Text Registration: Overview and Getting Started
This is the starting point for getting your Levitate texting number registered. Below you'll find why registration is required, the four-step path from start to approved, a pre-flight checklist of what your website needs, and answers to the most common questions. The detailed templates and form walkthrough live in separate articles linked from each step.
Why registration is required
As of July 2023, all major messaging API providers for A2P (application-to-consumer) text messaging must register every 10-digit number with The Campaign Registry (TCR). This applies to all numbers generated on the Levitate platform, as well as numbers we have hosted or ported in.
Due to federal regulations enacted in 2023, every business entity that text-messages contacts — in any capacity — must disclose how they are using the numbers, as assurance that consumers will not be spammed or texted without their consent or without the ability to unsubscribe.
Every Levitate account that is texting in any capacity must register — including accounts that only text one-to-one and never send campaigns or mass texts.
What happens if you don't register: Your number(s) will be disabled. Our provider, Bandwidth, requires that all numbers used by Levitate are registered. If Levitate does not meet this requirement, all numbers on Levitate will be disabled by Bandwidth.
All businesses, with or without an EIN, must register. Without an EIN, you will be providing a personal mobile (cell) number and a personal email address (not tied to a business domain, must be something like Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, etc.). We will use your cell phone number to send a text message verification that will verify your identity as the Sole Proprietor of the company or organization that you are submitting registration as. If you do not verify via text, we are not able to submit your registration form for approval.
Does it cost anything? No. Levitate covers the cost of TCR registration for each account.
Do I register through The Campaign Registry directly? No. Once our team has vetted your website, your Customer Success Specialist will send you a link to Levitate's internal registration form. You do not need to register through TCR.
The 4-step path to approved
Step 1: Prepare
Before opening the registration form, your website needs to meet a few requirements. Work through the Preparing to Register checklist below.
Step 2: Submit
Once our team has vetted your website, your Customer Success Specialist will send you a link to Levitate's internal registration form. See Registration Form: Field-by-Field Guide for a walkthrough of each field.
Step 3: Wait
After you submit, the registration is reviewed by our upstream carrier (Bandwidth, or Twilio for sole proprietors). Review typically takes 5–7 business days. You'll receive a notification when your registration is approved or if additional information is needed.
Step 4: Respond
If approved, you're done — keep texting as usual. If declined, see If Your Registration Is Declined for the resubmission process and the most common decline reasons.
Preparing to Register
Before you open the registration form, make sure you have all of the following in place:
- An active, compliant website. Websites that are inactive, domain-parking pages, social media URLs, or lacking a compliant privacy policy and opt-in language will lead to an automatic registration failure. If you don't have a website, or if your website is outdated, reach out to your Success Specialist about Levitate website plans — our websites come pre-loaded with a privacy policy and opt-in language for texting. More about Levitate websites.
- A compliant privacy policy on the website. Privacy policies need to be accessible — most approved accounts publish theirs in the footer of the website or as its own page. See the vetted Privacy Policy template.
- Compliant opt-in language near any field where you collect phone numbers, or an offline verbal script if you don't collect phone numbers online. Opt-in language should be as close to the phone-number collection field as possible — typically as a checkbox at the footer of the form or as a disclaimer with an asterisk. See the opt-in language templates for businesses, non-profits, and political campaigns.
- A tax document showing your legal business name and EIN handy. Sole proprietors will use their personal mobile number for text verification in place of an EIN.
- The URL of your privacy policy and, if applicable, the URL of the page on your website that collects phone numbers.
- A screenshot of the phone-number collection form showing the opt-in language inline.
State-specific requirements
In addition to the federal TCR registration covered here, some states have their own requirements. If your business sends marketing texts into one of these states — even if your business is located elsewhere — you may need to take additional steps directly with the state. See State-Specific Requirements (currently covers Texas SB 140).
FAQs
Q: I'm only texting my contacts one-to-one, not through campaigns or mass texting — do I still need to register?
A: Yes. Every Levitate account that is texting in any capacity must register.
Q: What happens if I don't register?
