Getting Started with 10DLC

10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) is the industry standard for application-to-person (A2P) messaging on US long code numbers. Registering your brand and campaigns provides higher throughput, better deliverability, and reduced carrier filtering.

Registration overview

Step	What happens	Timeline
1. Create Brand	Register your business identity with The Campaign Registry (TCR)	Instant
2. Vet Brand	Third-party vetting determines your trust score (0-100)	1-7 business days
3. Create Campaign	Register your messaging use case	Instant (pending carrier approval)
4. Assign Numbers	Link phone numbers to your campaign	Instant

Vetting is critical. Your brand’s vetting score directly determines your throughput limits — especially on AT&T and T-Mobile. See 10DLC Rate Limits for details.

Step 1: Create a brand

A brand represents the business entity sending messages.

API
Portal

curl -X POST https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/brand \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "entityType": "PRIVATE_PROFIT",
    "displayName": "Acme Corp",
    "companyName": "Acme Corporation",
    "ein": "12-3456789",
    "phone": "+15551234567",
    "street": "123 Main St",
    "city": "New York",
    "state": "NY",
    "postalCode": "10001",
    "country": "US",
    "email": "admin@acmecorp.com",
    "website": "https://acmecorp.com",
    "vertical": "TECHNOLOGY"
  }'

import os
import requests

API_KEY = os.environ.get("TELNYX_API_KEY")
headers = {
    "Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}",
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
}

brand_data = {
    "entityType": "PRIVATE_PROFIT",
    "displayName": "Acme Corp",
    "companyName": "Acme Corporation",
    "ein": "12-3456789",
    "phone": "+15551234567",
    "street": "123 Main St",
    "city": "New York",
    "state": "NY",
    "postalCode": "10001",
    "country": "US",
    "email": "admin@acmecorp.com",
    "website": "https://acmecorp.com",
    "vertical": "TECHNOLOGY",
}

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/brand",
    headers=headers,
    json=brand_data,
)
brand = response.json()
print(f"Brand created: {brand['data']['brandId']}")

const axios = require('axios');

const headers = {
  Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.TELNYX_API_KEY}`,
  'Content-Type': 'application/json',
};

const brandData = {
  entityType: 'PRIVATE_PROFIT',
  displayName: 'Acme Corp',
  companyName: 'Acme Corporation',
  ein: '12-3456789',
  phone: '+15551234567',
  street: '123 Main St',
  city: 'New York',
  state: 'NY',
  postalCode: '10001',
  country: 'US',
  email: 'admin@acmecorp.com',
  website: 'https://acmecorp.com',
  vertical: 'TECHNOLOGY',
};

const response = await axios.post(
  'https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/brand',
  brandData,
  { headers }
);
console.log(`Brand created: ${response.data.data.brandId}`);

require "net/http"
require "json"
require "uri"

uri = URI("https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/brand")
http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
http.use_ssl = true

request = Net::HTTP::Post.new(uri)
request["Authorization"] = "Bearer #{ENV['TELNYX_API_KEY']}"
request["Content-Type"] = "application/json"
request.body = {
  entityType: "PRIVATE_PROFIT",
  displayName: "Acme Corp",
  companyName: "Acme Corporation",
  ein: "12-3456789",
  phone: "+15551234567",
  street: "123 Main St",
  city: "New York",
  state: "NY",
  postalCode: "10001",
  country: "US",
  email: "admin@acmecorp.com",
  website: "https://acmecorp.com",
  vertical: "TECHNOLOGY"
}.to_json

response = http.request(request)
brand = JSON.parse(response.body)
puts "Brand created: #{brand['data']['brandId']}"

package main

import (
  "bytes"
  "encoding/json"
  "fmt"
  "net/http"
  "os"
)

func main() {
  brandData := map[string]string{
    "entityType":  "PRIVATE_PROFIT",
    "displayName": "Acme Corp",
    "companyName":  "Acme Corporation",
    "ein":          "12-3456789",
    "phone":        "+15551234567",
    "street":       "123 Main St",
    "city":         "New York",
    "state":        "NY",
    "postalCode":   "10001",
    "country":      "US",
    "email":        "admin@acmecorp.com",
    "website":      "https://acmecorp.com",
    "vertical":     "TECHNOLOGY",
  }

  body, _ := json.Marshal(brandData)
  req, _ := http.NewRequest("POST", "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/brand", bytes.NewBuffer(body))
  req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+os.Getenv("TELNYX_API_KEY"))
  req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")

  resp, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
  if err != nil {
    panic(err)
  }
  defer resp.Body.Close()

  var result map[string]interface{}
  json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&result)
  data := result["data"].(map[string]interface{})
  fmt.Printf("Brand created: %s\n", data["brandId"])
}

