Can You Hear Us Now?

CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?
[SOURCE: Washington Post, AUTHOR: Nancy Keenan and Roberta Combs]
[Commentary] The presidents of NARAL Pro-Choice America and the Christian Coalition of America co-authored this op-ed in opposition to Verizon's 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." 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? Technologies are converging in our communications system, but the principles of free expression and the rights of all Americans to speak without intervention should remain paramount. This issue is broader than one organization, one company or one topic. The issue is how communications companies can believe they have the authority to block content in the first place.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR200710...
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