Verizon Wireless reverses policy on text messages

Verizon Wireless announced a reversal in its corporate policy on text messaging a day after rejecting a request from non-profit group Naral Pro-Choice America to distribute an abortion rights text message program via the operator's national network. According to the New York Times, Verizon initially rejected the program, which enables consumers to subscribe to Naral updates and alerts via short-code--in copies of communications supplied to the NYT by Naral, Verizon told the organization it does not accept programs "that seek to promote an agenda or distribute content that, in its discretion, may be seen as controversial or unsavory to any of our users."

But Thursday morning, Verizon Wireless issued the following press statement attributed to spokesperson Jeffrey Nelson: "The decision to not allow text messaging on an important, though sensitive, public policy issue was incorrect, and we have fixed the process that led to this isolated incident," the statement reads. "Upon learning about this situation, senior Verizon Wireless executives immediately reviewed the decision and determined it was an incorrect interpretation of a dusty internal policy. That policy, developed before text messaging protections such as spam filters adequately protected customers from unwanted messages, was designed to ward against communications such as anonymous hate messaging and adult materials sent to children. Verizon Wireless is proud to provide services such as text messaging, which are being harnessed by organizations and individuals communicating their diverse opinions about issues and topics. We have great respect for this free flow of ideas and will continue to protect the ability to communicate broadly through our messaging service."

Prior to Verizon's reversal, legal experts suggested private firms like the operator probably have the right to determine which messages to carry, as laws forbidding carriers from interfering with traditional voice transmissions do not apply to text services. Columbia law professor Timothy Wu cited a more pointed precedent: "Another entity that controls mass text messages is the Chinese government," he told the New York Times.

For more on the Verizon Wireless text-messaging statement:
- read this release

For more on the Verizon/Naral controversy:
- read this New York Times article

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