Register your local phone number to enable texting
What is the new regulation?
Follow the steps below to register your local phone number(s) for texting compliance.
What is the TCR
The Campaign Registry (TCR) is a third party agency designed to help telecoms protect consumers from unwanted SMS via a mandate for brand and campaign registration. Learn more.
Who does this impact?
Who has to do this?
Registration is required for all customers who send SMS/MMS messages to U.S. numbers for conversational purposes, regardless of whether the customer intends to send business-related campaigns or just a single response to an SMS received by a user/client. This impacts all U.S. customers; however, if the businesses are outside the U.S. and send a message to customers with U.S. phone numbers, they will also be impacted.
I don't send bulk messages. Do I still need to register?
Yes, registration is required for all SMS traffic regardless of volume. During registration you will be asked to specify the amount of messages you plan to send.
What happens if I don't register?
Registration must be completed by December 1, 2024. Text messages sent after this date will be blocked if not registered. Carriers may choose to block your messages or mark your numbers as spam. Also, you cannot add new numbers with texting capabilities or make any changes until you have successfully registered a campaign.
How do I register?
Step 1: Pre-checklist
1a: Provide a working website
1b: Include opt-in language on phone collection forms
The opt-in method most likely to be approved is the collection of phone numbers and opt-ins through your working website, as this is the easiest method for TCR to verify. If you collect opt-ins through the website, TCR will check the website you provide to confirm all forms collecting phone numbers contain clear opt-in language and a link to your compliant privacy policy.
- Entering a phone number through a website and agreeing to receive messages. For example, customers opt-in by visiting www.examplewebsite.com and adding their phone number. They then check a box agreeing to receive text messages from the example brand.
- Clicking a button on a mobile webpage.
- Sending a message from the consumer’s mobile device that contains an advertising keyword. For example, customers opt-in by texting START to (111) 222-3333.
- Initiating the text message exchange in which the message sender replies to the consumer only with responsive information.
- Signing up at a point of sale (POS) or another message sender on-site location.
- Opting in over the phone using interactive voice response (IVR) technology.
- The Voter File, or accessing any public database with phone number information.
- Purchased list of phone numbers.
- Texting existing customers without prior explicit opt-in.
- Pre-checking an opt-in check box on a phone collection form
1c: Ensure a compliant Privacy Policy easily accessible on your website
Per CTIA guidelines, message senders must maintain a readily accessible, compliant Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy should be easy to access from your brand's main website, and should be linked on all forms collecting phone numbers. A compliant policy must be explicitly stated that consumer information is not shared with third-parties for marketing purposes. If your brand does engage in information sharing with third parties, we recommend adding language to your privacy policy to specify that text messaging is excluded. For example: "Text messaging opt-in is excluded from information sharing with third parties."
Your privacy policy should include the following details:
Privacy Policy Generators can facilitate in creating a privacy policy. The following websites offer such generators:
1d: Link to your privacy policy from your phone collection forms
Step 2: Register your brand
Each submission is charged registration fees, whether successful or unsuccessful. If your registration is rejected for any reason, you will be charged another $15 USD to resubmit. Your carrier charges us those fees, and we will reflect those charges on your next invoice.
- Business address — Select from the drop-down list. If you have multiple addresses listed, select the address of the legally registered business entity. This address should match the address on your Federal Tax ID.
Note: If your business address is missing from the drop-down list, select Locations from the left navigation menu to add your business address.
Step 3: Register your campaign(s)
- Use case — Choose the use case that best fits your SMS campaign.
- High volume: More than 2000 texts/day. Frequent text messages to customers (i.e., daily or weekly).
- Low volume: Less than 2000 texts/day. A few text messages to customers (i.e., monthly).
Note: Low volume is recommended for majority of our customers.
- Campaign description — Describe the type of communication you intend to have with your clients. Learn about ineligible use cases. Provide a brief overview of the information you plan to share, whether it's about sales, customer service, follow-up messages, etc. Additionally, mention if there will be internal messaging among your employees if required. Your registration description should address:
- Your business description
- Who are you reaching out to via SMS. (i.e. employee, client, customer, patient, etc.)
