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Consumer groups want Congress to kill the robo-call bill. They call it a dangerous proposal that could lead to more nuisance calls.
If you like getting those automated messages on your home phone, then you’re just going to love a proposal in Congress. The bill (H.R. 3035) would allow these “robo-calls” to your cell phone — even if you didn’t give a company permission to contact you at that number.
Supporters of the “Mobile Informational Call Act of 2011” include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Air Transport Association, as well as groups that represent bankers, mortgage lenders, college loan programs and debt collectors.
In a letter to Congress, they claim H.R. 3035 is needed to “modernize” existing law by enacting “limited common-sense revisions to facilitate the delivery of time-sensitive consumer information to mobile devices, while continuing to protect wireless consumers from unwanted telemarketing calls.”
They say robo-calls to cell phones would be used to alert you to food and drug recalls, data breaches, flight delays and appointment cancellations.
Howard Waltzman, an attorney representing the business groups supporting H.R. 3035, says this “non-marketing commercial information” is important to people. He tells me the ability to make contact via a mobile phone is “critical” because so many people now use a wireless device as their primary or only means of phone communication.
“We have no interest in seeing this bill permit telemarketing calls,” Waltzman tells me. “We would be perfectly fine with any clarification necessary to ensure that it doesn’t.”
(Read: Letter to Congress supporting H.R. 3035)
Consumer groups want Congress to kill the bill. They call it a dangerous proposal that could lead to more nuisance calls.
Delicia Reynolds, legislative director at the National Association of Consumer Advocates, tells me H.R. 3035 would “create potential chaos” because it would “open up everyone’s cell phone number without their consent.”
(Read: NACA letter opposing H.R. 3035)
The attorneys general in every state also oppose the “Mobile Informational Call Act.” They believe it would erode your right to cell phone privacy. In a letter sent to Congress last week, they say H.R. 3035 would “undermine federal and state efforts to shield consumers from a flood of solicitation, marketing, debt collection and other unwanted calls and texts to their cell phones.”
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who is leading the charge against this bill, says these “informational” calls to cell phones could cost people who have a limited number of minutes to use each month.
This legislation would open the floodgates for telemarketers to annoy us with robo-calls to our cell phones at all hours of the day while forcing us to foot the bill, Madigan said in news release. “It’s essentially a way for businesses to shift their advertising and marketing costs on to consumers.”
Critics are especially concerned that H.R. 3035 would let debt collectors (who are pushing this bill) contact people on their cell phones.
It’s estimated that by the end of this year about 25 percent of U.S. cell phone customers will use prepaid wireless plans, where there’s a charge for every call received. Most prepaid users are in lower income households.
In their letter to Congress, the state attorneys general warn that if debt collectors are able to make robo-calls to cell phones it would “shift the cost of debt collection to the consumers and in particular, to those who can least afford it.”
Delicia Reynolds with the National Association of Consumer Advocates says debt collectors would be able to use your cell phone number even though you didn’t give it to them. They might be able to Google the number or get it from a data broker. They could also call your cell number even if they already have your land line number. It would be their choice, not yours!
“We’re very concerned that the bill would lower privacy rights for the consumer,” she says. “It will open up cell phones to unwanted and nuisance calls.”
Critics say one of the most troubling part of this bill is that it would allow businesses to make robo-calls to anyone’s personal or business cell phone for any commercial purpose — as long as it’s not a solicitation — even if that number is on the “Do Not Call Registry.”
Is a change in the law really needed?
Under current law, a company can make contact you via a robo-call if you’ve given them explicit permission to do that or in the case of an emergency. H.R. 3035 would let them robo-call you on your cell phone if you gave them your number in any situation for any reason.
Visit a store or website and give them your cell phone number and you could get robotic follow-up calls of an “informational” nature. The proposed legislation does not provide a way to opt-out of this system. Business groups say they have no problem with adding an opt-out provision to the bill.
My two cents
I realize that we are switching to a wireless society. But people think of cell phones — where the meter is running every time you make or receive a call — differently than landlines.
If I want to give an airline my cell phone number to contact me if there’s a flight delay, there’s already a way to do that when I buy my ticket. And I can tell my bank to contact me on my cell phone when I’m about to overdraw my account. But this way I control access to my number.
This bill has many flaws. I don’t think Congress should give companies carte blanche to use my cell phone number for automated prerecorded messages. They must be required to get my consent before they can send robo-calls to my cell.
I believe there should also be stiff financial penalties for debt collectors who make repeated robo-calls to the wrong phone number or who continue calling after they’ve been asked to stop.
H.R. 3035 is being considered by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Leave a Comment:
You can thank Lee Terry - R NE for this one. This guy has got to go!
Once again, another case of Republicans supporting Big Business measures that trample over individuals' rights. If they pass this bill, it should be ammended to only call voters who voted the Republicans into office.
Look who is behind the bill - US Chamber of Commerce. Sounds familiar?
People have become "intelligent" in using their paid calls, so they need a new way to screw us
All of the GOP has got to go. Vote them out in 2012.
Let's see, it's an election year and now a bill that allows robo calls to cell phones. Do you think that would include "political" robo calls.....I do.....
No thanks, take your bill and shove it!
Holy crap, they can't do anything for the American people except find new ways and pass new laws to harass us.
thanks for looking up the sponsor, DShot. I'd just done that myself, and found exactly what I expected to find:
Republican.
Enough said.
Well, if this passes, I'm going into the telemarketing business to sell lubricant.
With so many folks continuing to believe that Republican/Tea politicians actually represent them, it seems there ought to be quite a market for those who need some "assistance" as they bend over for more of the same, the same, the same . . . . .
