A2P SMS registration is mandatory for US business texting via VoIP. Compliance requires accurate campaign details, consent and opt-out processes, HTTPS websites, privacy policies, and permitted content. Registration limits, vetting, number management, credits, and troubleshooting procedures vary by business type and messaging volume.
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.
Can I send SMS while registration is pending?
No, you cannot send SMS messages until the campaign is registered.
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?
A declined registration usually means that one or more details in your submission did not match your business information, website, consent process, or sample messages. Review the decline reason, update the related information, and resubmit your campaign.
| Decline reason | What it means | What to do |
| Brand or legal name mismatch | The legal business name does not match the name in the applicable business or tax records. | Enter the legal name exactly as it appears in your official records. |
| EIN or Tax ID mismatch | The EIN or Tax ID does not match the legal entity named in the registration. | Check for typing errors. Confirm that the EIN belongs to the legal entity on the registration, not to a parent company, subsidiary, or trade name. |
| “DCA declined sharing request” | A Direct Connect Aggregator (DCA) declined the campaign during review. This message can appear when the reviewer cannot verify the consent, opt-out, website, privacy policy, campaign description, or sample messages. | Review every public URL and campaign field. Make sure your website clearly explains how people opt in to SMS messages, what messages they receive, and how they can opt out. Then update the campaign and resubmit it. |
| Missing or unclear opt-in language | The reviewer cannot confirm that recipients knowingly agreed to receive your messages. | Add a clear SMS disclosure to the form or process where you collect the phone number. Include the brand name, message purpose, message frequency, possible message and data rates, a Privacy Policy link, a link to terms and conditions, and STOP and HELP instructions. |
| Use-case mismatch | The campaign use case selected (for example, "Customer Care") doesn't match the sample messages provided. | Select the use case that matches your messages. Update the campaign description and sample messages to reflect the same recipients, purpose, sender, and message flow. |
To resubmit your registration, go to the Admin Settings.
- Open My Company > SMS Management > SMS Registration page
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Review the decline reason shown for the brand or campaign
- Update the business information, consent details, campaign description, or sample messages that caused the decline
- Correct the flagged field (legal name, EIN, opt-in language, or use case) and save the brand or campaign
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Select Options > Edit and resubmit
Note
Resubmitting the same information without correcting the reason for the decline can result in another rejection.
How long does re-review take after resubmitting?
Carrier review timelines vary, but most resubmissions are reviewed within a few business days. Repeated resubmissions with the same unresolved error can take longer.
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.
Who do I contact if my registration is stuck for more than two weeks?
Contact Dialpad Customer Care for further assistance.
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.
Why are messages failing to deliver if my campaign was approved?
An approved campaign does not guarantee that every message will be delivered. Use these checks when a message is undelivered or rejected:
- Confirm your registration status shows Approved, not Pending or Declined, based on the status shown in your account
- Confirm that the sending number is assigned to the approved campaign
- If messages are rejected with a carrier filtering error, review recent message content for spam-like patterns (excessive links, all caps, no opt-out language)
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.