• • 10DLC Policy & Explainer • • Provider: RingzU Telecommunications Corporation (including SMS/MMS/VoIP services used by all associated sub offerings of the Corporation and its affiliates.) • • Summary: 10DLC (“10-Digit Long Code”) are standard local 10-digit numbers that U.S. businesses use for A2P (Application-to-Person) SMS/MMS. Registration with The Campaign Registry (TCR) and adherence to carrier/industry rules are required for compliant, reliable delivery. • • 1) 10DLC Explained • • 10DLC stands for 10-Digit Long Code, referring to standard, local, 10-digit phone numbers used by businesses in the U.S. to send A2P (Application-to-Person) SMS and MMS messages. • • Key Aspects • • A2P messaging: Automated or bulk messages sent from software to individuals or groups. • • Purpose: Provide a more reliable, regulated channel than legacy, unregistered long codes to reduce spam. • • Registration required: Businesses must register their brand and campaigns with The Campaign Registry (TCR). • • TCR: Central database used by mobile carriers to manage/verify 10DLC campaigns. • • Registration process: • • Brand Registration — verifies business identity (legal name, EIN, address, website). • • Campaign Registration — defines use case (e.g., reminders, marketing), sample messages, and how opt-in consent is obtained. • • Benefits: • • Improved deliverability and reduced filtering vs. unregistered long codes. • • Higher throughput than P2P long codes (typically below short codes). • • Local-number trust and two-way messaging/voice on the same number. • • Cost-effective relative to dedicated short codes. • • Regulatory compliance; avoidance of penalties for unregistered messaging. • • Compliance is crucial: Follow CTIA guidelines; obtain explicit opt-in; provide opt-out (e.g., “STOP”) and HELP instructions; link to your Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. • • Alternatives: Short codes and toll-free numbers remain options, each with different costs, throughput, and use-case profiles. • • In Essence • • 10DLC gives U.S. businesses a regulated, efficient way to send high-volume A2P messaging from local numbers, with better deliverability and customer engagement—provided you register with TCR and follow messaging rules. • • 2) Penalties for Non-Compliance • • Non-compliance can trigger financial penalties, blocking, and reputational harm. Examples include: • • Financial penalties • • Fines: Carriers impose fines that can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per violation. Examples: • • Content violations (spam, phishing, SHAFT—sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco): up to $10,000 per violation. • • Messaging program evasion (e.g., “snowshoeing,” number recycling): about $1,000 per violation. • • Tiered fines (e.g., T-Mobile examples): Tier 1 (phishing, smishing, social engineering) $2,000; Tier 2 (illegal content) $1,000; Tier 3 (other violations, including SHAFT) $500. • • Non-use obligations: Failure to have at least one LVN associated with a 10DLC campaign in TCR can lead to monthly fines of $250. • • Carrier surcharges: Extra fees may apply to A2P traffic, especially at high volumes. • • TCPA lawsuits: The Telephone Consumer Protection Act allows statutory damages of $500–$1,500 per message for unsolicited texts. • • Message blocking & filtering. • • Unregistered or non-compliant traffic may be blocked outright. • • Heavier filtering reduces deliverability even if not fully blocked. • • Some carriers charge higher fees on unregistered traffic. • • Reputation & trust damage — customer complaints, lower engagement, brand risk. • • Account suspension/termination — repeat violations can lead to loss of carrier/network access. • • Potential legal repercussions — in addition to TCPA, other civil or regulatory actions may apply. • • 3) How to Register a 10DLC Campaign • • Choose a Campaign Service Provider (CSP) • • Most businesses use an SMS platform/CSP to oversee TCR registration. • • RingzU Telecommunications Corporation (and its service-offering family) provides registration at no additional cost beyond TCR/10DLC registry fees. Registration is per campaign and per texting number. Current registration fee per line: $27.00 for the first registration and $17.00 for all others. • • Gather required business information. • • Legal company name, business address, and public website (or Facebook Page). • • Tax ID (EIN) and primary business contact (email/phone). • • Opt-in/opt-out procedures (how you obtain consent and allow unsubscribe). • • Use-case description and sample messages. • • Public links to your SMS Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. • • Brand registration • • Submit business details via your CSP to register your brand with TCR. • • TCR verifies identity (may check against government databases). Approval can take a few days. • • Campaign registration • • Define the use case, sender/recipient profile, and purpose. • • Provide sample messages and explain opt-in consent and opt-out handling. • • Pick the use case that accurately matches your content to avoid rejection. • • Verification & approval • • TCR reviews for compliance and may request clarification. • • Upon approval, a trust score may be assigned, affecting throughput/delivery. • • Link phone numbers • • Attach 10DLC numbers (LVNs) to the approved campaign, aligned with the intended use case. • • Monitor & maintain compliance • • Regularly review messaging practices against CTIA/carrier rules. • • Keep Privacy Policy/Terms up-to-date and accessible; maintain opt-in records/logs. • • Stay alert to carrier policy changes and TCR updates. • • Note: Registration is generally processed within a few business days to a few weeks, depending on use case and level of vetting. Timelines vary. • • 4) Compliance Quick-Check • • Obtain clear, documented opt-in before messaging; honor STOP/HELP. • • Provide business name, purpose, frequency, fees (if any), and links to your Privacy Policy & Terms. • • Avoid prohibited content (e.g., SHAFT, phishing, smishing, illegal content). • • Send only campaign-consistent content; avoid snowshoeing and number recycling. • • Use registered 10DLC for A2P; do not send A2P traffic over unregistered P2P long codes. • • 5) Contact & Support • • For 10DLC registration assistance through RingzU or questions about this Policy, contact your account representative or: • • Email: legal@ringzu.com • • Mail: RingzU Telecommunications Corporation, • 2700 NW Vaughn Street, Portland, OR 97209 • • Legal Notice: This explainer is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Carrier/TCR fees, penalties, and requirements change over time. Always consult current CTIA/carrier policies and applicable law.