Verizon Doesn't Like Your Politics -- A Taste of a Post-Net-Neutrality World [Updated]

Adam Liptak's article in today's New York Times tells a story that will be repeated again and again if the public loses net neutrality to the telecom lobby. NARAL, a pro-choice group that let's its members use text messaging to inform and update its members on pro-choice policy, had its program rejected by Verizon. While NARAL's program continues to be employed by many other carriers, Verizon has decreed that its customers may not receive their updates.

So, Verizon doesn't like your politics -- not your particular political view mind you, their spokesman, Jeffrey Nelson stresses, "It is the topic itself" -- abortion -- "that has been on our list." So, its just that you have a view at all, and that you would like to express it over your phone (via text) that they don't like.

Net Neutrality has not been a sexy issue beyond the geek circle, what with Democrats reeling over the insanity of the Lieberman-Kyl amendment that facilitates bombing Iran, but let me tell you folks, the telecoms are going to hit you like no Iranian would or could, right in your home and private life.

People have been turning away from television and mainstream media in droves because most of it is canned junk. They've been turning to the Internet because the content is rich and unfiltered, diverse and surprising. And for that you can thank Net Neutrality.

UPDATE: As of an hour ago, Verizon has reversed its position keeping its role in this issue to lobbying and out of the courts for the time being.

Comments

[bluesky49876]

I complained to Verizon regarding this issue and I received a reply indicating that the company has reversed its position.

[Kadidlehopper]

Hmmmm. Mr. Rupert Murdoch, has been Mr. Bushe's biggest campaign support. Now he's suddenly Ms. Hillary's. Wonder why.
Wasn't it Mr. Woodrow Wilson who said:
"There is a power in our land so suttle and so dangerous that to speak against it above a whisper will endanger your life." and on his death bed he said:" I am a man undone, for I have enabled a viper on the breast of my country." when he spoke of the 16 amendment.
The founding plank of the Globalists is Nietzche's statement: "You must create the circumstances for change and the greatest enabler for that are emergencies. For emergencies justify suspending civil liberties in order to meet the percieved emergency."
NOW, why are these former FBI Agents so vociferous about being heard about their 911 investigation at variance with the government's investigative commission's report.
Perhaps there MAY BE some more emergencies waiting in the wings that more then likely will cost more lives. Eh.... America you are feeding the viper that inhabits your breast, its camouflage is as intricate as nature's in the wild.
Religion is an excellent camouflage for secret agendas and that old prophet of Israel said:
"my people perish for lack of knowledge". perhaps because now the so called knowledge is part of the camouflage. Which in todays vernacular is: if you can't wow them with facts then wow them with bullshit. As long as it is given with an air of great sagacity and statesmenship.
Phew...... its still bullshit, albeit a harbinger of death to many in America. Hitler was a runup. He was responsible for the death of 41.5% of the citizens of his country. Many of which supported him and were responsible for putting him in power. No one.......absolutely no one makes the Presidency of the United States and of course several other countries except with permission and assent of this GROUP. Globalism is so nebulous. Who are they?

[Ani]

I'm stuck in the middle of a cell phone dead zone with only Verizon capturing service in my home. However, I've stubbornly kept my old Cingular (now AT&T) alive only because of my concerns regarding Verizon's complicity in snooping and spying on Americans.

I don't know if what I have is any better, but it's for certain that Verizon's not looking out for this little woman's well-being.

Thanks for the good post, John. With so many other good things to think of (Iraq, Iran, torture, secret prisons, all things war-ful and awful), we still need to keep this in the forefront. Thanks for doing so.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

Cingular/AT&T was the original company to say they would cooperate with anything the government wanted. Hell they triangulate your position frequently anyway for their network, and can report exactly where you're at for any given time, if someone asks them, providing you're carrying their phone with you.

Don't believe? Carry that AT&T phone across a time zone for awhile and see if they don't correct the time display for you.

[NABNYC]

The underlying issue extends far beyond e-mails and text-messaging. If the government continues selling off all our resources (like the air-waves) to corporate interests, all of our constitutional rights may be eliminated defacto, if not dejure.

For one example, if every beach, lake, national park, highway, bridge, school, and public transportation system is sold off to corporations, and become private assets (i.e. "privatized,"), those private owners can prohibit any conduct or speech they do not like. The bill of rights only prevents the government from stopping our free speech. It has no effect on the right of corporations to do so.

Voting rights are a joke if the entire election is privatized - from voting machines to staffing to counting. The corporation will "contract" with the corrupt government entity, and will perform the contract as the corporation deems fit.

War is being privatized. The current push is to have an all-foreign all-mercenary military. Goons from throughout the third world, often those with the most experience in torture and murder in their own countries, will be sent throughout the world to kill and torture in our name. Actually, it's happening now.

