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How To Stop Political Campaign Text Messages

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

CTIA—The Wireless Association—has voiced its support to a petition before the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), that seeks to limit unsolicited political campaign text messages. The petition, submitted by Revolution Messaging LLC, asked the FCC to issue a declaratory ruling that defines internet-to-phone text-messaging technology as an “automatic telephone dialing system” within the meaning of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”) of 1991; without this protection, mobile phone consumers would have to pay for unsolicited text messages during political campaign seasons.The CTIA posted these comments on political text the FCC’s website on Monday, November 26, 2012: “Such unwanted text messages are disruptive and potentially costly to wireless customers, and they are burdensome to carriers that must expend substantial resources to handle customer inquiries and complaints. Although wireless carriers are working diligently and proactively to protect their customers against all types of spam, including through the use of robust spam filters and other tools, combating political campaign text messages remains an ongoing challenge.” The petition, which is also backed by the Voter Participation Center, comes in response to the FCC’s request for comments on the TCPA (the response period is closing November 30, 2012, then the agency will make a recommendation).Farther along in its comments, the CTIA asked the FCC to confirm the TCPA requires callers to get “prior express consent” before sending out political campaign texts to mobile phone users. The TCPA, signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1991 and enforced by the FCC starting in 1992. The TCPA restricts telephone solicitations, the use of automated telephone equipment, and unsolicited advertisements. Specifically, the TCPA limits the use of automatic dialing systems, prerecorded voice messages, unsolicited text messages, and junk faxes. Cell phone text messages can be sent from computer systems that fall outside of this current definition of auto-dialers. And thus, CTIA is petitioning for clarity: [CTIA] supports the petition’s goal of reducing unwanted political campaign text messages sent to mobile devices, regardless of the technology used to send those messages,”The Voter Participation Center commented to the FCC, “We understand that many voters are receiving spam text messages from an organization that they do not recognize or support. Although a text message may seem inconsequential, these individual messages have a real cost: both financially and in terms of how voters view the electoral process. Additionally, these text message abuses threaten to sour voters on what is a very promising technology.” It’s encouraging that the wireless industry and a pro-democracy non-for-profit have joined together against political spam.So, what should you do when you get a robocall or an unsolicited text message? Hang up the phone. Do not press 1 or any other numbers to get off the list. Then, contact Mike Agruss Law, for a free consultation. The Federal Trade Commission has stopped billions, yes billions, of robocalls in the last two years. Mike Agruss Law, will do the same for you. We will aggressively enforce the law to stop robocalls and unsolicited text message. Not only will we stop the calls and text messages, but you may be entitled to money damages, too. Damages in TCPA cases range from $500.00 – $1,500.00 per call or text.

Submitted Comments

Ursula Henry
7 years ago
I'm getting constant calls, text messages, and door visits from the John Osoff campaign when I'm on the Do Not Call list and I've asked multiple times to be removed.
Y. L.
7 years ago
Same thing here, and also for John Osoff. I'll make sure he is not one I will vote for. These jerks who send such sms will get the opposite results to what they wanted
Wendy
6 years ago
Do not call or text me..I am about to change my number because these calls do not stop..I am so sick of the text messages. How do beget them to stop
Harry
5 years ago
have gotten texts from 850-842-6577 Kamal Harris 321-428-8767 Deena Saltman
Donald
5 years ago
I received a text message using my first name Donald but have gone by Donovan for over 30 years. Urging me to vote democrat and I am a conservative. How did they get my number and how can they text me??
Lazaro
4 years ago
I’ve received text from 843-779-9743, asking for support for presidential candidate Yang. Unsolicited !!!
Sheri
4 years ago
Every day I get ridiculous Trump supporting unsolicited texts, probably because I voted Republican at some point. I block each # after it arrives, but new/different ones come in every day. I'm thoroughly annoyed and disgusted with this. If I type STOP in return, are they under any obligation to remove me?
Elie
4 years ago
I got a random text asking me to vote for Bloomberg
Chay
4 years ago
I am getting at least 2 texts a day but last night I received a text at 2:47am!! Extremely unacceptable!
Christina
4 years ago
I've been getting emails from political figures for a long time now ears it started with Hillary Clinton and then it moved on to Obama and then different ones that I can't remember now and then now it's Trump
Nikki
3 years ago
Receive texts about voting at 4am.
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Nikki, please send me screenshots of the text messages. Thanks, Mike.
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Christina. Would you be willing to send me some screenshots or copies of the emails? Send them over to my office at [email protected]. I'd like to look them over. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Chay. You're right, that is an unacceptable time to receive text messages from a campaign. Send over a screen shot of the text and time to my office at [email protected]. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Elie. Unwanted texts are annoying and may be against the law. Feel free to contact my office to discuss this further. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Sheri. We can discuss your rights further when I reach out to you. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Lazaro. Unsolicited campaign phone calls are extremely annoying and are driving a lot of people crazy. I would be happy to discuss your options. Please contact my office and we can talk. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Donald. You'd be surprised what information these campaigners can find out. If the calls are unsolicited, you have rights. I will contact you to discuss this further. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Harry. You're just one of many people who are getting these texts. If you can send me some screen shots of the texts to my office at [email protected], I will review them and we can discuss your rights. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Wendy. These calls and texts are annoying, frustrating, and all too common right now. I would like to help you get them to stop. Please give me a call and we can work on it. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Y.L. If you'd like help in getting these texts to stop, reach out. We can work on it together. Thanks, Mike
Michael Agruss
3 years ago
Hi Ursula. If you've had issues getting these calls, visits, and texts to stop, you have rights and these campaigners may be in violation of the law. I will give you a call and we can talk. Thanks, Mike

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