Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell, Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce

DINGELL ON VERIZON TEXT MESSAGING POLICY

September 27, 2007

Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, released the following statement today in response to media reports about Verizon reversing a decision to ban text messages from an advocacy group:

“Reports of Verizon's actions raise troubling questions about a network operator's ability to determine what its customers receive and from whom. I am particularly concerned by its ability and apparent willingness to interfere when customers choose to receive legitimate and legal communications from an organization. Further, its latest statement does not identify any substantive change in policy. I ask Verizon to decisively state that it will no longer discriminate against any legal content its customers request from any organization.”