Cell phone companies may be blocking your text messages.  It's time to tell the FCC that this has to stop.

The most recent example of this is the blocking of some attempts to raise money for Haitian earthquake relief.  However, the problem goes back much further.  In the past, major wireless carriers have chosen to block text messages from political groups they deemed “controversial or unsavory.”  These messages were blocked even when people specifically requested to receive them.

Tell the FCC to protect everyone’s right to send and receive text messages, and stop the cell phone companies from deciding what we can and can’t say in a text message.

File a comment with the FCC and tell them to stop cell phone companies from blocking your texts.

Filing a comment is easy, just follow these steps:

1. Review the following suggested comments and make any changes you desire:

   Dear Chairman Genachowski, I urge you to finally grant Public Knowledge's petition and make it clear to wireless carriers that they cannot screen text messages they don't like. Text messaging is a vital form of communication, and should be protected from interference just like voice calls. We do not allow phone companies to decide who makes a phone call and what they say. It is time to stop letting them decide who can send a text message and what it says. As long as the threat of unjust and unreasonable text message blocking lingers, companies and nonprofits will avoid spending time and money developing innovative uses for it. There is no reason that wireless carriers should be gatekeepers for text message innovation. It has been over two years since this problem was brought to the FCC's attention, and yet Sprint is still able to block attempts to raise money for Haitian earthquake victims. The FCC must grant Public Knowledge's petition now, before wireless carriers block anything else. Sincerely,

2. Once finished Select all the comment text by clicking IN the box and choosing "Select All" from your browser's "Edit" menu. Copy the selected text by choosing "Copy" from the your browser's "Edit" menu.

3. Once you've selected your comment text click on the following link, paste your comments into the comment section of the form from the FCC (don't forget to add your name), fill in the remaining required fields, press Continue, and follow the instructions for reviewing your form.

   Click here to file your comments with the FCC

Click here to learn more about PK's text message petition.

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