What is 10DLC Registration? How long does registration take?

To send compliant, high-delivery text messages in the US using standard 10-digit phone numbers (10DLC), every organization must register through The Campaign Registry (TCR)—the system enforced by major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.). Unregistered messaging is blocked, so this is non-negotiable.

Politexts handles the full registration process on your behalf once you provide the required details. This includes submitting your brand and campaign info to TCR, incorporating any necessary verification tokens, and optimizing for approval.

Two-Part Registration: Brand + Campaign

Brand Registration (your organization): We submit your legal entity details, including:

Legal name
EIN (Tax ID)
Business address and contact info
Website URL (must be live andrelevant—more on this below)
Organization type (e.g., politicalcommittee, 527, 501(c)(4))

Campaign Registration (your specific texting effort): Required elements include:

Campaign description
Sample messages (withopt-in/opt-out language)
How you collect consent (opt-inflow)
Content attributes and volumeestimates

Special Verification for Political Entities

IRS 527 organizations (candidates, parties, PACs, committees filing with FEC for federal/state/local efforts): You must obtain an Authorization Token from Campaign Verify (campaignverify.org), a non-partisan nonprofit verifier.

Process: Find your filing record, submit verification request, receive PIN, generate token (~$95 fee, times vary).
Provide the token to us during onboarding—we include it in TCR submission to unlock the full Political usecase and higher limits.

Advocacy nonprofits (e.g., 501(c)(4), (c)(5), (c)(6)): Often qualify automatically via tax-exempt verification during brand registration—no Campaign Verify token needed, though some cases may require extra documentation.

Consent and Opt-In: Must-Have for Compliance

Even political texting requires proper consent under TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) and carrier rules:

Opt-ins must be clear, explicit, and documented
Include in every message: Sender ID (e.g., “This is[ Name] with [Campaign]”), opt-out instructions.
Honor STOP/unsubscribe immediately (we automate this).
Avoid prohibited content (e.g., SHAFT: Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco)

Website Requirements and Potential Changes

Your website plays a key role in registration approval:

It must be live, functional, and relevant (e.g., show your mission, FEC filings, contact info).
Include clear opt-in language, privacy policy, andterms of service where numbers are collected.

Common fixes we request:

Add or update opt-in disclosure on signup forms.
Publish a dedicated privacy/terms page.
Ensure consistency (website content must match your registration description/samples).

If changes are needed, we’ll guide you. Simple updates often resolve issues quickly.

Approval Timelines and What to Expect

Timelines vary: Registration can take a few days. Often times longer during high-volume periods like elections.
Carriers/TCR review for legitimacy, consistency, and compliance—rejections happen if info is incomplete or mismatched.
We monitor submissions, handle any carrier follow-ups, and resubmit revisions as needed (no extra charge for standard support).
Fastest path: Provide complete docs early, including Campaign Verify token if required.
Please be aware that we do not manage the approval process and will not be informed immediately why registration has been denied.

Once approved, you get improved deliverability, higher message volumes, and reduced filtering—critical for effective voter contact, GOTV, or fundraising.