The GOP Fascists want to make sure they can torture you anywhere at any time.
GOP = Enemy of the American People.
.
There's also a democrat as a cosponsor so it goes across party lines.
Cosponsors:
Marsha Blackburn [R-TN7]
John Gingrey [R-GA11]
Leonard Lance [R-NJ7]
Blaine Luetkemeyer [R-MO9]
David McKinley [R-WV1]
Mick Mulvaney [R-SC5] Pete Olson [R-TX22]
Michael Rogers [R-MI8]
Edolphus Towns [D-NY10]
ALL incumbents have to go. Vote them all out of office. Rookies can do just as bad a job as the current Congress and probably for a lot less money as well. Make Congress people abide by the same laws as the people they represent.
Brian,
You've found ONE Democratic co-sponsor out of a total of 9 (plus the Republican sponsor). The GOP doesn't hold 90% of the House seats, so I would hardly consider this to be a bi-partisan bill.
This bill is complete BS and example how out pay-for-play Congress works. They did this before when the federal no-call list was enacted and then promptly gutted by allowing anyone to call you for "market research." I get about six "market research" calls daily. In fact, I took the initiative to dig out an old voice activated tape recorder. I removed the interlock by breaking off a small plastic tab. Now I let them get started and let the recorder play 5-second "messges" such as "could you repeat that" and "you're breaking up" every time the recorder detects sound. Some have talked to my recorder (which isn't recording anything) for as long as 30 minutes. And BTW, they're not doing market research --- they are all 100% trying to sell something.
The GOP is against mandates, but think about this one. They are allowing telemarketers, using various guises, such as a bogus alert about identity theft, to intrude on your life. But is Congress going to pay for the minutes? Hell no! They are essentially saying that if you with to have a cell phone, they are going to require that you listen to, and pay for, messages that will essentially be dishonest, illegal, or downright stupid.
There is no one in the world clammoring for this except corporations. Corporations own Congress. Corporations own the Supreme Court. And Corporations are going to pay.
If you think that this is an example of corporate abuse, I have a suggestion: Send back every postage paid envelope, post card, or magazine "drop out" card righyt back to them. Each time you do it, you will cost the corporation approximately $1 in postage and processing. If you really get pissed at a particular corporation, you can even carefully wrap a brick in paper, affix the envelope or postcard, and let them pay several dollars to retrieve it. If a corporation refuses any postage paid mail, they permanently lose their postage paid mailing priviledges. If you think this is a good way to show your displeasure, pass the idea along to friends, especially on the social media.
Please read the article before posting, this wont allow telelmarketers to call your Cell Phone and telemarketers can already call your cell if you have given them permission on one of those forms that you signed and didn't read.
Kelruze....I understand what your are saying, but it's only a matter of time before these people find a "loophole" in the bill to exploit. Then we are all screwed, just like with the spam e-mail. They did a good job enforcing the blocking of that one, didn't they?
I guess Kelruze is the .5% of people that voted in the poll for this thing. There have been petitions circulating against this bill for awhile now. My name is on at least one of them.
As usual, if it screws everyone else for the benefit of a corporate interest, it's a Republican initiative. If nothing else, you have to admire their consistency.
I have had the same cell phone number for over 26 years. When I call another phone my number does not come up, it says "private" on the receivers caller ID. I get very few sales calls. But when I do get one the person on the other end gets an earfull of my opinion of them and their company. This new idea can not get passed. It is a very stupid idea. Instead of complaining on MSNBC you should be calling your Congressperson.
And all of you who are blaming Republicans, I want to tell you that I have received recorded calls from Democrats running for office but never have I received a call from a Republican. I have received calls from the state voting offices also. I don't have a clue how they got my number. I do live in a liberal run state.
Thank you for pointing out who is sponsoring the bill. I did not see that info in the article for some odd reason. I assumed it was a republican though - it goes along with the whole theory of complete deregulation, no protection for consumers.
It's in the link at the top of the story...this man should be tarred, feathered and thrown out of congress on his ass for putting his own selfish monetary reasons before the people he was elected to serve.
@Kelruze- the language of the bill would permit everything from food and drug recalls to "informative" commercial calls, so long as they weren't trying to sell you anything at the time of the call. So essentially it would be cool for them to robocall everyone with the latest corn flakes jingle or to tell you your credit score may be in trouble, and to fix it log on xyz website.
These Republicans have apparently forgotten their free-market ideals, which is the only thing I usually like about them. The free market only works when both sides come to an agreement, I can already agree to let someone call me to remind me about things, anything more gives the businesses rights at my expense.
cookykamp
Kelruze....I understand what your are saying, but it's only a matter of time before these people find a "loophole" in the bill to exploit. Then we are all screwed, just like with the spam e-mail.
I already get daily unsolicited calls on both cell and land line. both numbers are on the governments do not call list and the unscrupulous sleaze just ignore that fact and either spoof their numbers or keep changing them to avoid being fined. You are right though, this would just open up the flood gates and turn a trickle into a river.
Wow Brian 3436128 a whole whopping 1 Democratic sponsor now that's what I call legislation that 'enjoys broad bi-partisan support' sure I would.
Now go do some checking on who some of that person's major contributors are or do a little checking and see who approached him from the GOP side and said 'Look, this legislation YOU want to see come to the floor, I can make it happen if you sign onto the robo call bill so that we can call it "bipartisan".
