Glossary
What is A2P 10DLC?
A2P 10DLC is the US system carriers use to verify businesses that send application-to-person (A2P) texts from ordinary 10-digit local numbers (10DLC). A business registers as a Brand and describes each use of texting as a Campaign, through a messaging service provider; the registry is run by The Campaign Registry. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is registered?
Two things. The Brand is the business itself: legal name, type and contact details. The Campaign is a described use of texting, for example appointment reminders or quote follow-up, with the sample messages and how customers agree to receive them. The Campaign Registry says Brands cannot register with it directly and must use a registered messaging service provider, which submits both for you.
Why do carriers require it?
T-Mobile describes two kinds of text: person-to-person (consumer) and non-consumer, such as account notices, billing messages and high-volume messaging. Non-consumer messages must be part of an approved campaign, often for a fee, and traffic sent through unsanctioned "gray routes" risks delay or non-delivery. 10DLC is one sanctioned route, alongside short codes and toll-free numbers.
How does it relate to consent?
Separately from registration, texting customers requires their consent & a working STOP. Foreman's approach is on the SMS terms page. See also missed-call text back.
Questions owners ask
What else do owners ask about A2P 10DLC?
What does A2P 10DLC stand for?
A2P is application-to-person messaging, texts sent by software to people. 10DLC is a 10-digit long code, an ordinary-looking local phone number. Together it is the US carrier program for business texting from local numbers.
Who registers, and where?
The business, called a Brand, registers through a messaging service provider. The Campaign Registry says direct registration by Brands is not available. The provider submits the Brand and each Campaign for you.
What happens if I do not register?
T-Mobile states that high-volume and other non-consumer messages must be part of an approved campaign to reach its customers, and that unsanctioned routes risk delay or non-delivery. Carrier rules and fees change; read the current ones at the carrier.
Is registration legal advice or a consent rule?
Neither. Registration is a carrier requirement. Consent and opt-out rules come from separate laws. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Where do these numbers come from?
- The Campaign Registry: 10DLC is an A2P messaging channel in which Brands & Campaign Service Providers are verified before they are allowed to send; a business that texts customers is a Brand; direct registration with TCR is not available to Brands, who register through a messaging service provider.
- T-Mobile Support, Consumer versus Non-Consumer Text Messaging: person-to-person texts are consumer messaging; account notifications, billing messages and high-volume messaging are non-consumer and must be part of an approved campaign, often for a fee; 10DLC is one sanctioned route alongside short codes and toll-free; unsanctioned "gray route" traffic risks delay or non-delivery.
Checked 10/11/2026. Vendor studies are directional, not audited. Where a figure is called an industry estimate, we could not trace it to a primary study. Your own phone log beats every number on this page.