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SMS Compliance Guide
Campaign Registry (TCR) SMS Compliance
Everything you need to know about TCR registration for compliant SMS marketing in the United States.
Understanding Campaign Registry (TCR) SMS Compliance
The Campaign Registry (TCR) is a central database that registers businesses and their SMS campaigns for text message marketing in the United States
What is TCR?
Launched in 2021, TCR was created by the mobile carrier industry to reduce spam, improve message deliverability, and ensure SMS marketing compliance with TCPA regulations.
Mandatory Registration
If you send SMS marketing messages in the US, TCR registration is mandatory. Carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.) require all businesses to register their brand and campaigns. Unregistered traffic is increasingly blocked or filtered as spam.
Drop Cowboy Support
Drop Cowboy guides you through TCR registration and helps maintain your brand reputation score for optimal SMS deliverability. We explain requirements, the registration process, and how to maintain compliance.
Why The Campaign Registry Exists
TCR protects consumers from spam while enabling legitimate businesses to reach customers
Spam Prevention
TCR helps carriers identify legitimate businesses versus spammers. By verifying brand identity and reviewing campaign use cases, TCR reduces unwanted spam texts that harm consumer trust and clog carrier networks.
Deliverability Protection
Registered businesses with good reputation scores achieve higher deliverability rates. Carriers prioritize verified traffic and may block or filter unregistered senders. TCR registration protects your ability to reach customers reliably.
TCPA Compliance
TCR registration helps demonstrate good-faith compliance efforts. While registration doesn't replace TCPA consent requirements, it shows carriers you're a legitimate business following industry standards and best practices.
Need Help with TCR Registration?
Drop Cowboy guides you through The Campaign Registry registration process and helps maintain your brand reputation score. Get expert support for TCR compliance.
How TCR Registration Works
TCR registration involves three main steps: brand registration, campaign registration, and ongoing maintenance
Step 1: Brand Registration
Register your business with TCR by providing company information, EIN/Tax ID, business address, and industry classification. Brands are verified and assigned a trust score based on business history, reputation, and compliance record. Higher trust scores result in better deliverability.
Step 2: Campaign Registration
Register each SMS campaign use case (marketing, alerts, customer service, etc.). Describe message content, target audience, opt-in process, and frequency. Campaigns are reviewed and approved or rejected based on use case, compliance, and brand reputation.
Step 3: Maintain Reputation
Monitor your brand reputation score and campaign performance. Address spam complaints quickly, maintain low opt-out rates, and follow best practices. Poor reputation leads to reduced throughput, filtering, or campaign suspension.
Ongoing Compliance
Keep brand information current, renew registrations annually, add new campaigns as needed, and respond to carrier inquiries. Drop Cowboy helps you maintain TCR compliance with ongoing support and monitoring.
Brand Registration Requirements
Required information and verification process for TCR brand registration
Required Information
Legal Business Name (exact name as registered with government). EIN or Tax ID (Federal Employer Identification Number). Business Address (physical street address, no P.O. boxes). Business Type (sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, etc.). Industry/Vertical (your business category). Website URL (active business website). Contact Information (email and phone for brand administrator). Stock Symbol (if p
Brand Verification Process
TCR verifies your brand information using government databases (IRS, Secretary of State), business credit bureaus (Dun & Bradstreet), public records and online presence, and domain registration history. Verification typically takes 1-7 business days for most brands. Some require additional documentation if automated verification fails.
Drop Cowboy Simplifies TCR Registration
Our team guides you through brand registration, campaign setup, and ongoing compliance. Get your SMS campaigns approved quickly with expert support.
Campaign Registration & Use Cases
Each SMS campaign you run must be registered separately with TCR. Campaigns are classified by use case and reviewed by carriers.
Marketing & Promotions
Promotional offers and sales. Product announcements. Event invitations. Loyalty program communications.
Transactional
Order confirmations. Delivery notifications. Account alerts. Password resets.
Customer Service
Support conversations. Appointment scheduling. Two-way messaging. Customer inquiries.
Mixed Use Cases
Combined marketing and service messages. Requires more detailed review. May have stricter requirements than single-purpose campaigns.
