> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.hoopai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# A2P 10DLC registration — complete guide to SMS compliance

A2P 10DLC (Application-to-Person 10-Digit Long Code) is the industry standard for sending business text messages in the United States. Every business sending SMS through the HoopAI platform must complete A2P 10DLC registration to ensure reliable message delivery.

<Note>
  Without A2P registration, your SMS messages will be heavily filtered or completely blocked by US carriers. This is not optional — it is a federal carrier requirement enforced since 2023.
</Note>

## What is A2P 10DLC?

A2P 10DLC is a system that allows businesses to send application-to-person (A2P) text messages through standard 10-digit local phone numbers. Before A2P 10DLC, businesses could send texts from local numbers without registration, but carriers had no way to distinguish legitimate business messages from spam.

The system was introduced by The Campaign Registry (TCR) in partnership with major US carriers (AT\&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) to:

* **Reduce spam** — only registered businesses can send at scale
* **Improve deliverability** — registered messages are trusted by carrier networks
* **Increase transparency** — carriers know who is sending and why
* **Protect consumers** — ensures businesses follow opt-in/opt-out rules

### How it works

A2P 10DLC registration is a **two-step process**:

1. **Brand registration** — register your business identity with The Campaign Registry
2. **Campaign registration** — register what type of messages you will send and why

Both steps must be completed before you can send SMS from a local 10-digit number.

***

## Registration fees

| Item                                  | Cost            | Notes                                |
| ------------------------------------- | --------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| Brand registration                    | \$4 (one-time)  | Per business entity                  |
| Standard campaign registration        | \$15 (one-time) | Per campaign use case                |
| Sole proprietor brand registration    | \$4 (one-time)  | Limited to 1 campaign                |
| Sole proprietor campaign registration | \$2/month       | Monthly recurring fee                |
| Enhanced brand vetting                | \$40 (one-time) | Optional — increases trust score     |
| Additional campaigns                  | \$15 each       | Most businesses need only 1 campaign |

<Warning>
  These fees are charged by The Campaign Registry (TCR) and passed through to your account. They are non-refundable once submitted.
</Warning>

***

## Step 1 — Brand registration

Brand registration verifies your business identity. The information you provide is checked against public business databases.

### Information required

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="LLC / Corporation">
    | Field               | Details                                   |
    | ------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
    | Legal business name | Must match your EIN/tax filing exactly    |
    | DBA (if applicable) | Doing-business-as name                    |
    | EIN (Tax ID)        | 9-digit Employer Identification Number    |
    | Business type       | LLC, Corporation, Partnership, Non-profit |
    | Business address    | Must match IRS records                    |
    | Business phone      | Active phone number                       |
    | Business website    | Must be a live, working URL               |
    | Vertical/industry   | Select the closest match                  |
    | Contact email       | Business email (not personal Gmail/Yahoo) |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Sole proprietor">
    | Field                            | Details                            |
    | -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
    | First and last name              | Legal name as filed with IRS       |
    | EIN or SSN                       | EIN preferred; SSN accepted        |
    | Business address                 | Can be home address                |
    | Business phone                   | Active phone number                |
    | Business website or social media | At least one web presence required |
    | Vertical/industry                | Select the closest match           |
    | Contact email                    | Any valid email                    |

    <Note>
      Sole proprietors are limited to **1 campaign** and receive a lower trust score by default, resulting in lower message throughput. Consider forming an LLC for higher limits.
    </Note>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### How to register your brand

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to phone number settings">
    Go to **Settings** > **Phone Numbers** > **Trust Center** in your HoopAI account.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Register Brand">
    Select **A2P 10DLC** and click **Register Brand**. If you have already registered at the account level, your brand may already appear here.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter business information">
    Fill in all required fields. Double-check that your legal business name and EIN match your IRS records exactly — mismatches are the #1 cause of rejection.