We need to take back our government. We need to have and enforce laws making it illegal, with prison time, for any candidate or politician to accept anything of value from anyone except a family member. Who would ever have thought that political bribes and corruption would be an accepted practice. Of course our goverment is giving away the store - they're getting a kick-back from the corporations for doing so.

Text-messaging is just a tiny part of the big horrible picture.

[Skwee]

I wonder if they blocked texts from National Right to Life activists as well?

[DatelessNerd]

Remember this when your Senators and Representatives vote on whether Verizon should be given retroactive immunity from lawsuits eminating from the illegal wiretapping of their customers.

[drblack]

verizon is anti-freedom and giving them money is helping them to control information.
Bill and Hillary are all for giving control of American info to big business like Verizon. Just look at Bills 1996 communications act. The American Individual was the big loser.

[OrvilleHLarson]

Hillary Clinton's a bit of a neofascist. Wasn't she the one who once called for a "gatekeeper" for the Internet?

What the hell did you mean by that, Mrs. Clinton?
Censoring everything that's critical of the political class (YOUR class)?

[cyaker]

Verizon is selling for about $44. Given the shares owned by liberal orgs like unions and such. If Liberals start buying one share and bringing their unhappiness with Verizons position on Net Neutrality to stock holders meetings instead of to Washington and the hired help it will have an impact unseen in the corporate world.

[CollateralDamage]

Thank you so much for this post. Please keep the issue alive. Things are certain to get much worse.

Has anyone noticed how Comcast is getting so heavily into content? How long will it be before users are required to use their web site, with their preferred content, fake news and all as the startup page. How long before other sites including the Huffington Post slow down?

[Stevelagain]

My primary comment on your brief article is that perhaps it's TOO brief? You did not detail or address the rights of Verizon as regards to this issue of what goes over their service or the rights of their customers to enjoy this service as Verizon envisions it.

Also, clearly, customers have many other choices in the market place and if Verizon does not give those customers what they want, they will lose those customers to a service that does.

I suspect for most Verizon users this is a non-issue. They probably like the fact that all sorts of spam crap is not coming into their in boxes. Be it left wing propaganda or right wing propaganda.

And for those who are worried about constitutional rights, lets bear in mind the company has RIGHTS as well. They have the right to offer the service they want to offer and customers have the right to walk away.

We don't need big momma government getting bigger, sticking its nose in every aspect of every transaction and every issue in our lives.

[WorkingClass]

Citizen Steve. Thank you for your service to unregulated global capitalism. You may now retire to your cell.

[kfdan]

The rights of internet users has to be protected but I've got reservations that any actions during this time of the Bush Junta will have negative effects on the future of the net as a viable means for expression.
Certainly, Verizon realized, a little late in this case, that it's best interests lie in keeping the net flowing. It really is in it's best interests to keep the net free of control.

[WorkingClass]

The American resistance will have to rely on short-wave for communications.

[ccalee]

Don't count on it. That bandwidth is under attack.

[WorkingClass]

Thanks for the tip. I will look into it.

[Lucille]

Thanks for writing this blog. I frankly had completely forgotten about this subject, since I haven't seen the television commercials using reverse psychology on us lately.

Remember the commercials were paid for by a group of communications corporations (Verizon and AT&T took part), specifically to confuse the public who probably, until that commercial, never heard the term "Net Neutrality" before?

The commericals were set-up to pretend that people against Net Neutrality were actually for freedom and non-censorship of the Internet as it currently stands but they were not. If you didn't know what Net Neutrality was, then one would assume that Net Neutrality was indeed anti-freedom of expression on the Internet but the opposite is true.

Now the psychological manipulation of the American public is becoming more visible. Either that or the perpetrators are becoming sloppy.

[TheIndependenceParty]

The citizens of America and the Customers of Verizon Wireless who spoke up SO QUICKLY, ... brought the kind of response from Verizon that they should have given from the beginning.

However, ... Nothing in their statement reversing their prohibition on NARAL precludes them doing the same thing tomorrow against another organization or individual with "other views".

And this is why there must be laws to preclude any common carrier from interceding in the transmission of communications by and between customers, ... citizens.

Today was the first volley in a siege that must never stop. We must assure that we are allowed to communicate how and when we choose! Verizon is NOT the moral guide for the nation. Whatever their internal politic, it must have NO AFFECT upon their subscribers.

And if it does, ... and if they insist upon limiting the rights of their customers and "protecting" us from sharing thoughts among ourselves, ... then perhaps their wireless licenses should not be renewed, and be sold to other more fair-minded vendors.

[woodsywizz]

Let's remember that defending the Constitution is "conservative." Protecting the land and waters is "conservative." Helping someone who needs help is "small-town values." So why do all the "conservatives" hate these issues?