Campaign Review Process
Carriers review your campaign registration and evaluate use case appropriateness, sample message content, opt-in process description, expected message frequency, brand reputation score, and compliance history.
Approval Timeline
Most campaigns are approved within 1-3 business days. Some high-risk categories (debt collection, cannabis, etc.) require additional scrutiny and may take longer.
Brand Trust Scores & Reputation
Your TCR brand score directly impacts SMS deliverability and throughput
High Trust Brands
Established businesses with strong reputation, verified identity, and good compliance history receive high trust scores. Benefits include maximum message throughput (up to 4,500 messages per second per campaign), better deliverability, and faster campaign approvals.
Standard Trust Brands
Most businesses fall into standard trust category. You'll get approved campaigns, reasonable throughput (300-600 messages per second), and normal deliverability. Focus on maintaining low complaint rates and good opt-in practices to protect your reputation.
Low Trust or Unverified
New businesses, those with verification issues, or brands with compliance problems receive lower trust scores. Expect reduced throughput, increased scrutiny, potential message filtering, and slower campaign approvals. Work to improve reputation through compliant practices.
Protect Your SMS Deliverability
Drop Cowboy helps you maintain strong TCR reputation scores with compliant messaging, spam complaint monitoring, and best practice guidance. Keep your campaigns delivering reliably.
TCR Registration Costs
Understand the fees involved in TCR registration. These fees are paid through TCR, not Drop Cowboy.
Brand Registration Fees
Standard Brand: $4/month (annual $48). Low Volume Brand: $2/month for businesses sending <6,000 texts/month. Sole Proprietor: $4/month (verification process differs).
Campaign Fees
Per Campaign: $10/month per registered campaign. Most businesses need 1-3 campaigns depending on use cases.
Verification Fees
Automated Verification: Included (most brands). Manual Verification: $40 one-time (if automated fails). Example Total Cost: Small business with 1 campaign = $4/mo (brand) + $10/mo (campaign) = $14/month.
TCR Best Practices
Follow these best practices to maintain good standing with TCR and carriers
Honest, Accurate Registration
Provide truthful business information. Accurately describe message content and use cases. Don't misrepresent your brand or campaigns. Keep registration information current.
Clear Opt-In Processes
Obtain explicit consent before texting. Clearly describe what subscribers will receive. Document opt-in method and timestamp. Never send to purchased lists without verified consent.
Honor Opt-Outs Immediately
Process STOP requests instantly (Drop Cowboy does this automatically). Never contact opted-out numbers again. Make opting out easy (simple STOP keyword). Confirm opt-out with final message.
Monitor Complaint Rates
Keep spam complaints under 0.1% (1 per 1,000 messages). Address customer concerns quickly. Remove problematic contacts from lists. Investigate complaint spikes immediately.
Send Relevant, Valuable Content
Match message content to subscriber expectations. Don't over-send (message fatigue causes opt-outs). Personalize when appropriate. Provide clear value in every message.
Maintain Brand Reputation
Pay TCR fees on time. Respond to carrier inquiries promptly. Update campaigns when use cases change. Work with carriers to resolve issues.
Drop Cowboy Handles TCR Complexity for You
Get expert guidance on registration, campaign setup, and ongoing compliance. We help you navigate TCR requirements so you can focus on growing your business.
Common TCR Challenges & Solutions
How Drop Cowboy helps you overcome typical TCR obstacles
Registration Delays
Brand or campaign registrations stuck in review? Drop Cowboy's team has direct carrier relationships and can help escalate issues, provide additional documentation, and resolve verification problems faster than navigating TCR alone.
Campaign Rejections
Campaign denied or suspended? Drop Cowboy helps you understand rejection reasons, revise campaign descriptions, adjust use cases, and resubmit for approval. Our compliance expertise helps you get campaigns approved on first or second submission.
Reputation Score Issues
Brand score declining? Drop Cowboy provides reputation monitoring, spam complaint analysis, and actionable recommendations to improve your standing. Address issues before they impact deliverability.
Ready to Launch Compliant SMS Campaigns?
