Today, Public Knowledge, joined by 15 consumer, rural, and public interest groups, filed a Petition for Reconsideration opposing the Federal Communications Commission’s recent Declaratory Ruling classifying text messaging as a Title I information service under the Communications Act.

Today, the Federal Communications Commission voted on a party-line vote to approve a Declaratory Ruling on “Text Messaging Classification,” classifying text messaging as a Title I information service under the Communications Act. This action enables wireless carriers to discriminate against short-messaging services (SMS) and short codes, the standard five or six-digit vanity numbers used by organizations such as Catholic Relief Services for disaster relief campaigns, or by political campaigns and marketing firms.

Today, Public Knowledge joined 19 other public interest, rural, Native American, and consumer groups in a letter urging Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to either issue a new Public Notice examining the classification of text messaging and short codes, or to classify both as Title II telecommunications services.

Today, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai proposed a Declaratory Ruling denying Public Knowledge’s outstanding Petition For Declaratory Ruling after Verizon temporarily blocked NARAL from sending mass text message alerts to its members on legislation impacting reproductive rights.