- Why you are sending SMS messaging
- Good example: We are an Automobile dealership that will be sending SMS to our customers for informational purposes, this can include appointment reminders, repair updates, satisfaction follow-ups, online bill payment notifications, and two-way conversations.
- Opt-in methods — Provide detailed information on how users agree to receive SMS messages. Elaborate on how your customers will give consent to receive SMS from your company. Three main types of consent are listed as follows:
Types of Messaging Content & Required Consent Conversational Informational Promotional Conversational messaging is a back-and-forth conversation that takes place over text. If the consumer texts the business first and the business responds quickly with a single message, it’s likely conversational. If the consumer initiates the conversation and the business responds, no additional permission is required.
Informational messaging is when a consumer gives a business their number and asks to be contacted in the future. Appointment reminders, welcome texts, and alerts fall in this category because the first text sent by the business fulfills the consumer’s request. A consumer should agree to receive texts when they give the business their mobile number.
Promotional messaging is when a message contains a sales or marketing promotion. Adding a call-to-action like a coupon code to an informational text may place it in the promotional category. Before a business sends promotional messages, the consumer must agree in writing to receive promotional texts. Businesses that already ask consumers to sign forms or submit contact information can add a field to capture consent.
The first message is always sent by the consumer Two-way conversation Message responds to a specific request
The first message is sent by the consumer or business One-way alert or two-way conversation Message contains information
The first message is sent by the business
One-way alert Message promotes a brand or product and Prompts consumers to buy something or go somewhere
IMPLIED CONSENT
If the consumer initiates the text message exchange and the business only responds to each consumer with relevant information, no verbal or written permission is required.
EXPRESSED CONSENT
The consumer should grant permission before the business texts them. They can grant permission over text, on a form or website, or verbally. Written permission also works.
EXPRESSED WRITTEN CONSENT
The consumer should give written permission before a business texts them. They can sign a form or check a box to allow promotional text messages. Participation in international promotions should never be a requirement.
- Sample messages — Provide at least three sample messages, which can be either a typical message exchanged between employees and clients or exclusively between employees. Important things to consider:
- Sample messages MUST include the brand name.
- Sample messages MUST include opt-out language if alerts, reminders, etc are sent.
- Good example: Dear [Customer Name], This is a notification to inform you of the temporary closure of our service center on [Date]. We apologize for any inconvenience caused and will keep you updated on any changes. Thank you for your understanding. Should you no longer wish to receive SMS from us please reply STOP to unsubscribe.
- Number pooling
Troubleshooting
Common Rejection reasons for eligible resubmission
Each of the below rejection codes are eligible for re-submission. To resolve these issues, please take the corrective action(s) outlined in the table below, and then re-submit your request with the updated information.
Error Code | Rejection Category | Rejection Reason | Correction Needed |
---|---|---|---|
30886 | Invalid Campaign Description |
Campaign description does not thoroughly explain the purpose of the campaign or description does not match the use case. |
Verify that the campaign description is accurate and detailed. If you are an ISV registering a direct offering to your customers, please indicate that in the campaign description. Resubmit campaign for review. |
30893 | Invalid Sample Message Use Case |
Sample messages are either not provided, unclear, or content does not match the campaign use case. |
Verify that sample messages are accurate and detailed. Sample messages should reflect actual messages to be sent under campaign and indicate templated fields with brackets. At least one of the sample messages needs to include your business name. Use case and campaign description need to match campaign description. |
30892 | Invalid Sample Message - Public URL Shorteners |
Public URL shorteners are not accepted. The website URL included in the sample messages was either from a public URL shortener or is non-secured. |
Remove public URL shorteners from sample messages. |
30891 | Invalid Website URL |
Invalid URL was provided for registration. Websites need to be functioning. If this is a registration pre-launch, it needs to be indicated in campaign description. |
Verify that provided websites are functioning or detail is provided if the registration is for a pre-launch website. |
30896 | Opt-in Error |
