In December consumer groups asked the FCC to stop carriers from blocking the assignment of short codes used by organizations for text messaging their members. The probe comes after a controversial move last year by Verizon Wireless, which initially rejected an application from NARAL Pro-Choice America. The organization said it wanted the short code to communicate with its members. After the issue gained national attention in the media, Verizon Wireless promptly gave the organization access to the short code.
Organizations like Public Knowledge, Free Press, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, EDUCAUSE, Media Access Project, New America Foundation and U.S. PIRG are pushing for the probe.
For more on the FCC's latest probe:
- read this article from RCR News