<?php
$apiKey = getenv('TELNYX_API_KEY');

$brandData = [
    'entityType' => 'PRIVATE_PROFIT',
    'displayName' => 'Acme Corp',
    'companyName' => 'Acme Corporation',
    'ein' => '12-3456789',
    'phone' => '+15551234567',
    'street' => '123 Main St',
    'city' => 'New York',
    'state' => 'NY',
    'postalCode' => '10001',
    'country' => 'US',
    'email' => 'admin@acmecorp.com',
    'website' => 'https://acmecorp.com',
    'vertical' => 'TECHNOLOGY',
];

$ch = curl_init('https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/brand');
curl_setopt_array($ch, [
    CURLOPT_POST => true,
    CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
    CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER => [
        "Authorization: Bearer {$apiKey}",
        'Content-Type: application/json',
    ],
    CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => json_encode($brandData),
]);

$response = json_decode(curl_exec($ch), true);
curl_close($ch);

echo "Brand created: {$response['data']['brandId']}\n";

Required fields:

Field	Description	Example
`entityType`	Business type	`PRIVATE_PROFIT`, `PUBLIC_PROFIT`, `NON_PROFIT`, `GOVERNMENT`
`displayName`	Brand display name	`Acme Corp`
`companyName`	Legal company name	`Acme Corporation`
`ein`	EIN/Tax ID	`12-3456789`
`phone`	Business phone	`+15551234567`
`street`, `city`, `state`, `postalCode`, `country`	Business address	—
`email`	Contact email	`admin@acmecorp.com`
`vertical`	Industry vertical	`TECHNOLOGY`, `HEALTHCARE`, `RETAIL`, etc.

Step 2: Vet your brand

Brand vetting determines your trust score (0-100), which directly affects your messaging throughput. Higher scores unlock more messages per minute.

API
Portal

curl

# Request vetting for a brand
curl -X POST https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/brand/{brandId}/vetting \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "vettingProvider": "AEGIS",
    "vettingClass": "STANDARD"
  }'

Check vetting status:

curl -s https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/brand/{brandId} \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" | jq '.data.vettingScore'

Timeline: Standard vetting takes 1-7 business days. Enhanced vetting (for higher scores) may take longer. You can create campaigns before vetting completes, but throughput will be limited until a score is assigned.

Step 3: Create a campaign

A campaign defines your messaging use case and is required for each distinct type of messaging you do.

API
Portal

curl -X POST https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/campaignBuilder \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "brandId": "your_brand_id",
    "usecase": "MIXED",
    "description": "Order confirmations and delivery updates",
    "sample1": "Your order #12345 has been confirmed. Track at https://acme.com/track/12345",
    "sample2": "Your package is out for delivery and will arrive by 5 PM today.",
    "messageFlow": "Customers opt in at checkout by checking a box to receive order updates via SMS.",
    "helpMessage": "Reply HELP for support. Contact us at support@acmecorp.com or call +15551234567.",
    "optinKeywords": "START, YES",
    "optoutKeywords": "STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE",
    "helpKeywords": "HELP, INFO",
    "embeddedLink": true,
    "numberPool": false,
    "ageGated": false
  }'

campaign_data = {
    "brandId": "your_brand_id",
    "usecase": "MIXED",
    "description": "Order confirmations and delivery updates",
    "sample1": "Your order #12345 has been confirmed.",
    "sample2": "Your package is out for delivery.",
    "messageFlow": "Customers opt in at checkout.",
    "helpMessage": "Reply HELP for support.",
    "optinKeywords": "START, YES",
    "optoutKeywords": "STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE",
    "helpKeywords": "HELP, INFO",
    "embeddedLink": True,
    "numberPool": False,
    "ageGated": False,
}

