# 10DLC Overview

> Learn about 10DLC registration requirements for sending SMS in the United States

## 10DLC Compliance

10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) is the industry standard for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging in the United States. All businesses sending SMS to US phone numbers must register their brand and messaging campaigns.

> **Warning:**
> Starting February 2025, unregistered traffic will be blocked by carriers. Complete your 10DLC registration to ensure uninterrupted SMS delivery.

## Why 10DLC?

US carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) require 10DLC registration to:

- **Reduce spam** - Verify legitimate business senders
- **Improve deliverability** - Registered traffic gets priority routing
- **Increase throughput** - Higher message limits for trusted senders
- **Ensure compliance** - Meet TCPA and carrier requirements

## Registration Process

10DLC registration consists of two steps:

```
┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────┐
│  1. Register    │ →  │  2. Register    │ →  │  3. Assign      │
│     Brand       │    │     Campaign    │    │     Numbers     │
└─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘    └─────────────────┘
   $4 one-time         $15 one-time          Ready to send!
     1-3 days           + $10/month
                         1-7 days
```

> **Info:**
> Fees are TCR's, passed through at cost and charged from your balance when you submit: **$4 per brand** (refunded if the carrier rejects it) and **$15 one-time plus $10/month per campaign** — $2 + $2 for the `LOW_VOLUME` use case. A brand is registered per legal entity, and each brand pays its own $4.

### Step 1: Brand Registration

Your **Brand** represents your business entity. You provide company information like legal name, EIN/Tax ID, address, and website. This is reviewed by The Campaign Registry (TCR).

### Step 2: Campaign Registration

A **Campaign** describes your messaging use case. You specify the type of messages (2FA, marketing, notifications), provide sample messages, and confirm compliance settings.

### Step 3: Phone Number Assignment

Once your campaign is approved, assign your US phone numbers to it. Messages sent from these numbers will be delivered as registered A2P traffic.

## Costs

| Item | Cost | Type |
|------|------|------|
| Brand Registration | $4 | One-time, per brand, charged when you submit it |
| Campaign Registration | $15 ($2 for `LOW_VOLUME`) | One-time, charged when you submit the campaign |
| Campaign Monthly Fee | $10/month ($2 for `LOW_VOLUME`) | Recurring, while the campaign is approved |

> **Tip:**
> Fees are passed through at cost and charged from your balance. A brand or campaign the carriers reject is refunded.

## Throughput Limits

Your messaging throughput depends on your **Trust Score**, assigned by TCR based on your brand vetting:

| Trust Score | Daily Limit | Messages/Second |
|-------------|-------------|-----------------|
| Low | 2,000 | 0.2 |
| Medium | 10,000 | 1 |
| High | 200,000 | 10+ |

> **Note:**
> Most small businesses receive a Medium trust score. Large enterprises with established brands typically receive High scores.

## Prerequisites

Before starting 10DLC registration, you need:

1. **Approved Business Verification (KYB)** - Carriers register a brand against a vetted legal entity, so this is a hard prerequisite: submitting a brand or a campaign without it returns `403 kyb_required`. Complete it at [Compliance → Verification](https://dashboard.zavu.dev/kyb)
2. **US phone number** - At least one number to assign to your campaign
3. **Business information** - Legal name, EIN, address, website

## Next Steps

  - [Register Your Brand](https://www.zavu.dev/docs/guides/10dlc/brand-registration): Start with brand registration
  - [Create a Campaign](https://www.zavu.dev/docs/guides/10dlc/campaigns): Set up your messaging campaign

## API Reference

Manage 10DLC brands and campaigns programmatically:

- [Get a 10DLC brand](https://www.zavu.dev/docs/api-reference/10dlc/get-10dlc-brand) — retrieve brand registration details
- [Update a 10DLC brand](https://www.zavu.dev/docs/api-reference/10dlc/update-10dlc-brand) — modify a draft brand before submission
- [Delete a 10DLC brand](https://www.zavu.dev/docs/api-reference/10dlc/delete-10dlc-brand) — remove a brand from your account
- [Get a 10DLC campaign](https://www.zavu.dev/docs/api-reference/10dlc/get-10dlc-campaign) — retrieve campaign details and status
- [Delete a 10DLC campaign](https://www.zavu.dev/docs/api-reference/10dlc/delete-10dlc-campaign) — remove a campaign you no longer use