Yes, another US Chamber of Commerce fiasco against the rights of consumers. So typical. BAN ANY UNAUTHORIZED CONTACT is what the bill should be. It's bad enough that our emails are overloaded with spam, now they want to be able to do the same to our cell phones?
Has anyone, recently, had any success with a complaint about telemarketers ignoring do-not-call list? It's a laugh.
This is how legislation gets going. Some clowns in private industry want something so they go to our elected clowns and ask them to sponsor legislation. Look who wants this, Chamber of Commerce, Air Transport Assc., bankers, college loan programs, mortgage lenders, and debt collectors. These are not just one party people. You must contact your Congressperson and tell them what you think. This thing stinks, it doesn't matter who sponsored it. But if your representative is one of the sponsors please vote them out next time if they continue on and pass this POS.
They're a little late. I'm already getting calls on my cell phone and I'm on Do not call. What part of "do not call" dont they get. Any "informational" call for something you havent bought IS a solicitation. That's why they're calling you. I'm also getting text spam even though I've opted out with ATTs apparently useless no-solicitation "feature" and call blocking doesnt work with texting.
Now, now, now... I'm sure they had "JOBS" in mind when they created this bill... to call our personal phones... with... huh... robots. ROBO-CALLS! I'm not sure even Republicans can twist this one with any favor.
.4% support in this poll. That's almost as high as Congress' approval rating. Think they're somehow related?
i have some news for everybody. they already robo-call you if they have your number. and they can spoof the caller id. grow up and get over yourselves.
Yes. Go to the Do Not Call website and fill out their form. It's worked for me. FYI: If your caller id says name/number unavailable, answer the call and get as much info about them you can, i.e. name of company, name of person calling, and call back number. Be polite and you'll be surprise at how much info you get from them. Once you have the info, go to the DNC Registry and fill out the form. Before hanging up, tell them you are going to report them to the DNR agency.
Vote out the Republicans! You can expect a lot more of this kind of thing if they win the presidency and the Congress in 2012.
Another factor in the congressional support is that they're all southern or eastern states[marketing base]---except for Texas, but no surprise there.
We have limited minutes and I refuse to pay for robo-calls. Why should I pay for calls I don't want to receive. We already get enough robo-calls on our home line.
Kelruze.......
You made the following comment (regarding mandatory health insurance) in April, 2011:
Now, you defend various large entities' desire to force us to receive their calls (perhaps, depending upon wireless plan, at our own expense).
How is that consistent?
Furthermore, all of us are currently able to "opt in" to various emergency (or, merely important) calls. So, this Bill is clearly an attempt to circumvent the "opt in" protocol and replace it with one that further morphs our cell phones into electronic ankle bracelets.
Now, you may be affiliated with one of those businesses that wish to have unencumbered 24/7 access to everyone who uses a cell phone. If that is the case, you should say so. If not, you might ought to give this matter further thought.
At least the Repubs do it in your face, the Dems get you from behind so really your scewed either way! Vote every one out and start anew!
Yes McInCA......and unscrupulous marketers can also come onto your property and place advertising anonymously and without your consent. BUT, they cannot do so LEGALLY (spoofing, also, is ILLEGAL). Thus, you have LEGAL recourse. This BILL would make such behavior LEGAL and remove your recourse.
But, you already knew that....right?....because you are so "grown up".
This is a easy one.
VOTE!!!!!!!!!
CBurroughs......
Given that you earlier commented:
You should amend your above comment to:
"At least WE Repubs do it in your face"
But, it would STILL be false. YOU repubs only do it "in your face" when you can't figure out a way to do it behind our backs.
Democrats will fight this bill.
The screwing continues. Wake up. It's the rich behind this bill, it is everywhere in our politics. If there were just a way for a middle class person to represent me. No mater there party lines, I'd vote for them
Obviously you didn't take note that one of the groups pushing for this bill are the Collection Agencies...nuff said.
Looks like I'll be sending my phone bill to Congress.
No Waltzman you moron, this is not important to the people! It is important to us that this bill gets thrown out!!! We do not want commercial information - get it.
hey ian, thanks for busting my balls. prick.
There already doing robo calls so stop your whining and grow a pair of robo balls
Call Terry's Neb office. I did and they answered on the 3rd ring. Be polite, it was really hard to contain my anger. 1 402-397-9944
I've been getting robo-calls to my cell phone for years already - half of which are in Spanish, and I don't even speak Spanish. And I have a pre-paid phone so I swear up a storm whenever I get a robo-call I've had to pay for. The worst part is that there's no way to stop them - I can only imagine how bad it'll get if this bill is passed and companies are allowed to legally robo-call you!
Leave me alone! My phone is not for sale, and I HATE the phone ringing all the time with no one there....or some clown trying to sell something. If I want to go shopping, I'll leave the house and shop. If I want to learn about a politician, I will select the time that is appropriate for me and I will reach out to whatever resources make sense.
TURN OFF THE PROPAGANDA and HYPE and BACKGROUND NOISE. Leave us in peace! These robo calls should be illegal, or the public should be able to "opt-out".
With only ONE Democrat as a supporter and the rest being Republicans, that's hardly saying it "crosses party lines"!
Towns is a Republitard in Demotard clothing.
Send every incumbant who is up for reelection packing! Why not? They have been spending at least the last year trying to keep their jobs instead of working for us.
THE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF THEIR GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE.
This is all our fault.
robo calls are just as bad as msnbc propaganda.i dont know what one is worse
In the end (no pun intended), it does not matter who it is, Rep or Dems, you always should side with the American People. Unfortunately, I have yet to see anyone in congress go against their own speciality groups, no matter if it is for the people or not. The funny thing about this one is it is so obvious that the debt collectors are the major push behind this that it is hard to believe that they (our congress) think we are stupid enough to believe the arguments (lies). They have to live in a fairy tale land to think that we really cannot see through this.