    <Frame caption="Brand registration form in the Trust Center">
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hoopai-84ec0cdc/images/settings-a2p-brand-registration.png" alt="Brand registration form showing business name, EIN, address, and other required fields" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit and wait for verification">
    After submitting, your brand will be reviewed. This typically takes **1-5 business days**. You will receive a trust score once approved.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Trust score

After brand registration, TCR assigns a **trust score** that determines your SMS throughput (messages per second):

| Trust score | Tier       | Daily SMS limit (per campaign) | Messages per second     |
| ----------- | ---------- | ------------------------------ | ----------------------- |
| 0-24        | Low        | 2,000                          | 0.2 (1 msg every 5 sec) |
| 25-49       | Medium-low | 10,000                         | 0.4                     |
| 50-74       | Medium     | 50,000                         | 10                      |
| 75-100      | High       | 200,000+                       | 50+                     |

<Tip>
  Sole proprietors typically receive a trust score in the **low** range. LLCs and corporations with clean public records usually score **medium** or higher.
</Tip>

### Enhanced vetting

If your trust score is too low, you can request **enhanced vetting** for a one-time fee of **\$40**. Enhanced vetting performs a deeper check of your business using third-party data and can significantly increase your trust score.

Enhanced vetting is recommended if:

* Your initial trust score is below 50
* You need to send more than 2,000 messages per day
* You run marketing campaigns with large contact lists

To request enhanced vetting, go to **Settings** > **Phone Numbers** > **Trust Center** > click **Request Vetting** next to your registered brand.

***

## Step 2 — Campaign registration

After your brand is approved, you must register at least one **campaign** that describes what type of messages you will send.

### Campaign use cases

Select the use case that best describes your messaging:

| Use case                    | Description                                | Example                        |
| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------ |
| Mixed                       | Combination of marketing and informational | Promos + appointment reminders |
| Marketing                   | Promotional content, offers, sales         | "20% off this weekend!"        |
| Account notifications       | Transactional updates                      | "Your order has shipped"       |
| Customer care               | Support conversations                      | "How can we help?"             |
| Delivery notifications      | Delivery/shipping status                   | "Your package arrives today"   |
| Fraud alert messaging       | Security alerts                            | "Unusual login detected"       |
| Higher education            | University communications                  | Course registration reminders  |
| Polling and voting          | Surveys and polls                          | "Rate your experience 1-5"     |
| Public service announcement | Community alerts                           | Weather warnings               |
| Low volume mixed            | Under 3,000 msgs/month                     | Small business general use     |
| 2FA / Security              | Two-factor authentication                  | "Your code is 482910"          |
| Charity / Non-profit        | Fundraising and awareness                  | Donation requests              |

<Warning>
  Choose your use case carefully. Selecting "Marketing" when you are sending appointment reminders (or vice versa) can cause your campaign to be rejected. If you send both, choose **Mixed**.
</Warning>

### Sample messages

You must provide **at least 2 sample messages** that represent the type of content you will send. These must:

* Match your selected use case
* Include your business name
* Include opt-out language (e.g., "Reply STOP to unsubscribe")
* Be realistic examples of actual messages you will send

**Good sample messages:**

> "Hi {first_name}, this is {business_name}. Your appointment is confirmed for tomorrow at 2:00 PM. Reply STOP to opt out."

> "{business_name}: Thanks for signing up! We'll send you tips and exclusive offers. Reply STOP to unsubscribe."

**Bad sample messages (will cause rejection):**

> "Hey, check this out!" *(no business name, no opt-out)*

> "Buy now! Limited time!" *(no business name, no opt-out, too vague)*

### Opt-in and opt-out requirements

Your campaign registration must describe how contacts opt in to receive messages:

| Requirement          | Details                                                                  |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Opt-in method        | How do contacts agree to receive SMS? (web form, keyword, verbal, paper) |
| Opt-in message       | The confirmation message sent after opt-in                               |
| Opt-out keywords     | STOP, CANCEL, END, QUIT, UNSUBSCRIBE (all must be honored)               |
| Opt-out confirmation | Message sent when someone opts out (e.g., "You've been unsubscribed")    |
| Help keyword         | HELP must return a support message with contact info                     |

<Note>
  You must have a **privacy policy** and **terms of service** on your website that mention SMS communications. Carriers check for this during campaign review.
</Note>

### How to register your campaign

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to the Trust Center">
    Go to **Settings** > **Phone Numbers** > **Trust Center**. Your approved brand should be visible.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Register Campaign">
    Click **Register Campaign** under your approved brand.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select use case">
    Choose the campaign use case that best matches your messaging.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add sample messages">
    Enter at least 2 sample messages. Include your business name and opt-out language in every sample.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Describe opt-in flow">
    Explain how contacts opt in. Provide the URL of your opt-in form if applicable.

