Irked by robo-calls? There are options

The following is a Jackson Citizen Patriot editorial for August 29:

State Sen. Mark Schauer, the Battle Creek Democrat running to replace Republican Congressman Tim Walberg of Tipton in the 7th District, has a stand on so-called robo-calls: His campaign won't use them. That, of course, begs another question: How about the congressman? Will he take the pledge?

So far, Walberg hasn't taken the bait. He believes automated phone calls serve the public interest by providing an "honest and open exchange of ideas between the two of us about our respective plans for turning Michigan's economy around." Moreover, his campaign manager points out that Schauer's robo-call pledge is more aimed at halting some robo-calls critical of his position on petroleum exploration.

We'll let the voters decide between those two perspectives. It is worth pointing out, however, that most residents are unamused by the deluge of political robo-calls as an election draws near. Whether it's a Republican or Democrat, a libertarian or whatever, they can't quite understand why any such calls are permitted after they have signed the national Do-Not-Call Registry (www.ftc.gov/donotcall). The reason, of course, is that the registry exempts certain categories of calls — political calls among them.

Briefly last week, we almost thought the FCC was coming to the rescue. It introduced stricter new rules governing robo-calls from telemarketers. Under the rules, prerecorded robo-calls must, starting on Sept. 1, 2009, include an automated, interactive opt-out mechanism. After that, robo-calls could only be directed to those on the opt-out list with their written consent.

Unfortunately, the new rules again exempt political robo-calls. They are, after all, considered to be protected First Amendment speech by the FCC. There are, however, other efforts to strike the political exemption from the do-not-call registry.

By visiting the Web site StopPoliticalCalls.org, you can at least sign up on the National Political Do Not Contact Registry. That nonpartisan, grassroots organization promises to "contact the politicians to ask that they stop calling you."

Of course, this effort doesn't have the force of law. So perhaps we taxpayers should launch our own robo-calls at Congress and the FCC, demanding that the political exemption be removed from the FCC's Do-Not-Call Registry. That would be ironic justice.

—Jackson Citizen Patriot