Issue: Text Message Petition

A Little Reminder Why The PK Petition On Mobile Texting And Short Codes Matters

Harold Feld — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:00:12 -0400

Today’s NYT has this op ed on Obama’s use of text messaging to announce his VP pick. It provides a nice reminder about the importance of the pending Petition by PK and others on text messaging. Not that Verizon or any other provider would be so foolish as to deny the Obama or McCain campaigns short codes or block their messages. I’m not even worried about independent candidates like Barr and Nader. No, I’m worried about us ordinary schlubs or unpopular folks who can’t count on getting a front page story on the NYT if something happens.

To quickly review the NARAL flap that prompted the filing of the Petition.

Feed the Animals: the FCC Holds Court in Pittsburgh

Mehan Jayasuriya — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:24:52 -0400

Girl Talk a.k.a. Pittsburgh-based mashup artist Greg Gillis, has been making waves in both the electronic/dance and indie rock communities for a few years now. Specializing in sample-based DJ mixes, Gillis creates music that is dense, tirelessly referential and thoroughly postmodern. His breakthrough album, 2006's Night Ripper, proved that a well-executed mashup can have a life beyond the Internet and his latest release, the pay-what-you-want, Creative Commons licensed Feed the Animals, seems poised to push even further into the mainstream. Gillis has become quite the hot topic as of late and his name often pops up in the virtual pages of publications like Pitchfork and Stereogum, as DJs in clubs around the country shamelessly try to imitate his style. One place where you might not expect to hear Gillis mentioned, however, is in the corridors of power on Capitol Hill. Despite this fact, not only did Gillis' name pop up twice this week during Congressional and FCC hearings but on both occasions he was held up as exemplifying a new breed of creative professional. Welcome to yet another week in the increasingly scattershot world of D.C. tech policy.

Public Knowledge Raises Concerns Over Verizon Wireless Purchase of Alltel

Webmaster — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:37:13 -0400

For Immediate Release: June 5, 2008

The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:

“The Verizon Wireless purchase of Alltel raises serious questions for consumers that will have to be addressed through antitrust analysis, and through public-interest conditions by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

4th National Conference for Media Reform

Webmaster — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:51:03 -0400

June 6, 2008 - 10:00am US/Central to
June 8, 2008 - 1:00pm US/Central

Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 2nd Ave. South
Minneapolis MN 55403

Free Press is hosting its 4th National Conference for Media Reform, drawing 3,500 participants from across the country and world. Join us as we host policy makers, grassroots organizations, journalists, media experts, concerned citizens and many more! The conference will focus on five specific tracks: Media Policy; Journalism and Independent Media; Media Reform Activism and Movement Building; Civil Rights, Social Justice, and Media; and The Next Frontier.

For more information please visit: http://freepress.net/conference

Text Messaging FUD Busting (Part I)

Jef Pearlman — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:18:25 -0400

Following the lead taken in Alex’s blog post yesterday, I’m going to address some FUD which is making the rounds about text messaging and spam. This weekend, the New York Times ran an article talking about cell phone spam. Spam – or rather, the threat of spam – is a key argument used by the carriers who oppose our petition asking the FCC to clarify that carriers may not discriminate in providing text messaging services. But don’t be fooled – the FUD thrown around in this article is irrelevant to the issues raised in the petition.

Maybe The FCC Can Handle The Truth

Art Brodsky — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:23:13 -0400

Maybe the FCC can handle the truth.

A couple of days ago, we asked the question whether the Federal Communications Commission was up for confronting the reality of Comcast’s blocking and throttling of peer-to-peer traffic and, if so, what the Commission would do about it.

Just as Jack Nicholson’s character, Col. Nathan Jessep, was arrested at the end of the movie, “A Few Good Men” after telling Tom Cruise’s character Lt. Daniel Kaffee the truth, it looks as if the Commission is preparing to take some action against Comcast.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin made his announcement in dramatic fashion at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. He wasn’t on the original agenda to testify. Martin’s staff contacted the Committee the afternoon before the April 22 hearing and asked if he could testify. Martin wanted to a big forum for a big announcement, and he made the most of it.

The Boy Who Cried "Spam"

Harold Feld — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:56:10 -0400

I have a nifty little service I buy from my telephone provider called “teleblock.” It blocks calls originiating from certain types of phone calls unless I affirmatively allow them. Thanks to this nifty service, I am once again able to sleep late on Sundays.

I bring this up because if there is a common carriage service left in the telecom world, it’s plain old telephone service (POTS). My POTS landline is absolutely regulated as a “Title II” common carrier telephone service. But despite being a common carrier Title II telecom service, my POTS provider can offer me a very useful tool for limiting annoying calls.

Mobile carriers argue, “Problem Solved” and “Trust Us.” Public Knowledge replies, “No” and “No.”

Jef Pearlman — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:22:37 -0400

You may recall that last month we filed comments in the FCC’s proceeding on our text messaging petition. We were joined by numerous other parties, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Rebtel, Congressmen, and over 200 concerned individuals. On the other side of the debate, a number of the carriers weighed in as well. The carriers’ main arguments? That the problem is solved, and that consumers are actually better off when the carriers get to decide who speaks and who doesn’t over text messages. Yesterday, we filed reply comments addressing these arguments, and making it clear to the FCC that the problem has not been solved, and that it is unacceptable to have mobile carriers act as editors passing judgment on the content of text messages.

Reply Comments of Public Knowledge et al.: Petition for Declaratory Ruling Stating that Text Messaging and Short Codes are Title

Webmaster — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:00:00 -0400

This document is also available in PDF format.

Before the
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of the Petition of Public Knowledge et al. for Declaratory Ruling Stating that Text Messaging and Short Codes are Title II Services or are Title I Services Subject to Section 202 Nondiscrimination Rules.

RM-_______
WT Docket No. 08-7

REPLY COMMENTS OF
Public Knowledge, Free Press, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, EDUCAUSE, Media Access Project, New America Foundation, U.S. PIRG, Assemblyman Richard L. Brodsky, CREDO Mobile, Inc.

April 14, 2008

Public Knowledge and Advocacy Groups Urge FCC To Protect Text Messaging Rights

Art Brodsky — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:05:59 -0400

For Immediate Release: April 14, 2008

Public Knowledge, joined by a prominent state legislator as well as consumer and public interest groups, told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that regulators act to protect the rights of consumers to use text messaging without undue interference from wireless companies. The FCC should also protect some wireless carriers from the anticompetitive behavior of others, Public Knowledge and groups filing with it said.

In addition, groups representing advocacy organizations and the disability community agreed that their access to texting remains in jeopardy unless the FCC acts.