Republicans Want To Leave You Voicemail -- Without Ever Ringing Your Cellphone

[Jimbo101]

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The GOP's leading campaign and fundraising arm, the Republican National Committee, has quietly thrown its support behind a proposal at the Federal Communications Commission that would pave the way for marketers to auto-dial consumers' cellphones and leave them prerecorded voicemail messages -- all without ever causing their devices to ring. Under current federal law, telemarketers and others, like political groups, aren't allowed to launch robocall campaigns targeting cellphones unless they first obtain a consumer's written consent.

But businesses stress that it's a different story when it comes to "ringless voicemail" -- because it technically doesn't qualify as a phone call in the first place. In their eyes, that means they shouldn't need a customer or voter's permission if they want to auto-dial mobile voicemail inboxes in bulk pre-made messages about a political candidate, product or cause. And they want the FCC to rule, once and for all, that they're in the clear.

Their argument, however, has drawn immense opposition from consumer advocates.

[dalton99a]

1. Assholes

[Arkansas Granny]

2. That sounds like invasion of privacy, to me.

[Doreen]

3. Well, they can sell our info from us being on the internet

so what surprises you about this? My voicemail has never been set up but I assume they will do the same with text and landlines.

[snooper2]

4. Yeah that isn't going to happen

I guess they don't know how technology works LOL

[csziggy]

5. Hah! I already have that beat - I never set up a voicemail account

I do check every so often to see who has called - and if I don't recognize the number I research it. But no voicemail, either on my cell or my home phone. At home I have a message machine hooked up so it is totally in my control.

[NCjack]

6. The GOP ass holes won't leave one on my phone. I keep my message box

filled and never listen to any of them. ("Sorry, the message box is filled. CLICK.) I just check my "missed calls" list when convenient and call back folks that are important to me.

[Orsino]

7. Have you finally found the wedge issue?

Is this the story that will break the GOP base?

Well, probably not, but if word gets out it ain't gonna help them.