Opt-in message workflow is not sufficient for campaign type and consent is required or opt-in is shared with 3rd parties. |
Verify opt-in meets CTIA's guidelines. All methods of opt-in need to be listed. If opt-in is collected through a paper form or behind a login, please provide a hosted link to the image of opt-in. If opt-in occurs on a website, please provide a link to the website. The website needs to have a privacy policy and terms of service. Ensure opt-in is not shared with 3rd parties. |
30887 | Opt-out Error |
Campaign indicated collecting and processing consumer Opt-Outs, but the workflow is unclear, missing opt-out keywords or opt-message. |
Verify that opt-out workflow is accurate and update Message Flow (labeled as 'How do end-users consent to receive messages' while submitting) description with opt-out process. If opt-out is managed, add opt-out keywords and update opt-out message to include acknowledgment of opt-out request, confirmation that no further messages will be sent, and brand name. |
30890 | Subscriber Help |
HELP message reply does not contain brand name, phone number, or email address. |
Verify that subscriber help message contains brand name, phone number, or email address. Message needs to guide customers on who they can contact after replying "help". |
30889 | Embedded Phone Number |
Embedded phone number use is selected, but is not reflected in the sample message. |
Verify embedded phone number selection is accurate. Update the Sample Messages with Embedded Phone Number or update Embedded Phone Number selection. |
30888 | Age Gate Not Present / Not Acceptable |
Age gate is not present. |
Verify and add a robust age gate to your website or opt-in policy. |
30881 | Invalid Brand Support Email |
Support email is not associated with the brand. The brand support email was either invalid or associated with a public domain email. |
Verify brand support email is valid and not associated with a public domain email. |
30894 | Invalid Brand Information |
Campaign registration needs to be associated with the brand behind the campaign. If you are an ISV registering a direct offering, campaign description needs to indicate a direct offering. |
Verify brand information is valid. |
30895 | Direct Lending - Campaign and Content Attribute Error |
Campaign is for direct lending or loan arrangement and is missing content attribute indicating direct lending. |
Verify direct lending or loan arrangement is selected for campaign registration. If the campaign is not related to direct lending or loan arrangement, please update the campaign description. |
30903 | Incorrect Sole Prop Brand Registration |
Brand behind the campaign does not meet the small business Sole Proprietor (EIN) criteria set by TCR and mobile carriers. Campaign can not be registered with a Sole Proprietor use case. |
Register the brand as a standard brand and register a standard or acceptable campaign use case that aligns with the registered brand’s classification. |
Rejection reasons for ineligible resubmission (Forbidden messaging categories)
Each of the below rejection errors are due to forbidden messaging categories and are therefore ineligible for resubmission.
Error Code | Rejection Category | Rejection Reason |
---|---|---|
30883 | Content Violation - SHAFT - Sex |
Submission included content such as nudity, pornography, sex toys, or other adult content |
30883 | Content Violation - SHAFT - Hate |
Submission included speech that is hateful, profanity, violent, incites violence, or similar speech |
30883 | Content Violation - SHAFT - Alcohol |
|
30883 | Content Violation - SHAFT - Firearms |
Submission included: Firearms, Ammo, Gun Ranges (Common for guns to be sold at Gun Ranges) |
30883 | Content Violation - SHAFT - Tobacco / Vape |
Submission included products such as: Cigarettes, Cigars, Tobacco Products (Chew, etc.), Vape, Vape Juice, or similar items |
30883 | Content Violation - SHAFT - Marijuana / CBD |
Submission included products such as: Cannabis, Marijuana, CBD, THC, Hemp, or similar items |
30884 | Spam/Phishing |
Spam/Fraud team has flagged the number/business/traffic for spam or phishing. |
30885 | High Risk |
Spam/Fraud team has flagged the number/business/traffic for fraud or deceptive marketing. |
30897 | Disallowed Content |
Submission included: disallowed content types, such as Loan Marketing, 3rd party debt collection, gambling, sweepstakes, stock alerts, cryptocurrency, risk investments, debt reduction, credit repair, 3rd party lead generation, and federally illegal substances. |
30882 | Terms & Conditions |
Campaign does not meet Terms and Conditions. |
30898 | Excessive EIN |
Same EIN is used for multiple brands. Only register minimum number of brands per EIN and do not resubmit until brand registration is updated. |
Resubmitting brand registration
- Tax ID/ EIN mismatch
- Wrong company name
- Entity type
- Missing Website/Social Media presence
We suggest that customers use the confirmation letter from the IRS (SS-4 form) that was received when applying for an EIN. You can also contact the IRS tax specialty line at 800-829-4933 to validate their information.Note: Canadian customers can provide their Business Number registry issued by the CRA (Canadian Revenue Agency).