I'll be using my google voice number, which is not linked to a cell phone, from now on whenever a non-critical need arises for "my" phone number. I already don't answer unkown calls- if it's important they'll leave a message.
I'm sick to death of republicans trying to shove things down my throat...They are already trying to take my right to choose away,my right to vote away and my right to live in a safe world with every criminal in this country being able to carry guns!! Most of these comments I agree with...now we need to vote...Our system is corrupt and until we get lobbyists off our congressional floors nothing is going to change! I know one thing...I will never ever vote for a republican again...they have gone off the deep end!!!
If I can bill companies for their time robocalling me, by all means, make this legal. My rate is $60/second.
So this was the Most Important piece of legislation the GOP Representative could come up with?????????
Figures!....... As long as it's not about jobs it's important to them!
Here’s a list with all the contact info pertaining to the charlatans that are trying to screw us with the latest Republican piece of legislation against the people. Stay tune for their cell phones numbers which I intend to post very soon.
Please do your selves a favor and start dialing their numbers.
Congress Charlatan Rep. Leonard Lance R, NJ-7 contact info
Washington DC Office
426 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5361 (202) 225-5361
Fax: (202) 225-9460
Westfield District Office
425 North Avenue East
Westfield, NJ 07090
Phone: (908) 518-7733 (908) 518-7733
Fax: (908) 518-7751
CLICK HERE FOR A GOOGLE MAP AND DIRECTIONS TO THE WESTFIELD OFFICE
Flemington District Office
23 Royal Road, Suite 101
Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone (908) 788-6900 (908) 788-6900
Fax: (908) 788-2869
Congress Charlatan Rep. Marsha Blackburn [R-TN7]
Contact
You can also contact Rep. Gingrey by emailing gingrey.ga@mail.house.gov.
Washington, D.C. office
Washington DC Office
442 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-2931 202-225-2931 (phone)
202-225-2944 (fax)
Chief of Staff: David Sours
Scheduler/Local Media Advisor: Elizabeth Ezzell
Legislative Director: Michael Calvo
Senior Health Policy Advisor: Robert Horne
Legislative Correspondent: Zach Hunter
Staff Assistant: Sally Rose Larson
Press Secretary: Jen Talaber
Press Assistant: Amy Larkin
Marietta Office
Marietta District Office
219 Roswell Street
Marietta, Georgia 30060
770-429-1776 770-429-1776 (phone)
770-795-9551 (fax)
Deputy District Director: John O’Keefe
Constituent Services Director: Jeanette Hutchison
Constituent Services Representative: Terri Dann
Constituent Services Representative: Marsha McKinney
District Field Representative: Andrew Johnson
Rome District Office
Rome District Office
600 E. First Street, Suite 301
Rome, Georgia 30161
706-290-1776 706-290-1776 (phone)
706-232-7864 (fax)
District Director: Janet Byington
Academy Liaison/ Constituent Services Representative: Linda Liles
Field Representative: Travis Loudermilk
Cartersville District Office - 678-721-2509 678-721-2509
Congress Charlatan Rep. Michael (Mike) Rogers [R-MI8]
Office Information
133 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4872 (202) 225-4872
Fax: (202) 225-5820
1000 West St. Joseph Suite 300
Lansing, Michigan 48915
Phone: (517) 702-8000 (517) 702-8000
Toll Free: 877-333-MIKE 877-333-MIKE
Fax: (517) 702-8642
A letter to Washington DC. I am an adult in America. I have a good grasp of what I need and what I don't need in my life. I am responsible enough to take care of myself and don't need you to do it for me. Corporations never do anything because it is good for the consumer, they do it because it is good for their bottom line. You let them eliminate our jobs, move them overseas, allow that product to be imported as the only thing left we can afford, create bubbles using monopoly money while watching them pay bonuses with real money, and then you let them force feed anything they want to us. Have we been relegated to being corporate pets?
Do any of you realize that if a call goes to voice-mail you are charged twice for it? I don't answer my cell phone at work, I work day shift, much of these calls will come during my work hours which means these companies might leave voice-mail messages. I will check them the first time because you don't know who they are from which means if there is a 20 second message I will have used 40 seconds of my cell time and probably be charge for two minutes if they round up. A minute for receiving the message and a minute for listening to the message.
Do you have any common sense when it comes to the concerns of the people who actually put you in office? Is the wealth of your buddies more important than the country itself? Do you truly believe the system works?
Stay out of my home, out of my life and moving forward, allow me to opt in to a program instead of auto dictating and giving me the option to opt out. Big business should not be afforded the same system you use to collect taxes from us which is the, pay or your screwed system.
Last but certainly not least, when do I get my cut for the people that are selling my personal information or, since my parents created/manufactured me maybe they should get the cut? Without me there is that much less money these data miners can get.
You have created a monster you can not control so instead you stand by its side allowing it to turn your constituents into a commodity. You can literally buy and sell anything in this "global economy". Corporate America makes billions of dollars and "we" have to do all the work. We the people have to get our names scrubbed off of lists. We the people have to recover our stolen identities. We the people keep getting thrown under the bus, coincidentally, when there is a big election coming up.
