “Privacy and legal info” section where you can add an “Impressum”. Add this content: OPT IN CONSENT: By submitting your phone number to us, you are authorizing {your Business Name (DBA) here} to send you text messages and notifications. Message/data rates apply. Reply STOP to unsubscribe to a message sent from us. OUR 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. Be sure to replace{your Business Name (DBA) here} with your actual business name! Live example: https://www.facebook.com/wearealive5/about_privacy_and_legal_info

3. Opt-In Compliance

Adding opt-in compliance (language and a checkbox) are required for any organization whose website captures phone numbers from web visitors. If you ARE NOT capturing any phone numbers anywhere on your website (or you do not have a website), you can skip this requirement.

Opt-in Language IS required on “Contact Us”, “Registration”, or “Get a Quote” type of pages if you are asking for visitors’ phone numbers.
Opt-in Checkbox (new requirement March 2025)

If your form requires a phone number before submitting, you must include an unchecked box that says "Opt-in to receive texts?".
To skip the checkbox requirement, make sure phone number is NOT required to submit the form.

Watch our video explainers:

Opt-in Language

Opt-in Checkbox

Opt-In Language example (use this)

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} Be sure to to replace “{your Business Name (DBA) here}" and “{your Privacy Policy URL here}" with your business details! Live example: https://www.alive5.com/contact-us

4. Privacy Policy Compliance

A compliant Privacy Policy which includes the “Privacy Policy Language” (provided below) is required for 10DLC texting.

Private, Public, and Non-Profits: (Corporations, Partnerships, LLCs, nonprofits): If your web presence is your Facebook Page, see section 2 above.

If you DO HAVE an EXISTING Privacy Policy on your website:

Must be linked from your home page at the footer of the web site. Example: https://www.alive5.com (see bottom footer link ‘Privacy Policy’) links to https://www.alive5.com/privacy-policy.
Incorporate the “Privacy Policy Language” below. This means to add the example paragraph(s) below into your existing Privacy Policy. Be sure to make sure none of your existing terms and policies conflict with the new language.

If you DO NOT have an existing Privacy Policy: Add the “Privacy Policy Language Example” as a paragraph at the bottom/footer of your website, visible from the home page.

Watch our video explainer:

Privacy Policy Language example (use this)

updated 10/17/2024

We will not share your opt-in to an SMS campaign with any third party for purposes unrelated to providing you with the services of that campaign. We may share your Personal Data, including your SMS opt-in or consent status, with third parties that help us provide our messaging services, including but not limited to platform providers, phone companies, and any other vendors who assist us in the delivery of text messages. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

Expectations and Timelines

This 4 phase process illustrates from beginning to end of the 10DLC process. Updated 2/4/25.

Complete Form (10 minutes) The 10DLC registration form is accessible once you subscribe and pay for an Alive5 plan. Information such as your business EIN, address, website is submitted, along with verifying your phone numbers through and automated call back. Changes to your web site contact page and privacy policy may be needed (see above requirements).
Alive5 Team Review (24-72 hours) After you make the necessary web site changes and submit the registration details, the Alive5 team will do an initial review and let you know via email if there are additional changes to be made. If everything looks good, we submit your application to the 10DLC Registry for review.
Registry Review (3+ days) Once your application is received by the 10DLC Registry, on average it takes another 3-10 days for their review of your campaign. In most instances, your campaign will be approved since you’ve been guided by Alive5 with the best practices. If there is a decline, Alive5 will notify you to make necessary changes. After your changes are made, another 10DLC Registry review will be necessary which will take another round of 3 or more days.
10DLC Compliance (3+ days) At this point, the Registry has approved your campaign and you should have no problems sending and receiving SMS and MMS messages. Rarely a campaign may need to be re-submitted if you require more throughput or have over 50 phone numbers, so it’s important to let the Alive5 team know ahead of time if you do expect substantial increased usage like these over time. 3+ days means once you submit your registration and the Registry reviews it 3 days later and approves it with no rejections, you will be able to text at that time. During this time, your phone number will start the SMS porting process and once the phone line is live, you will receive an email. Most phone numbers go live with SMS within a few minutes, some may take a few days, depending on the losing carrier.

10DLC Compliance