- July 27, 2025
What Is 10DLC? A Brief, Fun History of Business Texting and The Campaign Registry
A brief overview:
If you’ve ever wondered why you suddenly have to register your phone number to send texts, you’re not alone — and the answer is surprisingly interesting (and only slightly bureaucratic).
Back in the early days of business texting, companies were using regular 10-digit phone numbers — called long codes — to send messages to customers. These numbers weren’t built for high-volume texting, but businesses used them anyway. There were no rules, no filters, and no real oversight. In short: it was the wild west of SMS.
Cue The Problems
- Consumers were flooded with spammy text messages
- Carriers had no way of knowing who was sending what
- Legit businesses were getting blocked just for being on the wrong list
So… the carriers got together and introduced 10DLC, or 10-Digit Long Code for A2P (Application-to-Person) messaging. It’s a system that allows businesses to send high-volume text messages — the right way. But there was a catch: you have to register.
That’s where The Campaign Registry (TCR) comes in. Think of it as the official gatekeeper. TCR tracks who owns each business texting number, what kind of SMS campaigns are being run, and whether those messages follow carrier guidelines. It’s all about trust, compliance, and better deliverability.
So, Let’s Get You Registered
Getting registered for 10DLC might sound like something involving long lines and government forms… but don’t worry — we’ve streamlined the process so it’s more like signing up for a dance class (minus the warmups).
To get your business texting campaign approved, we’ll need just a few things. Think of it like setting up a profile for your business in the official “I’m-not-a-spammer” directory.
What You’ll Need
Your Legal Business Name
(Exactly as it appears on your EIN or tax documents — spelling counts!)
EIN (Employer Identification Number)
This tells the carriers you’re a real business, not a sketchy robot.
Your Business Website
Yep — your website is part of the review. And it needs to include:
1.
A Privacy Policy explaining how you handle user data and phone numbers
2.
A Terms & Services page describing how people use your site
3.
A disclaimer on your contact form if you collect phone numbers (something like: “By submitting, you agree to receive texts…”)
Don’t have those? No sweat — we’ve got ready-to-use templates you can copy and paste.
How You Collect Opt-Ins
Just let us know how people give you permission to text them — paper forms, online checkboxes, etc.
Sample Text Message(s)
Show us what kinds of messages you plan to send. A friendly reminder or event update will do!
We get it — you just wanted to text your customers, not become an expert in telecom compliance. Don’t worry. ClearConverse has the tools, experience, and shortcuts to make this process simple.
With just a few quick questions from you, we’ll handle the heavy lifting and get your business ready to start texting — the right way.