Washington D.C., please do us all a favor and grow a set and start kicking the extortionists out and start working for the people who pay you. The hard working American citizens. It's funny, if I do a poor job my boss can fire me. If you do a poor job, we may get a chance to vote you out of office when your term expires. Once elected, those of us that pay you have little to no voice anymore. Please don't insult me by getting the party train going. Dem or Rep it does not matter. They are all high-fiving each other in back rooms knowing they are protected and their corporate friends are protected and all the little people will just have to live with it.
Hit the rewind button and go back and learn what made America strong. It was its hard working blue collar people, not snot nosed college kids who create money instead of earning it. Used to be when you owned a company you had a product that you hired people to make. Without the people making the product there is no company. Take a away the owner and the company can still survive. It's the limbs that keep the beast alive, not the head.
Bring everyone down and then insult us even more. What a country. Good to know that pride in this country can be sold.
Have you ever seen such a one sided poll anywhere? Regardless of political affiliation of the bill's sponsors, there is pretty unanimous bipartisan opposition from the public.
If these are the only ones supporting it, we have nothing to worry about.
This is another example of what I have been saying for a long time - EVERYTHING congress does these days is designed to serve big business at the expense of everyone else.
Folks, we do not live in the representative democracy that our founding fathers created. It's not a representative democracy when our elected officials ignore what the people want. We live in a corporatocracy -- government of big business, by big business, and for big business.
@ Ian Emdee "Democrats will fight this bill" Why make it a party thing? I'm a Republican and I will be making calls as well, don't play like they do in Washington, this will screw us all so we should all stand together regardless of party lines. I see a whole lot of anger directed at the party of the people that were bought. We shouldn't let those individuals hide behind their party, we need to keep a list and vote them out. I know my venom will be directed at the companies doing the buying off of our officials, I believe they are the ones that truly deserve the brunt of our anger.
I am really sick and tired of these @!$%# special interest groups and the @!$%#s in Congress bowing and scraping to them. I don't need you calling me about a god damn thing.
Fine, publish a list of the companies wanting to alert us for the above mentioned reasons, then require each person to OPT IN in order to receive calls from them. Require those companies to provide a signed form from the user upon demand and then make it a $1500 dollar fine for any company that calls the user without his/her consent. This should happily satisfy those companies claiming we want those types of calls.
I know it's fantasy to think anything I mentioned would ever be implemented. This bill is just a backdoor way for telemarketing to get your number since in order to call with those "special alerts", it would require releasing a cell phone phone book, the holy grail of telemarketers.
Ten sponsors for a bill is not very many, given the way these things work. This bill is dead. Hope so anyway.
I don't care if not one person voted YES on this poll. If rich billionaires and corporations stand to make a buck from passing this legislation IT WILL PASS. It really doesn't matter what the people want anymore - we are no longer in charge of the country.... the billionaire Teabagging corporate fascists are.
Is it even possible that the people of Nebraska could possibly return this sold-out whoring slut (Rep. Lee Terry [R-NE2]) to congress? If they do, then I hope all those earthquakes move a few states north and devastate them.
If this passes, then I will have no choice but to cancel my cell service. I'm calling AT&T's a$$ right now, they better use some of the billions they make to put a stop to this.
I guess I am missing something...... why would a solicitor want to annoy a person who could have been a potential customer by invading their privacy when they don't want them calling their cell phone????
Doesn't sound like a solida business move to me! Just sayin'
Any Variation of Yoder........
Here is why it is "a party thing": The bill is sponsored by a republican; Virtually all the co-sponsors are republican; Most folks know that the republican party (aka Tea Party) protects corporations and the wealthy elite far more than the democrat party does; This is a corporation/wealthy VS American Middle Class issue (plain & simple).
You, of course, already knew this.
Reconsider your party affiliation. The Democrat party is certainly not perfect. But, from the perspective of the American middle class, it is far LESS IMPERFECT than the republican (tea) party. This (Bill) is yet another proof of that.
I've been reading the many posts to many various articles for quite some time. There is a lot of "It's the republicans!" "No, it's the democrats!" or "The democrats are ruining the country!" No, it's the republicans that are ruining the country!"
Isn't it time for 'we the people' to realize that that is exactly the desired response? The politicians from ALL of the parties want to keep us at each other's throats. Why? To keep us from actually communicating among ourselves and figuring out that this is how they stay in office. Do you remember the old saying: DIVIDE AND CONQUER ? There is another saying that we should pay attention to : UNITED WE STAND.
Unless we enjoy being manipulated the way we are now, then no matter your choice of political party, next election vote for a NON incumbent candidate. For example: If you are a democrat and a democrat is in office, vote for a republican first time candidate. If you are a republican and a republican is in office, vote for a democrat first time candidate.
Let's clean both house of representatives and the senate of ALL career politicians! No more business as usual politics! That is the only way we are going to get our country back!
hdrider-1765193......
Let's see......you have commented thus in an earlier thread:
Do you think it might be safe to assume that someone who refers to President Obama as "Obozo" might NOT be a democrat?
Now, if the American electorate followed your advice, we would end up with a republican president, a republican Senate, a democrat House, and (because the POTUS nominates SCOTUS justices) a more republican SCOTUS. Most would say that 3 out of 4 isn't bad.
Your comment is a typical republican-serving rant (thinly) veiled in populist propaganda. Don't you folks ever feel remorse for your dishonesty?
Only those who lack the ability and/or persistence to research and analyze their candidates resort to simplistic solutions such as you propose. Is this what you plan to do yourself? We all know the answer.
Viking/Centaur (#1.30) - sorry, I should have been more specific. I have no problem with filing complaints and my number has been registered for as long as the National and my own state have maintained registries. The problem is that it doesn't look like they're actually pursuing any of the offenders.