Drop Cowboy guides you through TCR registration and provides ongoing compliance support. Send text messages confidently with expert help every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about TCR registration and SMS compliance
Is TCR registration required for all SMS marketing?
Yes, TCR registration is mandatory for SMS marketing in the United States. Major carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon) require all businesses to register brands and campaigns through The Campaign Registry. Unregistered SMS traffic is increasingly blocked or filtered as spam. Drop Cowboy helps you complete TCR registration to ensure your messages reach recipients reliably.
How long does TCR registration take?
Brand registration typically takes 1-7 business days for verification. Campaign registration usually completes in 1-3 business days once your brand is approved. Some cases require manual review or additional documentation, which can extend timelines. Drop Cowboy guides you through the process and can help escalate if registration is delayed.
What happens if I don't register with TCR?
Unregistered SMS traffic faces serious consequences: messages are blocked or filtered as spam, deliverability rates drop dramatically, throughput is severely limited, and you may face carrier suspension. Major carriers now require TCR registration—it's not optional. Drop Cowboy helps you get registered quickly to avoid these deliverability problems.
How much does TCR registration cost?
Standard brand registration costs $4/month ($48 annually). Each campaign costs $10/month. Most businesses need 1-3 campaigns. Total typical cost: $14-$34/month. Low-volume brands (<6,000 texts/month) pay $2/month for brand registration. These fees are paid to TCR directly, not to Drop Cowboy. Drop Cowboy provides registration guidance and support as part of our service.
Can I use one campaign for multiple message types?
It depends on use case similarity. Pure marketing campaigns should be separate from transactional/service messages. If message types are closely related (all promotional offers, for example), one campaign may work. Mixed-use campaigns require more detailed review. Drop Cowboy helps you determine optimal campaign structure for your business to balance compliance with cost-effectiveness.
What is a brand trust score and why does it matter?
Your brand trust score is TCR's assessment of your business reputation, compliance history, and legitimacy. Higher scores result in better SMS deliverability, higher message throughput, and faster campaign approvals. Lower scores lead to reduced throughput and increased scrutiny. Drop Cowboy helps you maintain good reputation scores through compliant messaging practices.
Do I need separate TCR registration for different SMS platforms?
No. Your TCR brand and campaign registrations work across all SMS platforms and carriers. Once registered, you can use your approved campaigns through Drop Cowboy or any other compliant SMS provider. Registration is tied to your business and campaigns, not to specific platforms.
What if my campaign gets rejected by TCR?
Campaign rejections happen when use case descriptions are unclear, message samples don't match stated use case, or opt-in processes are insufficient. Drop Cowboy helps you revise campaign details, clarify use cases, and resubmit for approval. Most rejections can be resolved with better descriptions or documentation. Our compliance team has extensive experience getting campaigns approved.
Does TCR replace TCPA consent requirements?
No. TCR registration does NOT replace TCPA consent requirements. You still must obtain prior express written consent before sending marketing texts, honor opt-outs, respect quiet hours, and maintain compliance. TCR is a carrier-level registration system that runs parallel to TCPA legal requirements. Drop Cowboy helps you maintain both TCR and TCPA compliance.
How does Drop Cowboy help with TCR registration?
Drop Cowboy guides you through the entire TCR registration process: we explain requirements, help gather needed documentation, assist with brand and campaign registration forms, monitor approval status, escalate delays when needed, and provide ongoing compliance support. We simplify TCR complexity so you can focus on your business while maintaining SMS deliverability.
What happens to my brand score if I get spam complaints?
Spam complaints directly impact your TCR brand reputation score. High complaint rates (>0.1% or 1 per 1,000 messages) can lower your score, reduce throughput, and trigger campaign reviews or suspensions. Drop Cowboy helps you minimize complaints through proper opt-in practices, relevant messaging, easy opt-outs, and spam complaint monitoring.
Do I need to renew TCR registration?
Yes. Brand registrations are billed monthly or annually. You must keep fees current to maintain active status. Campaign registrations also require ongoing monthly fees. Drop Cowboy helps you manage renewals and ensures your registrations stay active so your SMS campaigns continue delivering without interruption.