Assembly Votes To Ban Unsolicited Political Messages On Cell

Sacramento, CA — Politicians couldn´t use text messaging to bombard cell phone and pager owners with unwanted campaign ads under legislation approved today by the California Assembly.

Assemblywoman Barbara Matthews of Tracy says her bill would protect cell phone and pager owners from being hit with fees to pay for political messages they didn´t want to receive.

State law already bars businesses from sending unsolicited text message ads. Matthews´ bill would extend the ban to political advertisements.

It wouldn´t apply to a candidate or campaign committee that had a previously established relationship with the message´s recipient and had offered the recipient an option not to receive the message.

A 69 to one vote sent the bill to the state Senate.