Verizon Rejects Messages of Abortion Rights Group

The New York Times ^ | 9/27/2007 | ADAM LIPTAK

[beavus]

Saying it had the right to block “controversial or unsavory” text messages, Verizon Wireless has rejected a request from Naral Pro-Choice America, the abortion rights group, to make Verizon’s mobile network available for a text-message program. The other leading wireless carriers have accepted the program, which allows people to sign up for text messages from Naral by sending a message to a five-digit number known as a short code. Text messaging is a growing political tool in the United States and a dominant one abroad, and such sign-up programs are used by many political candidates and advocacy groups to send updates to supporters. But legal experts said private companies like Verizon probably have the legal right to decide which messages to carry. The laws that forbid common carriers from interfering with voice transmissions on ordinary phone lines do not apply to text messages.

[xcamel]

see:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1902724/posts

[beavus]

Funny, I did a FR search on both Verizon and NARAL and nothing came up. Oh well.

[Sun]

I’m giving my business to Verizon.

[pnh102]

I’m giving my business to Verizon.

I don't think Verizon is doing this because they want to promote a pro-life stance. My guess is they would refuse a similar proposal by a pro-life group as they would not want to get involved in an ideological debate. For them, it would be very bad business to appear as if they are favoring or opposing any political position.

[Redbob]

"Funny, I did a FR search on both Verizon and NARAL and nothing came up. Oh well."

You're right;
neither this thread nor the previous one show up when you search on "Verizon"

[xcamel]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=all;o=time;s=Verizon

Indeed it does, if you use the correct search

[Sun]

Some providers promote a left-wing agenda, and Verizon does not.

Please research the company that you now use, and see if they have a left-wing, or immoral, agenda, and consider boycotting them, if they do. Boycotts often work.

[SomeSay]

Verizon Wireless put out a statement today reversing the prior decision - they will now allow the Naral's txt messages over the network.

“The decision to not allow text messaging on an important, though sensitive, public policy issue was incorrect, and we have fixed the process that led to this isolated incident."

You can read the entire PR piece HERE

[SmoothTalker]

I don’t like it. Let people receive whatever textmessages they want because you know full well that conservative groups will get the same treatment under this precedent.