Marsha Blackburn [R-TN7] is a sponser? Shocker, isn't this the same Women who said High Oil prices could benefit our Economy.. Marsha your the best Representative Money can buy...
If anyone has the cellphone numbers of the people sponsoring this bill, then please, share it with all of us. When I'm in the checkout line at a store, and they ask me for my phone number, I want to give them that phone number. It's only fair, right?
I don't give out my cellphone number to anyone. My minutes are precious. I have a landline that handles all other calls. If it's a robocall to my landline, it's up to me if I want to waste my time with it. With my cell, I'm charged for those minutes, and I have no intention of wasting them.
AMEN!!! To everything you said!!! (voting for your comment was not enough)
Contact your Senator and Congressman and let them know you are against this.
Here is a link to find your elected officials: http://capwiz.com/consumeraction/dbq/officials/
I also wanted to say AMEN to that, also I never give out my land line number in a checkout line either! Why would Toys R Us need my phone number anyway? I usually just refuse or give them an old number that's no longer in service. But Zapper, your solution is truly elegant, maybe next time I'll give just them their own number. I doubt anyone on the floor would even notice.
Incidentally, while not a cell number, here's the info for sponsor Lee Terry's offices:
Washington, DC
ph. (202) 225-4155
Omaha, NE
ph: (402) 397-9944
Just in case you wish to express your displeasure. Or you could use it at stores when signing up for loyalty cards, are asked to provide a phone number upon checkout, tell a debt collector with the wrong number that you JUST SO HAPPEN to know the correct number for the person they wish to reach, etc...
We need to get the public and private cell phone numbers of every Congrssman who supports this bil online and quickly. Staffers, you know its wrong, so give out those private numbers. Why should we have to listen to telemarketers and pay for unwanted calls when they would not have to?
@ ChunkyMonkey....you made me think of this. I don't give our numbers either. Whenever I am forced to give my phone number to a business or organization (that I don't want future crap from), I give them the phone number to information (989-555-1212). I'm tired of junk mail, spam emails and dozens of sales calls at dinner time (yea, even though I've been on the national Do Not Call list, for years).
Bizzer, that's the best idea I've heard in some time. I don't know if it's legal, but it's a great idea anyway.
Thanks Bizzer, that number will be in every truck stop bathroom from Erie, PA to Dallas TX by next week..
Bizzer, those numbers are going up on facebook! You rock!
Zapper, you are so right. We carry basic cell phones with limited minutes. Only immediate family has those numbers. I even told my last employer I didn't have a cell phone. I refused to be available to them 24/7. Incoming calls use up our meager amount minutes!
As for only allowing 'informational calls', anything can be couched as informational. We are already getting tons of these on the land line phone. The number is on the DNC list. They are sales calls! And to add insult to injury, my father keeps getting robo calls 'for the business owner'. He is a retired minister. All I can come up with as to how his number got out there as a business is that a minister is considered self-employed for tax purposes. Since these phone lists get sold and re-sold, this will go on in perpetuity.
I did read you can hit # to get the number removed from the caller's list. I've started doing that and I sometimes do hear a message that the number would be removed.
This is terrible legislation and must be stopped!
Just called Terry's Neb. phone number. They answered, I told them it wasn't right and Terry should backtrack. They asked for my name and where I lived, so I gave it. Screw this bill. Please call this number. It's a real person and answered on the 3rd ring.
402-397-9944 Omaha.
I'm working on getting the Cell Phone numbers of all of these scumbags for you guys in the mean while here's their offices contact info:
Congress Charlatan Rep. Leonard Lance R, NJ-7 contact info
Washington DC Office
426 Cannon HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5361 (202) 225-5361
Fax: (202) 225-9460
Westfield District Office
425 North Avenue East
Westfield, NJ 07090
Phone: (908) 518-7733 (908) 518-7733
Fax: (908) 518-7751
CLICK HERE FOR A GOOGLE MAP AND DIRECTIONS TO THE WESTFIELD OFFICE
Flemington District Office
23 Royal Road, Suite 101
Flemington, NJ 08822
Phone (908) 788-6900 (908) 788-6900
Fax: (908) 788-2869
Congress Charlatan Rep. Marsha Blackburn [R-TN7]
Everyone, please do call the office of any of the Congresspeople who sponsored or co-sponsored this bill. It only takes a minute and it feels good! Let them and their staff see what it feels like to have their work day interrupted with phone calls that waste their time -- that is, after all, what they are willing to unleash on us with this cell-phone legislation.
Congressman Lee Terry: (402) 397-9944
Marsha Blackburn R-Tennessee 931-503-0391
Phil Gingrey, R-Georgia 770-429-1776
Leonard Lance, R- New Jersey (908) 518-7733
Blaine Leutkemeyer, R-Missouri (573) 443-1041
BIG BROTHER AT WORK AGAIN !!
Just another way to track us and spy on our personal business . Besides who needs to be bothered by stupid calls we have to pay for ???? More money for big corps is the bottom line here.
bob
They can already track anyone with a GPS enabled phone and if they want to make the effort they can triangulate a call through which cell towers it uses.
Furthermore, FBI etc. don't need a warrant to listen in on your phone or track you with your GPS thanks to the war on terror.
Eric,
Currently, just using cell phones, there are permanent records made of where the cell phone is at three-minute intervals (even if yours is not a smart phone or you turn off location services), who you call and the length of the call, the contents of every e-mail message, the contents of every text message, and if a phone call contains certain "keywords" the entire phone call is saved for future screening.
