Brand vetting requirements
The CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association) and the US Short Code Registry require all brands to complete a vetting process when leasing new short codes and annually thereafter. This vetting process is designed to enhance consumer protection and improve transparency in SMS messaging.
The vetting process validates the following information for each entity:
Company name and legal entity type
Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN/EIN)
Corporate registration
Compliance history
Legal history
Once a brand is successfully vetted for short code leases, you don't need to go through the entire vetting process again when leasing additional codes. However, annual re-vetting is required to maintain your short code lease.
How the vetting process works
AWS collects the required brand information (and content provider information, if applicable) during the short code registration process. This information is submitted to the US Short Code Registry so that their vetting agents can contact brand owners to complete the vetting process and authorize the short code procurement.
The vetting process includes the following steps:
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Initial verification – The vetting agent verifies that the legal name and Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) match, that the brand contact email is valid and relates to the company's published URL, and then triggers an authentication process.
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Email verification – A verification PIN is sent to the brand's point of contact email address from
verify@usshortcodes.com. The brand contact must click the verification link in the email and enter the PIN to complete the process. -
Completion – Once verification is complete, the brand is approved and the short code can be provisioned.
Important
The verification PIN is valid for 7 days. A reminder is sent 48 hours before the PIN expires. If the PIN expires, a second and final PIN is sent. If no action is taken, you must create an AWS Support case to request the vetting email be resent.
Common reasons for verification failure include:
The information submitted does not match the brand's Form SS-4 documentation provided by the IRS
The brand is a new entity that has not yet been updated in verification systems
The brand contact email uses a free email service (such as Gmail or Yahoo) instead of a company domain
If you need to appeal a verification failure, you can provide a copy of your CP-575 notice (the official EIN confirmation letter issued by the IRS) for further review via an AWS Support case.
Contact information requirements
During the short code registration process, you must provide contact information that will be used for vetting communications. The following fields are collected in the registration form:
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Contact name – Name of your company's point of contact. If you are an ISV (Independent Software Vendor), enter your end customer's information.
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Contact email address – Email address of your company's point of contact. If you are an ISV, enter your end customer's information. This email will receive the verification PIN.
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Contact phone number – Phone number of your company's point of contact. If you are an ISV, enter your end customer's information.
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Content provider name (ISV only) – Optional. Name of the content provider point of contact.
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Content provider email address (ISV only) – Optional. Email address of the content provider point of contact.
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Content provider phone number (ISV only) – Optional. Phone number of the content provider point of contact.
Tip
Use a company email address that matches your company's website domain. Free email services (such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook.com) are not permitted and will cause verification to fail.
Tips for successful vetting
Follow these tips to ensure a smooth vetting process:
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Add the verification email to your safe senders list – The verification email comes from
verify@usshortcodes.com. Add this address to your email safe senders list to ensure you receive the verification PIN. -
Use your company email domain – The brand contact email must match your company's website URL. Free email services are not permitted.
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Ensure FEIN accuracy – Your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and legal entity name must exactly match your IRS Form SS-4 or CP-575 documentation.
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Complete verification promptly – The verification PIN expires after 7 days. Complete the verification as soon as you receive the email to avoid delays.
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Keep contact information current – If your business contact details change, open a support case with AWS to update your information before the annual re-vetting period.
If you have problems completing the verification from the link in the email, try the following:
Turn off or pause your VPN
Try a different browser
Copy and paste the URL directly into your browser
Annual re-vetting requirements
Re-vetting of brands is required annually by the US Short Code Registry. You should
expect to receive a verification email from verify@usshortcodes.com
approximately one year after your short code was provisioned to your account.
The annual re-vetting process is similar to the initial PIN verification:
The vetting agency sends an email to the brand point of contact on file
The email contains a verification link and PIN
You must complete the email verification within 7 days
Important
Failure to complete annual re-vetting can result in suspension of your short code service. Monitor your email for verification requests and complete them promptly.
If your business contact details have changed since your initial registration or last re-vetting, you must open a support case with AWS to update your contact information with the carriers before the annual re-vetting period. This ensures that the verification email is sent to the correct recipient.