[Marxism] Verizon gives up on ban on NARAL pro-abortion messages

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

www.nytimes.com

September 28, 2007
Verizon Reverses Itself on Abortion Messages 
By ADAM LIPTAK
Reversing course, Verizon Wireless announced yesterday that it would allow
an abortion rights group to send text messages to its supporters on
Verizon's mobile network.

"The decision to not allow text messaging on an important, though sensitive,
public policy issue was incorrect," said Jeffrey Nelson, a spokesman for
Verizon, in a statement issued yesterday morning, adding that the earlier
decision was an "isolated incident."

Last week, Verizon rejected a request from the abortion rights group, Naral
Pro-Choice America, for a five-digit "short code." Such codes allow people
interested in hearing from businesses, politicians and advocacy groups to
sign up to receive text messages.

Verizon is one of the two largest mobile carriers. The other leading
carriers had accepted Naral's request for the code.

In turning down the request last week, Verizon told Naral that it "does not
accept issue-oriented (abortion, war, etc.) programs - only basic, general
politician-related programs (Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, etc.)."

In yesterday's statement, Mr. Nelson called that "an incorrect
interpretation of a dusty internal policy" that "was designed to ward
against communications such as anonymous hate messaging and adult materials
sent to children." The policy, Mr. Nelson said, had been developed "before
text messaging protections such as spam filters adequately protected
customers from unwanted messages."

But the program requested by Naral would have sent messages only to people
who had asked to receive them.

Nancy Keenan, Naral's president, expressed satisfaction yesterday. "The
fight to defeat corporate censorship was won," she said. But Ms. Keenan
added that her group "would like to see Verizon make its new policy public."

Verizon did not respond to repeated requests for copies of the policy or an
explanation for why it is withholding it.

Text messaging is an increasingly popular tool in American politics and an
established one abroad. In his statement, Mr. Nelson acknowledged that the
technology is "being harnessed by organizations and individuals
communicating their diverse opinions about issues and topics." He said
Verizon has "great respect for this free flow of ideas." 

But the company did not retreat from its position that it is entitled to
decide what messages to transmit.

Legal experts said Verizon's position is probably correct under current law,
though some called for regulations that would require wireless carriers of
text messages to act like common carriers, making their services available
to all speakers on all topics.

"This incident, more than ever, shows the need for an open,
nondiscriminatory, neutral Internet and telecommunications system that
Americans once enjoyed and took for granted," said Gigi B. Sohn, the
president of Public Knowledge, a consumer advocacy group.

Some of Verizon's customers said they were outraged by the company's initial
stance.

Gary Mitchell, a lawyer in New Jersey, said he called a Verizon customer
sales representative yesterday morning to cancel his wireless service in
protest. After spending a few minutes on hold, he said, the representative
read him an e-mail message that she said all the customer service
representatives had just received. The message instructed representatives to
tell callers that the policy had been reversed.

Verizon kept Mr. Mitchell's business but lost some of his respect. "It was
an incredibly foolish corporate decision," he said.

Wyn Hoag, a photographer in California, said he was still mulling whether to
cancel his Verizon service. 

"I'm a supporter of abortion rights, but I could be a Christian-right person
and still be in favor of free speech," Mr. Hoag said. "If they think they
can censor what's on my phone, they've got another thing coming."




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