While it is easy to assume that there are not enough people in government to really listen to or read all that, it is still permanently on file at the National Security Agency. No warrant is needed to get the information from your ISP. All one has to have is a "reasonable need for access."
This is now including even things like the data from your car's computers. Information about speed, braking, etc is kept in those computers and is now being retained by the car companies. They say it is to improve the efficiency of cars.
But fdespite all the BS about terrorism and improving vehicles, this data is showing up in court. The biggers areas are in divorces and when an automobile insurance company does not want to pay a claim by their own insured.
I know!!! So we don't have to pass any more laws in order to give strangers access to us, let's just implant a chip in each newborn? That way from birth on any company in the world who wants to access us can. So simple. Of course the companies would want us to pay for the chip, but what the heck?...We'd make up the cost with all the savings on the deals they would offer us.
(Did I mention...all of the above is sarcasm?)
Another gift from the TeaBaggers. When they're not licking up Koch money, they're screwing the average guy.
to hdrider: I am going to say this again, and makes it clear: we are all Americans. Be careful how you calll your fellow Americans names. Repeat: we are all Americans. Your fellow Americans. We all bear the blame for what happens in D.C. Do you comprehend, hdrider? Lay off the vitriolic name calling and abusive comments. State your case for an issue, and then get out of the comment program. That's an order, HDRIDER. No more mistreatment of your fellow Americans. Question: do you actually doubt that Republicans are fellow Americans? You weaken your arguments.And someday we may meet, and I will say: Are you the guy who disrespects the Tea Party?
Get ready for a flood of calls starting like: "This is not a sales calls, but you might be interested in..."
"While there is nothing currently wrong with your credit card, you may be entitled to a lower interest rate....."
A contrary opinion: Cell phone users are almost universally rude in the assumption that they can yammer away aimlessly in any location - particularly in waiting rooms, publilc transportation, restaurants, and even movie theaters. I love this legislation. Perhaps a little reverse medicine will show how annoying random cell phone calls really are. "Good for goose, good for...... well..... rude SOBs....."
"This is not a sales call. Hello this is Newt Gingrich and I want to talk to you about my plans for America".
That's what the calls will be for.
Your rant did not contain a valid point. Thank you for playing. Have a nice day.
"Get off my lawn!"
-- Jersey Bob
AHHHHHH!!!!!!! I get this call at least three times a day, and because it's not a human there's no one to yell at!
1SGFitzWife4ID,
File a complaint with the FTC.
I've done that I'm also on the do not call list fat lotta good that's done.
Politicians exempted themselves from Do Not Call legislation from day one.
Anytime I make a donation, I end up getting 10 phone calls from similar organizations. Makes me not want to give anymore. I don't answer the phone anymore unless it is a number I recognize. It is nice that with Cox Cable the number calling appears on the TV screen. Now if I start getting calls on my cell phone, once again I will not answer. I feel for those with a set amount of minutes, those are the people who can least afford this.
So, when I voted, it was 384 No votes, and 1 Yes vote. Does the 'Yes' goober not have a cell phone?
When I voted, there were over 2,000 no votes and 7 yes votes. I'm thinking the 7 yes votes are telemarketers themselves.
Telemarketing needs to go the way of the door-to-door salesman and the dinosaur: extinct!
Yes, Bo-Bert. That would be Jersey Bob.
This bill should REQUIRE that the phone number be registered to receive these types of calls; for example banks, airlines to contact you for "subscribed" conditions.
If we give companies and political campaigns the ability to robo-call and run up cell phone minute usage, perhaps they should have to pay for the call or submit a transaction to the wireless carrier to not charge the wireless customer for the minutes.
This country is getting crazier than normal and our "DO NOTHING - NO DEAL CONGRESS" and especially the "PARTY OF NO" needs to get their heads out of their collective butts and do something useful for a change.
This bill is a 'Get a foot in the door' bill that will eventually lead to telemarketers calling our cells. Even a subscriber provision will not prevent those companies who have our #'s from selling them to 3rd parties. I do wholeheartily agree that they should pay for those minutes if this bill should pass.
They are allowed to call you if you subscribe, thats what we have now, the only thing this DOES do is open the door for unsubscribed phone calls or calls from someone who just "happens" to get your number.
It is bad enough now, receiving all of the unsolicited e-mails that I do, let alone robo-calls. Please publish Lee Terry's, (R-Ne.), personal and private phone number so the 99.5% of the public who opposes his bill can call him anytime day or night, in person or pre-recorded message to let him know how they feel about this abomination. Grrrrr.
My cel gets robo-called, call center comes down with virus. I bill for my minutes.
When I hear things like this I feel that if Osama Bin Laden had hit the Senate and the House instead of the Twin Towers, he would probably be the front runner for President in 2012
I agree with William D. Our politicians represent themselves and their benefactors. Time to consider term limits for everyone.
time to consider term limits i concur. it is also time to consider a third party one that is made up of the average citizens that is willing to work for us in congress. the democratic and republican parties need to go the way of the dodo.
this bill is just another example of who our government is really working for. the people in power are no longer working for the american public. they are working for corporations bought and paid for by them, this includes both democrats and republicans unfortunantly. the only way we will see change is to dump the politicians and replace them with average citizens in the white house and congress.
How the hell can they be so blatant in their total disregard for the common man? How can any one even consider voting for a Republican for anything? Anti-choice, anti-gay - it doesn't matter what your social positions are, when you sit down to pay your bills, these Republicans do not support anything that benefits you.