    <Frame caption="Campaign registration — opt-in description and sample messages">
      <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hoopai-84ec0cdc/images/settings-a2p-campaign-registration.png" alt="Campaign registration form showing use case selection, sample messages, and opt-in description" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit for review">
    Review all details and submit. Campaign review typically takes **1-14 business days** depending on carrier backlog.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Timeline

| Step                        | Typical timeline       | Maximum timeline     |
| --------------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------- |
| Brand registration          | 1-2 business days      | 5 business days      |
| Enhanced vetting (optional) | 1-3 business days      | 7 business days      |
| Campaign registration       | 1-7 business days      | 14 business days     |
| **Total (without vetting)** | **2-9 business days**  | **19 business days** |
| **Total (with vetting)**    | **3-12 business days** | **26 business days** |

<Tip>
  Start your A2P registration as soon as possible — ideally before you begin building campaigns. Do not wait until launch day.
</Tip>

***

## What happens without registration

If you attempt to send SMS from a local 10-digit number without A2P 10DLC registration:

* **T-Mobile**: messages are blocked entirely; \$2,000+ daily fines possible for unregistered traffic
* **AT\&T**: messages are heavily filtered; most will not be delivered
* **Verizon**: messages may be delivered at very low throughput with high filtering
* Your number may be **permanently flagged** as spam
* Your account may be **suspended** by the carrier

<Warning>
  Sending unregistered A2P traffic is not a gray area. Carriers actively block it and may blacklist your numbers permanently.
</Warning>

***

## Throughput limits by trust score

After registration, your daily sending limits are determined by your trust score and the number of campaigns:

| Trust score        | T-Mobile MPS | AT\&T MPS | Daily cap (per campaign) |
| ------------------ | ------------ | --------- | ------------------------ |
| Low (1-24)         | 0.2          | 1         | 2,000                    |
| Medium-low (25-49) | 0.4          | 4         | 10,000                   |
| Medium (50-74)     | 10           | 10        | 50,000                   |
| High (75-100)      | 50           | 75        | 200,000+                 |

*MPS = messages per second*

***

## Checking registration status

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to the Trust Center">
    Navigate to **Settings** > **Phone Numbers** > **Trust Center**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="View brand status">
    Your brand will show one of these statuses:

    * **Pending** — under review
    * **Verified** — approved and active
    * **Failed** — rejected (see troubleshooting below)
  </Step>

  <Step title="View campaign status">
    Each campaign will show:

    * **Pending** — under review by carriers
    * **Active** — approved and ready to send
    * **Rejected** — denied (see troubleshooting below)
    * **Suspended** — temporarily suspended due to violations
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame caption="Trust Center showing brand and campaign registration status">
  <img src="https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/hoopai-84ec0cdc/images/settings-a2p-trust-center-status.png" alt="Trust Center dashboard showing verified brand and active campaign status" />
</Frame>

***

## Troubleshooting

### Rejected brand registration

| Rejection reason                     | Fix                                                                                                         |
| ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| EIN does not match business name     | Verify your legal name matches IRS records exactly. Check for typos, punctuation, and suffix (LLC, Inc)     |
| Business not found in public records | Ensure your business is registered with the state. New businesses may need to wait for records to propagate |
| Invalid website                      | Your website must be live and accessible. Cannot be a social media page (for LLCs/Corps)                    |
| Address mismatch                     | Use the exact address on file with the IRS, including suite/unit numbers                                    |
| Duplicate registration               | Your EIN may already be registered under another account. Contact support                                   |

### Rejected campaign registration

| Rejection reason                     | Fix                                                              |
| ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Sample messages don't match use case | Rewrite samples to clearly match your selected use case          |
| Missing opt-out language             | Add "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" to every sample message          |
| No opt-in description                | Clearly describe how contacts consent to receive SMS             |
| Website missing privacy policy       | Add a privacy policy that mentions SMS/text messaging            |
| Misleading content                   | Ensure samples are honest and not deceptive                      |
| Prohibited content                   | Remove any SHAFT content (sex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco) |
| Embedded links without brand domain  | Use your own domain for links, not bit.ly or other shorteners    |

