These new gizmos are the cat's whiskers, that's for sure!
Posted on 10/19/2007 10:20:16 PM PDT by brityank
Can You Hear Us Now?
Verizon Shouldn't Be A Cellphone Censor
By Nancy Keenan and Roberta Combs
Wednesday, October 17, 2007; A17
As the presidents of NARAL Pro-Choice America and the Christian Coalition of America, we are on opposite sides of almost every issue. But when it comes to the fundamental right of citizens to participate in the political process, we're united -- and very, very worried.
Free speech shouldn't stop when you turn on your computer or pick up your cellphone. But recent actions by the nation's biggest communications corporations should be of grave concern to all who care about public participation in our democracy, particularly our leaders in Congress.
Last month, Verizon Wireless refused to approve NARAL Pro-Choice America's application for a text-messaging "short code," a program that enables people to voluntarily sign up to receive updates by texting a five-digit code. When NARAL Pro-Choice America protested, the nation's second-largest wireless carrier initially claimed the right to block any content "that, in its discretion, may be seen as controversial or unsavory."
After news of Verizon's censorship hit the front page of the New York Times, and sparked a public outcry, the company quickly backpedaled. Verizon issued an apology and blamed the blocking on a "dusty internal policy," while still reserving the right to block text messages in the future at its discretion.
When it comes to censoring free speech, sorry just isn't good enough. Whatever your political views -- conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, pro-choice or pro-life -- it shouldn't be up to Verizon to determine whether you receive the information you requested. Why should any company decide what you choose to say or do over your phone, your computer or your BlackBerry?
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I can hear the naysayers now; as long as it's not the Government doing it, then it's your choice as to who you use. Comcast also got gigged on some similar shenanigans, and you know they are all itching to charge a premium for access to their selected sites for streaming content.
Got to add my pitch here:
NARAL more or less disqualified itself from the public debate when it virtually (and provably falsely) accused Chief Justice John Roberts of providing legal assistance to an abortion-clinic bomber.
Good on you, Verizon. NARAL’s messages are crap.
Interesting case for sure.
Trouble is, if Verizon is OK to do it to the ghouls at NARAL, it will probably end up doing it to all sorts of others that offend somebody. Why else do you think Christian Coalition cares?
They aren't codes as in "secret codes" designed to hide a message. They are 5 or 6 digit number you can send text messages to. In response, you receive various kinds of information ranging from weather to political info. There is nothing hidden or secret about it. It is just a shortcut rather than a hidden message.
They are right. I know some on here applauded Verizon at first but it was a very shortsighted thing to support. You know that precident would have been used on our causes too.
Not too familiar with the issue at hand but do know that premium texting is racking up some bills for people. Also, the person getting them blames the carrier for the bill dispute.
Any questions?
Thanks for proving my point.
Strange bedfellows indeed, but if Verizon or any other carrier is allowed to do this, Free Republic could be blocked.
It’s not good for a phone company to censor political discourse.
???
“Last month, Verizon Wireless refused to approve NARAL Pro-Choice America’s application for a text-messaging “short code,” a program that enables people to voluntarily sign up to receive updates by texting a five-digit code. When NARAL Pro-Choice America protested, the nation’s second-largest wireless carrier initially claimed the right to block any content “that, in its discretion, may be seen as controversial or unsavory.””
This is silly. I had to acquire shortcodes for my company and it is a pain in the butt. The carriers are pretty strict on handing out these shortcodes, and when you do get one, you have to abide by all these rules. For example, they closely regulate the format of messages you send out, and you have to make it so that people can easily opt out of getting messages from that short code, and find more information about it.
If they are so strict on just the format and use of shortcodes I’m not surprised to see them being strict about message content.
But pretty much the most interesting part about this article is that the mobile providers make a TON of money on SMS. If they rejected an application from NARAL I guess they figured not too many people would want to get updates on baby-killing sent to their phone.
And along that same line of reasoning I seriously doubt they would ban sites like FR in the same way, since gives the traffic stats of this place they would be losing a very good business opportunity.
These new gizmos are the cat's whiskers, that's for sure!
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