We recognize that compliant and successful A2P SMS campaigns are essential for businesses; however, numerous regulations and questions surround registration and compliance.
Let’s examine some key questions regarding A2P SMS registration and compliance.
General A2P Registration Requirements
What is A2P, and why is it required?
A2P (Application-to-Person) registration is a mandatory process imposed by mobile carriers for all organizations using a VOIP system to send text messages to 10-digit US phone numbers. It is required to combat spam and scams, ensuring only legitimate companies use the service.
How do I initiate the A2P registration process? The link is not working.
Only Administrators can start the registration. Admins can use the direct link provided by Dialpad or navigate to Company Settings > SMS Management > SMS Registration.
Can I expedite my TCR registration request?
Dialpad cannot expedite the TCR registration process, as hundreds of submissions are handled daily. To ensure timely approval, verify that your submission is complete and correctly filled out.
How do I know my registration is approved?
Registration is complete when your campaign displays as 'Registered' and all associated numbers have been successfully assigned.
If my account was deactivated and reactivated, do I need to register again?
Yes, if a customer deactivates and then reactivates their account, they are required to register the campaign again to resume messaging services.
What happens if I run out of credits?
If your account runs out of credits, you won’t be able to send or receive external SMS or MMS messages until credits are added.
Campaign Content and Vetting
Why do I have to fill in opt-in/opt-out details if I only send conversational messages?
This is an industry requirement for all businesses sending text messages, even for purely conversational use cases. You must provide samples for Opt-In (must include Brand and Opt-Out language), Opt-Out, and HELP messages, and fully detail your messaging in the “Messaging Description”.
Why is my campaign being rejected with a "Please edit and resubmit" error?
This error typically means campaign vetting requirements have changed since the initial submission. Edit and resubmit your existing campaign, paying close attention to new requirements, such as including the script details for "Verbally with consent".
What is "Verbally with consent"?
It requires a detailed description of how you obtain recipient phone numbers during a conversation. This process must verbally inform the customer that they can opt out (reply STOP), reply HELP for info, that message/data rates and frequency may vary, and that their data will not be sold to third parties.
What is considered "Prohibited Content" or a "Disallowed Industry"?
Disallowed Content/Industries include High-Risk Financial Services (e.g., payday loans), Debt Forgiveness, Illegal Substances (e.g., cannabis, illegal prescriptions), specific Work & Investment Opportunities, Gambling, and Cash for Homes. Businesses operating in these categories cannot utilize A2P 10DLC SMS channels. Messaging related to prescription drugs and the sharing of mobile data for marketing are also prohibited.
Why are short messages like "Hi" or "Test" being blocked?
Short, generic messages lack context and are flagged as high-risk by automated filters to prevent spam, phishing, and social engineering fraud. To prevent this, include a clear purpose, identify the sender, and personalize the message to show relevance.
Is Dialpad or TCR blocking my approval?
Neither Dialpad nor TCR (The Campaign Registry) directly approves or declines campaigns. Messaging aggregators review campaigns for compliance, following directions from the mobile networks and CTIA guidelines.
Website and Privacy Policy Requirements
Can a campaign be approved without a compliant Privacy Policy?
No. A campaign will be rejected if its Privacy Policy allows the sharing of personal data with third parties for marketing. A specific SMS consent carve-out statement is required to be compliant with carrier codes of conduct and CTIA guidelines.
Why is a full Privacy Policy document required?
Per CTIA guidelines, Message Senders must maintain and conspicuously display a separate, easily accessed privacy policy that clearly describes how consumer information is collected, used, and shared.
What if we don't have a website and only use social media?
You may use a public, established business social media page (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp). This page must clearly identify the brand and conspicuously display a fully compliant SMS Disclosure and Privacy Policy (linked or written out), often in a "sticky" post or the "About" section.
What happens if my website is not secure (not HTTPS)?
The campaign will be rejected. Approvers' security features may block access to an unsecured site, preventing the required vetting process.
If I collect a phone number on my website, do I need a checkbox for SMS consent?
Yes. If a phone number is a required field, it must be accompanied by an SMS consent disclosure that includes an explicit, clickable checkbox. Not providing an opt-out is considered forced consent.
Number and Rate Limits
What is the guidance for Sole Proprietors?
The Sole Proprietor entity type is limited to small businesses and individuals without an EIN. It allows for only one campaign with a maximum of one associated number and has lower daily/minute message limits. If the brand has an EIN, it must be submitted as a Private Profit.
Why is my Sole Proprietor campaign only getting registered rates on one number?
Sole Proprietor campaigns are limited to registering only one phone number, which is the only number that receives registered rates. If the customer has an EIN or Tax ID, they should register as a Private Profit to register more numbers and access higher rate limits.
My client has over 49 numbers, but only 49 are registered. How do we register the rest?
A client with more than 49 numbers requires an additional verification called Number Pooling to register the remaining numbers. The A2P Team can submit a number pooling request once the campaign is confirmed to be fully compliant.
What volume of texting is considered "large"?
The lowest volume tier (Low) is 2,000 messages/day (T-Mobile) and 75 SMS/minute (AT&T). The highest tier (Top) allows up to 200,000 messages/day (T-Mobile) and 4,500 SMS/minute (AT&T).
Does messaging to/from a Shared Line count against the free SMS allotment?
Messaging to and from Shared Lines is not free and will incur per-message fees.
Troubleshooting and Management
Can I change my campaign from "automated" to "conversational" after it's created?
No, the campaign type is defined at creation and cannot be edited later. The only way to change it is to delete the campaign and restart the entire registration process, which is strongly discouraged.
My campaign was pending for 4 months. How can I get it reviewed?
You can escalate a campaign that has been pending for an extended period. First, ensure the campaign is fully compliant. Then, email the relevant messaging aggregator (e.g., Inteliquent) and request a review, including the Campaign ID.
How do I add or remove numbers from the SMS registration?
Numbers are managed automatically and are added or removed from registration when they are assigned to or unassigned from the company's number pool.
An external user opted out but is still having issues after opting back in (UNSTOP). What should I do?
Advise the external user to check their mobile phone's blocked number or spam settings. If the number is blocked, they must unblock it and then text the keyword UNSTOP to the number.
Where can I see the meaning of error codes for message failure?
Error codes for message failure can be reviewed on the Bandwidth SMPP SMS delivery receipts and error codes support page.