A: Your number(s) will be disabled. Our provider, Bandwidth, requires that all numbers being used by Levitate are registered. If Levitate does not meet this requirement, all numbers on Levitate will be disabled by Bandwidth.
Q: Why do we have to register in the first place?
A: Due to federal regulations enacted in 2023, every business entity that text-messages contacts — in any capacity — must disclose how they are using the numbers as assurance that consumers will not be spammed or texted without their consent, and that they can unsubscribe from text messages.
Q: I'm stumped by something on the registration form.
A: See the Registration Form: Field-by-Field Guide for an in-depth description of what should be entered for each field.
Q: Do I need a website to register?
A: Yes. When your registration is submitted, a representative from our provider will visit your website to check that your privacy policy is compliant and accessible. They will also check whether you have a contact form that collects phone numbers and, if so, that there is compliant opt-in language accompanying the form. If you don't have a website, or if your website is outdated, reach out to your Success Specialist about Levitate website plans. More about Levitate websites.
Q: What do I need to register successfully?
A: Our team will vet your website for a compliant privacy policy and compliant opt-in language if you are collecting phone numbers on your website. Once we have given you the green light to register, you will be provided a link to our internal registration form. When submitting your form you will need the URL of your privacy policy handy, the link to any contact form on your website that collects phone numbers, and a tax document with your EIN listed. See the Preparing to Register checklist above.
Q: I've never written a privacy policy before...or heard of opt-in language...HELP!
A: No fear. We have crafted some sample language for privacy policies and opt-in language. Keep in mind that this is sample language — you are more than welcome to customize it to your liking and to mirror the practices of your business, but we recommend using it verbatim as it has been vetted with our upstream carrier.
Q: Okay — I have the updated privacy policy and opt-in language. Where do I put it?
A: Privacy policies, first and foremost, need to be accessible. Don't bury them on a page within a page within a page. Most accounts that have been approved have their privacy policy written out in the footer of the website itself, or as its own page on your website. For the opt-in language, you'll need to get it as near to the number-collection box as possible. Most accounts that have been approved have it at the footer of the collection form as a checkbox for opting or as a disclaimer with an asterisk.
Q: I tried to register through The Campaign Registry — is that the right place to go?
A: No, we will provide you with an internal registration form once we've vetted your website. You will not need to register through TCR.
Q: Do I have to pay for registration?
A: No, Levitate covers the charge of registration for each account. (State-specific registrations, such as the Texas Secretary of State filing under SB 140, are handled by the business directly and are not covered by Levitate. See State-Specific Requirements.)
Q: My texting registration was declined. Can I resubmit?
A: Yes. See If Your Registration Is Declined for the full resubmission process.
Q: Can support resubmit my registration for me?
A: Support can reset your registration, but you will need to fill out the form again yourself to ensure accuracy.
Q: How long does registration review take after resubmission?
A: Registration review typically takes 5–7 business days.
Q: I'm a sole proprietor — does my registration process differ from other businesses?
A: Yes. Sole proprietors register through Twilio instead of Bandwidth, which is the provider used for other business types. This happens automatically based on the business type you select on the registration form — you do not need to do anything differently. Because Bandwidth does not support sole proprietorship registrations, Levitate routes your registration to Twilio. The Twilio sole proprietor process requires identity verification via a text message to your personal mobile number, and your email address must be a personal address (such as Gmail, Yahoo, or AOL) rather than a business domain.
Q: Can I change the use-case category on my registration form after I've already submitted it?
A: The registration form cannot be self-edited after submission. If you need to change your use-case category or any other field, contact Levitate support. Support can reset your registration so you can fill out the form again with the correct information.
Q: What if I can't manage or change my current website?
A: Currently, if your website doesn't have a privacy policy, or if it's insecure, a domain-parking site, etc., your registration submission will be rejected. As a company, Levitate cannot access websites we do not own or operate. Interested in a new website? Levitate can create, launch, and help manage your site. Reach out to your Customer Success Specialist for more information about our sites, pricing, or options. Websites come pre-loaded with a privacy policy and opt-in language for texting. More about Levitate websites.
Q: Still need help?
A: Reach out directly to your Success Specialist for additional assistance.