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/campaignBuilder",
    headers=headers,
    json=campaign_data,
)
campaign = response.json()
print(f"Campaign created: {campaign['data']['campaignId']}")

const campaignData = {
  brandId: 'your_brand_id',
  usecase: 'MIXED',
  description: 'Order confirmations and delivery updates',
  sample1: 'Your order #12345 has been confirmed.',
  sample2: 'Your package is out for delivery.',
  messageFlow: 'Customers opt in at checkout.',
  helpMessage: 'Reply HELP for support.',
  optinKeywords: 'START, YES',
  optoutKeywords: 'STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE',
  helpKeywords: 'HELP, INFO',
  embeddedLink: true,
  numberPool: false,
  ageGated: false,
};

const response = await axios.post(
  'https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/campaignBuilder',
  campaignData,
  { headers }
);
console.log(`Campaign created: ${response.data.data.campaignId}`);

Common use case types:

Use Case	Description
`MIXED`	Multiple message types (most common)
`MARKETING`	Promotional messages
`CUSTOMER_CARE`	Support and service messages
`DELIVERY_NOTIFICATION`	Order/delivery updates
`ACCOUNT_NOTIFICATION`	Account alerts
`2FA`	Two-factor authentication
`SECURITY_ALERT`	Security notifications
`POLLING_VOTING`	Surveys and polls
`CHARITY`	Nonprofit messaging
`POLITICAL`	Political campaigns

Sample messages matter. Carriers review your sample messages during approval. Make them realistic and representative of your actual messaging. Include opt-out language (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”).

Step 4: Assign phone numbers

Link your phone numbers to the campaign so they can send messages under that campaign’s registration.

API
Portal

curl -X POST https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/phoneNumberCampaign \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "phoneNumber": "+15551234567",
    "campaignId": "your_campaign_id"
  }'

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/phoneNumberCampaign",
    headers=headers,
    json={
        "phoneNumber": "+15551234567",
        "campaignId": "your_campaign_id",
    },
)
print(f"Number assigned: {response.json()['data']['phoneNumber']}")

const response = await axios.post(
  'https://api.telnyx.com/v2/10dlc/phoneNumberCampaign',
  {
    phoneNumber: '+15551234567',
    campaignId: 'your_campaign_id',
  },
  { headers }
);
console.log(`Number assigned: ${response.data.data.phoneNumber}`);

Phone numbers must already be assigned to a messaging profile before they can be assigned to a campaign. See the Send Your First Message guide to set this up.

Troubleshooting

Brand registration rejected

Common causes:

EIN mismatch: The EIN must match the legal business name exactly as registered with the IRS
Invalid address: Use the physical business address, not a P.O. box
Missing website: A working website is strongly recommended for higher vetting scores

Fix: Correct the information and resubmit. Brand registration is free to retry.

Low vetting score

Vetting scores depend on:

Business age and size
Online presence and reputation
EIN verification
Industry vertical

Options:

Request Enhanced Vetting for a more thorough review (may improve score)
Ensure your website is live, professional, and matches your brand information
Check that your EIN and business name match IRS records exactly

See 10DLC Rate Limits for how scores map to throughput.

Campaign rejected by carrier

Carriers may reject campaigns for:

Vague or misleading sample messages
Missing opt-out language in samples
Use case doesn’t match message content
Prohibited content (cannabis, gambling in some states, etc.)

Fix: Review and update your sample messages, ensure opt-out language is included, and verify your use case is accurate.

Messages still being filtered after registration

Even with 10DLC registration, messages can be filtered if:

Content doesn’t match the registered campaign use case
Messages look like spam (identical content to many recipients)
Links are flagged by carrier content filters
Volume exceeds your campaign’s throughput allocation

Fix: Ensure message content matches your campaign description. Personalize messages. Use link shorteners carefully. Monitor Message Detail Records for delivery issues.

Next steps

10DLC Rate Limits

Understand carrier-specific throughput based on your vetting score.

Event Notifications

Receive webhooks for brand vetting, campaign approval, and more.

Sole Proprietor

Special 10DLC registration for sole proprietors without an EIN.

Send Your First Message

Start sending messages once your 10DLC setup is complete.

​Registration overview

​Step 1: Create a brand

​Step 2: Vet your brand

​Step 3: Create a campaign

​Step 4: Assign phone numbers

​Troubleshooting

​Next steps

10DLC Rate Limits

Event Notifications

Sole Proprietor

Send Your First Message

Registration overview

Step 1: Create a brand

Step 2: Vet your brand

Step 3: Create a campaign

Step 4: Assign phone numbers

Troubleshooting

Next steps