As of 2025, 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) messaging continues to evolve, and staying informed about the latest changes is crucial for businesses that rely on text messaging to communicate with their customers. OtterText is committed to ensuring that our users stay up-to-date with these updates to maintain compliance and avoid costly penalties. Here’s a breakdown of the key 10DLC updates and what you need to know to keep your messages flowing smoothly.

Mandatory Registration: No More Unregistered Traffic

One of the most significant changes over the last year is the full enforcement of mandatory campaign registration. If your campaign isn’t registered, your messages will not be delivered. There are no exceptions to this rule. Unregistered traffic was phased out in February 2025, marking the final phase of this transition.

To ensure that your messages continue to be delivered, it’s essential to fully register all campaigns. If you haven’t already, make sure to complete your registration as soon as possible to avoid any disruptions to your messaging services.

Carrier-Specific Compliance Measures

Each major carrier—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon—has rolled out different strategies to enforce 10DLC compliance. Here’s how they’re approaching it:

• AT&T has enhanced their filtering systems to ensure that messages from registered campaigns are prioritized while non-compliant messages are blocked.
• T-Mobile has implemented more rigorous review processes and optimized filtering to align with compliance standards.
• Verizon is placing a strong emphasis on full campaign registration and has increased oversight to ensure compliance across the board.

These updates aim to improve security, reduce spam, and ensure that businesses can communicate reliably with their customers.

Key Compliance Requirements

To stay compliant with the 10DLC regulations, businesses must adhere to several essential guidelines:

1. Explicit Opt-In Consent: Every message campaign must clearly explain how users are providing consent to receive text messages. This should include:
   • Brand name
   • Message frequency (e.g., “message frequency may vary”)
   • Opt-out instructions (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”)
   • Links to terms and privacy policies
2. Keyword Auto-Responses: Each campaign must include specific auto-responses for certain keywords:
   • Opt-In (Start): This response should confirm the user’s consent and include all necessary disclosures such as message frequency and data rates.
   • Opt-Out (STOP): This response should confirm the user’s unsubscription from the campaign and notify them that no further messages will be sent.
   • Help: Provide contact information for customer support and instructions on how to manage subscriptions.
3. Consistency in Use Case: Your campaign’s use case must match the messaging content exactly. If you’re running a marketing campaign, every message should clearly state that it’s for marketing purposes. Mixing use cases within a campaign (e.g., marketing and customer care) can result in rejection.

Challenges and Costs to Watch Out For

With these updates, businesses may encounter several challenges:

• Longer Campaign Approval Times: Expect a processing time of 3-5 business days for campaign approval, assuming all registration details are correct.
• Increased Carrier Fees: Carriers have increased fees for both SMS and MMS messages. Make sure to adjust your messaging budgets accordingly.
• Stricter Content Filtering: Carriers are now enforcing stricter content filtering, which could lead to legitimate messages being blocked or flagged. Regularly monitor your delivery reports to identify and address any issues early.
• Message Blocking: Non-compliant messages are likely to be blocked or flagged by carriers. Businesses must ensure their messaging aligns with all compliance regulations to prevent message delivery failures.

What’s Next for 10DLC?

As we look ahead, we expect to see:

• More Refined Compliance Processes: Carrier policies and compliance processes will continue to evolve. Stay informed to avoid any disruptions in your messaging service.
• AI-Driven Compliance Tools: Expect to see greater automation in the compliance process, allowing businesses to proactively detect potential issues before they affect message deliverability.
• Greater Focus on Transparency and Security: The future of business messaging will focus on transparency and security, ensuring businesses and consumers alike can communicate reliably and safely.

Best Practices for Staying Compliant

To ensure that your messages continue to flow without interruptions, follow these best practices:

• Register Campaigns Early: Don’t wait until the last minute. Register your campaigns as early as possible to avoid delays.
• Maintain Clear and Consistent Messaging: Always ensure that your messaging aligns with the campaign’s use case. If it’s a marketing campaign, make sure the messaging reflects that.
• Monitor Your Delivery Reports: Keep an eye on your message performance. A sudden drop in delivery rates may indicate compliance issues.
• Stay Informed: Carrier policies are always evolving. Regularly check for updates from your provider and make sure your campaigns stay aligned with the latest regulations.

Conclusion

Staying compliant with 10DLC regulations is more important than ever. By registering your campaigns, ensuring your messaging is transparent and consistent, and working closely with your messaging provider, you can avoid costly penalties and continue to communicate effectively with your customers.

At OtterText, we are committed to keeping you informed about the latest updates in 10DLC and helping you navigate these changes to maintain reliable, compliant communication with your audience.