Whether it's a land-line or cell-phone, what is being lost sight of is the simple fact that the person pays for the service it is their service, there is no law requiring a phone to be had at all. Therefore there can be no requirement that I allow anyone to use the services I pay for, unless I choose to allow them to do so. It's that simple. These companies act like it's THEIR RIGHT to contact you, and that YOU are infringing on THEIR rights...when it is the other way around.
If I allow someone to contact me, such as a credit card company or bank, and I agree to such communication as part of the service they offer that is fine, but I should be free to specify what they may use MY service for...and not a blank agreement that they can call me incessantly with offers and other marketing information.
Otherwise, stay off my phone, land-line or otherwise. I pay for that service, it's not free, and it's not YOURS it's MINE.
RIGHT. Want to pay my phone bill? Then you can pester me with annoying telemarketing bull$#!t, although I probably won't answer.
It's time to outlaw all robo calls and telemarketers.
Not to mention that this would allow even broader access to your cell and smart phones to hacker viruses.
I probably shouldn't say this out loud but...I wish there were an app that would identify sales and robo-calls....and continually send back a virus to that phone...over and over for the next 31 days, or 12 years....whichever is longer.
HELLO REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS! Things like this are why even though I am a registered republican and have voted for republicans for the last few decades that I will no longer vote for any republican for at least the next few years. Get the message. Work for us not the big business interests. Send a message to these idiots and vote Democrat!
I left the Republican party in 2008 after 25 years.
Rush Limbaugh convinced me to leave the GOP in the early '90s.
You're making the assumption that if the GOP doesn't work for the American people that the Dems do. The Dems just want to steal your privacy in different ways. Neither party is the answer.
I hope this does not make it, i do not want unneeded incoming calls. Especially if I have to pay more, what happens if your in a roaming area and they call you and answer, bam you are charged for that call. Its bad enough we have our home phone registered with the "do not call" list and still receive calls from companies that are not verifying our number on the list prior to called. Once again, Government working and focusing on the wrong things instead of becoming smaller and focusing on the big issues that continue to create such a poor future for this country.
UAW, you might ask yourself why every single ONE of these efforts is sponsored by a Republican lawmaker.
This has zero to do with "smaller government". In fact, "smaller government" would mean that there would be even LESS restriction on those unneeded incoming calls. Smaller government equals less regulation. This requires regulation.
No politician wants smaller government, no matter what party they are from. Just like no politician wants to support taxes, yet we have fees, etc on everything
UAW... you do see that this is the result of a party pushing for less regulations I hope... and this is only in one small area that will directly affect you. Now think about how many more areas you'll be impacted if the "smaller government, less regulation" crowd gets their way.
We're not people to this brand of Republican. We're resources to be exploited and discarded when we're of no further value.
Yep, it's the wonderful "free market" at work again. I have absolutely no doubt that the GOP will pass this bill. I wonder if Speaker Boehner realizes just how reviled he is in this country?
Boehner and the others won't understand the true level of revulsion until it's demonstrated on election day - and when they no longer have jobs!!!
He's tearing up now,careful!
Nothing stops these kinds of calls now. I cannot imagine what it would be like if the restrictions were eased. It is unclear whether complaints to the do-not-call registry result in any action. I have added each sales/credit card scam/BS number to my address book as a do not answer number. It is amazing how many call. The number is unlisted and on the do-not-call list but I get several calls a day. Of course, when I speak to them or call back, I either cannot get through or they are jerks. This is nothing more than harassment
I would love to get the number of the sponsoring politician so I can return the favor.
By-the-way, I do have agreements with all my chosen, relevant business partners (banks, airlines, etc.) allowing them to call or text me. That is working just fine. Since there is nothing to fix, no change is necessary.
I support these people publishing THEIR home, cell and office phone numbers so all of us can contact them any time of the day or night. If they even THINK of leaning toward approving this bill then they need to publish these numbers in the print and electronic media every day so that everybody has those numbers. If WE are not entitled to privacy what the heck makes THEM think THEY are entitled to privacy when they work FOR US?
Sorry, Cat. The theory that 'they work for us' hasn't been true for many years now. It sounds good, and it gives people a warm fuzzy when they say it, but honestly, there's no politician that works for us anymore. They work for the big money that got them elected, or they work for themselves to get re-elected. We've been moved to the back burner so much that I believe we've fallen off the back of the stove.
I'm sure the folks that own these companies are nothing but crooks anyways. They pay pennies on the dollar for debt & when someone gives in & pays them they take all the profit. I'm sure they have many ways of disguising where they live & their identities. They probably have heated attached garages at home & never set foot on the pavement until they are locked into their garage at work. Its likely a very creepy existence for these folks.
Does anyone have any more doubt that congress does not care about the citizens, only buisness?
How bout a compromise...let them text us :P
A lot of people also pay per text message, ya know.
jcpines...how about this compromise:
Unsolicited calls, texts, emails and mailings are NOT permitted, unless you say 'yes it's okay to interrupt me and probably make my phone bill a little more expensive'?
I'd much prefer they call, if I have a choice. Since I don't bother to answer any calls where I don't know the caller, that works better for me. I don't want any unsolicited texts.
One can always get RID of the cell phone. I CAN be done you know.
Why should I have to get rid of my cell phone? How about our politicians represent the citizens of this country for once, and stand up to business? Look at the results of the poll that is part of this story. The overwhelming majority do not want it.
Why in the world would I get rid of my cellphone? I've literally never owned a landline because why bother? I honestly don't know a single person in my age range (18-30) who has a landline either. I use less than 30 minutes a month so it's cheaper to have a cellphone.
One can always stop eating. It can be done you know. What exactly is your point? Other than being a non sequitur?