Business SMS Registration & Compliance (TCR Guide)

Mobile carriers now require all businesses that send text messages (SMS/MMS) to register through The Campaign Registry (TCR). This process applies to every business using SMS to communicate with customers, employees, or partners.

If your company uses SMS for alerts, reminders, support, or marketing, you must complete this registration to avoid blocked messages and potential carrier penalties. TechNet New England helps clients navigate this process quickly and correctly.

Why Registration Matters

• Delivery assurance: Registered SMS is less likely to be filtered or blocked.

• Compliance: Carriers enforce strict requirements to prevent spam and abuse.

• Brand protection: Registration verifies that messages are coming from your business, not impersonators.

• Avoid fines: Unregistered or non-compliant messaging can result in penalties from carriers.

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Information Required for Registration

To prepare, you’ll need to gather the following details:

• Legal business name (exactly as filed with the IRS or governing agency)

• EIN/Tax ID (US) or BN (Canada)

• Business address (must match your government records)

• Website URL (active, with a visible Privacy Policy and Terms of Service)

• Business industry & classification (e.g., LLC, corporation, nonprofit)

• Contact person (first/last name, title, phone, and email)

• Stock exchange and symbol (for publicly traded companies only)

Tip: If details don’t match official records exactly, carriers will reject the application.

The Registration Process

1. Brand Registration

   • Submit your business details to The Campaign Registry for verification.

   • This step authenticates your company as a legitimate SMS sender.

2. Campaign Registration

   • Define the purpose of your SMS usage (“use case”).

   • Examples: customer support, appointment reminders, two-factor authentication, order updates, or promotions.

   • Each campaign is tied to specific phone numbers.

3. Message Samples

   • Provide 3–5 examples of the messages you plan to send.

   • Each must include mandatory disclosures, such as:

     • “Reply STOP to opt-out”

     • “Reply HELP for support”

     • “Message and data rates may apply. Frequency may vary.”

4. Consent Requirements Carriers require businesses to demonstrate how recipients opt in to SMS. Acceptable methods include:

   • Website opt-in checkbox (unchecked by default)

   • Written or verbal consent

   • Customer-initiated conversations (e.g., texting your number first)

     
     

   Not allowed: Purchased lists, third-party lead sharing, or auto-enrolling customers without consent.
   

5. Number Assignment

   • Assign one or more of your phone numbers to the campaign.

   • Up to 49 numbers can be tied to a single registration.

6. Approval Timeline

   • Reviews generally take 2–4 weeks.

   • Carriers may request clarifications, so timely responses are important.

Fees & Costs

Carriers and TCR assess the following:

• Brand registration fee (one-time per business)

• Campaign vetting fee (one-time per campaign)

• Monthly campaign fee (varies by volume and use case)

• Per-message carrier fees (domestic SMS, MMS, toll-free SMS, international SMS)

Costs vary depending on use cases and volume. TNE will provide a cost breakdown before submitting your registration.

Message Rules & Prohibited Content

Your campaign must follow industry rules. Carriers block or fine businesses for prohibited categories, including:

• SHAFT: sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco

• Illegal activities (gambling, controlled substances, etc.)

• Phishing, smishing, or misleading messages

• High-risk financial or lending content without proper approvals

What Happens if You Don’t Register

• Outbound SMS will be blocked by carriers

• Higher message fees for unregistered traffic

• Risk of fines ranging from $10 per violation up to $10,000 for severe policy breaches

• Reputation damage if your texts appear as spam

How TechNet New England Helps

TNE handles the entire registration process for you:

• Reviewing your business information for accuracy

• Drafting compliant message samples

• Ensuring your website Privacy Policy and Terms meet carrier standards

• Submitting registration forms and managing carrier feedback

• Linking your phone numbers to approved campaigns

SMS/TCR Campaign Request Form

The process for setting up 10DLC campaigns is constantly evolving, with carriers becoming more restrictive. To maximize your chances of approval, please review our SMS Best Practices Guide before completing this form.

Use this form to request TechNet New England to register your Brand and one Campaign with The Campaign Registry (TCR). Each campaign is subject to carrier registration fees and ongoing monthly charges.

Company Information

Trunking Location ID RequiredEnter your trunking account/location ID so we can link your registration to the correct billing account.

TCR Brand ID RequiredProvide the Brand ID assigned to your company during brand registration with TCR.

Contact Name Required

Contact Email Required

Contact Phone Required

Campaign Information

Each Brand requires at least one Campaign. Campaigns carry monthly fees (typically $3–$12 USD per month) plus a one-time $15 vetting fee.

Use Case RequiredSelect one primary use case:

• 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication)

• Account Notification

• Customer Care

• Delivery Notification

• Fraud Alert Messaging

• Higher Education

• Marketing

• Polling & Voting

• Public Service Announcement

• Security Alert

• Mixed / Low Volume Mixed (if your campaign includes multiple use cases)

Mixed Use Case Detail(Required if “Mixed” is selected above – specify all use cases that apply.)

Vertical RequiredEnter your business vertical/industry (ex. Healthcare, Retail, Financial Services).

Campaign Description RequiredProvide a detailed explanation of how your company will use this campaign. Be as descriptive as possible. Insufficient descriptions are the #1 cause of rejections.

Message Samples

Provide real-world sample text messages that reflect how your campaign will operate. Each must include opt-out language and meet carrier requirements.

Sample Message 1 Required

Sample Message 2 Required

Compliance Messaging (Required by Carriers)

Call-to-Action Message Flow RequiredExplain how customers opt-in to receive messages (for example: website form, paper form, email, verbal agreement).

Subscriber Opt-In Message RequiredExample:“Thank you for opting in to receive messages from [Company Name]. You agree to receive updates on appointments, services, and general support. Message & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt-out.”

Subscriber Opt-Out Message RequiredExample:“We have received your request to stop receiving messages from [Company Name]. You will no longer receive texts. Reply HELP for more options.”

Subscriber Help Message RequiredExample:“Thank you for contacting [Company Name]. For assistance, call [phone number] or email [support email].”

Documentation

Privacy Policy URL

Terms of Service URL