### Low trust score

If your trust score is lower than expected:

1. **Verify EIN accuracy** — even small discrepancies lower your score
2. **Check business listings** — ensure your business appears on Google, BBB, state registry
3. **Use a business website** — not a free subdomain or social media page
4. **Request enhanced vetting** — \$40 one-time fee, can significantly improve your score
5. **Ensure your business is in good standing** — active state registration, no liens or judgments

***

## Toll-free verification as an alternative

If you need to send SMS quickly while waiting for A2P 10DLC approval, consider using a **toll-free number** instead:

| Feature       | A2P 10DLC (local)           | Toll-free                    |
| ------------- | --------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| Number format | Local area code             | 800/888/877/etc.             |
| Registration  | Brand + campaign            | Toll-free verification       |
| Approval time | 2-19 business days          | 1-5 business days            |
| Throughput    | Based on trust score        | 3 MPS (standard)             |
| Cost          | $4 brand + $15 campaign     | Free verification            |
| MMS support   | Yes                         | Yes                          |
| Best for      | Local presence, high volume | Quick start, moderate volume |

To verify a toll-free number, go to **Settings** > **Phone Numbers** > select your toll-free number > **Submit for Verification**.

***

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do I need A2P 10DLC if I only send a few texts per day?">
    Yes. A2P 10DLC is required for **all** business SMS sent from local 10-digit numbers in the US, regardless of volume. Even 1 message per day requires registration.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use a toll-free number to skip A2P registration?">
    Toll-free numbers do not require A2P 10DLC registration, but they do require **toll-free verification**, which is a separate process. Toll-free numbers are a valid alternative if you do not need a local area code.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long does the entire registration process take?">
    Typically 2-9 business days from start to finish. In some cases, it can take up to 19 business days if there are delays in carrier review. Start early.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why was my brand registration rejected?">
    The most common reason is a mismatch between your legal business name and your EIN on file with the IRS. Check for typos, missing suffixes (LLC, Inc), and ensure your business is in good standing with your state.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I register multiple campaigns under one brand?">
    Yes. Each campaign costs \$15. Most businesses only need one campaign with the **Mixed** use case to cover both marketing and informational messages.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is the difference between brand and campaign registration?">
    **Brand registration** verifies your business identity (who you are). **Campaign registration** describes your messaging (what you send and why). Both are required.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need a separate registration for each account?">
    No. If the same business entity operates multiple accounts, you register the brand once and can create campaigns for each account under that brand.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if I change my business name or EIN?">
    You will need to submit a new brand registration with the updated information. The old registration cannot be edited after approval.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is A2P 10DLC required for MMS (picture messages)?">
    Yes. MMS sent from local 10-digit numbers is subject to the same A2P 10DLC requirements as SMS.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I send SMS while my registration is pending?">
    Technically, messages may still be sent, but they will be subject to heavy carrier filtering and may not be delivered. It is strongly recommended to wait for approval or use a verified toll-free number in the interim.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is enhanced vetting and is it worth it?">
    Enhanced vetting is a deeper verification of your business for a \$40 one-time fee. It can increase your trust score, which directly increases your daily message limits and throughput. It is worth it for any business planning to send more than 2,000 messages per day.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need A2P registration for Canadian numbers?">
    No. A2P 10DLC is a US-only requirement. Canadian SMS has its own compliance rules under CASL (Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use shortcodes instead of A2P 10DLC?">
    Yes, dedicated shortcodes are a separate registration path with higher throughput, but they cost significantly more ($500-$1,000/month) and have a longer approval process (8-12 weeks).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What is SHAFT content and why does it matter?">
    SHAFT stands for Sex, Hate, Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco. Messages containing SHAFT content are prohibited on standard A2P 10DLC campaigns and will cause your campaign to be rejected or suspended.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I increase my message throughput?">
    Your throughput is tied to your trust score. To increase it: (1) ensure your brand information is accurate, (2) request enhanced vetting, (3) maintain good sending practices (low spam complaints, proper opt-in/opt-out). You cannot manually set throughput limits.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>