- If you are not already, sign in to GoTo Admin.
Attention: SMS Registration is only available in the GoTo Admin portal. Admins who primarily uses the PBX Administration portal (https://my.jive.com/pbx), you will need to complete these steps in GoTo Admin.
- From the left navigation, select Phone systems.
- Select SMS Compliance.
- Within the red notification banner, select Edit brand registration.
- Please review and edit the information using the SS-4 form issued by the IRS. Fields that are commonly rejected by the TCR are highlighted to help indicate information that may be inaccurate. GoTo is unable to know exactly which field(s) are accurate/inaccurate. Please review all fields and check for accuracy.
Note: The SS-4 form only applies to US customers. Canadian customers will confirm their Business Number BN- BN is the 9 digit account number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
- Select Next: Review brand registration and verify that all information is valid before submitting.
Why am I getting an error saying my Tax ID doesn’t match the business name or type?
- Special characters. The IRS doesn’t allow special characters in business names and accepts only: alpha (A-Z), numeric (0-9), hyphen (-), and ampersand (&).
- INC or LLC: The registered name has or is missing a trailing “INC” or “LLC”. US customers can call the IRS helpline to verify their registered business name: +1 (800) 829-4933. When calling, first choose your language, then “1” for EIN questions, then “3” for “I have an EIN”.
FAQs
What fees are associated with registering my brand and SMS campaigns?
The registration process involves a $19 USD in one-time fees ($4 to register your company with TCR and $15 for carriers to vet your campaign) plus a fixed monthly fee to TCR based on the campaign registered (see table below). If your brand registration and/or campaign vetting has been rejected due to missing or inaccurate information, the associated one-time fees will apply for each resubmission attempt.
Low volume campaign (Less than 6000 texts/day) | $1.50 per month |
Standard volume campaign (More than 6000 texts/day) | $10.00 per month |
Does this impact my phone calls too?
This does not have any impact on your voice call features, ONLY texting.
Do I need to register each of my business phone numbers?
No, all your numbers with SMS permissions are automatically assigned to the campaign once it's approved. Any new numbers you order or port will also be automatically assigned.
I thought texting was included with purchase, why do I have to go through this extra registration?
Registration is an industry-wide requirement enforced by the wireless carriers who deliver messaging traffic to consumers. Like you, GoTo, and other service providers must comply with the industry's restrictions on unverified traffic.
Is GoTo going to switch off my text messaging capabilities if I haven’t registered an SMS campaign by a specific date?
Registration must be completed by December 1, 2024. Text messages sent after this date will be blocked if not registered. Carriers may choose to block your messages or mark your numbers as spam. Also, you cannot add new numbers with texting capabilities or make any changes until you have successfully registered a campaign.
I just obtained a new EIN with the IRS, how long should I wait to register?
The TCR has indicated that processing may take up to 4 weeks before the EIN is available in the IRS database for SMS registration.
What is opt-in and opt-out?
- Entering a phone number through a website and agreeing to receive messages. For example, customers opt-in by visiting www.examplewebsite.com and adding their phone number. They then check a box agreeing to receive text messages from the example brand.
- Clicking a button on a mobile webpage.
- Sending a message from the consumer’s mobile device that contains an advertising keyword. For example, customers opt-in by texting START to XXX-XXX-XXXX.
- Initiating the text message exchange in which the message sender replies to the consumer only with responsive information.
- Signing up at a point of sale (POS) or another message sender on-site location.
- Opting in over the phone using interactive voice response (IVR) technology.
- The Voter File, or accessing any public database with phone number information.
- Purchased list of phone numbers.
- Texting existing customers without prior explicit opt-in.
- Pre-checking an opt-in check box on a phone collection form
Opt-out: Customers who unsubscribe to text messages from a business "opt-out". Customers must have the ability to opt-out in at least two ways: