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The FCC classified SMS/MMS as unregulated, filterable "information services" rather than regulated "telecommunications services". https://www.fiercewireless.co

The FCC classified SMS/MMS as unregulated, filterable "information services" rather than regulated "telecommunications services". https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/sms-mms-deemed-information-services-removing-them-from-heavier-regulation https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/sms-mms-deemed-infor...

krono 5y ago
They should really update the "Mission and strategy" chapter on their Wikipedia page [1]. In particular the part about "Protecting Consumers & Public Safety" seems horribly outdated! I will have to look up how this works in the EU and here in The Netherlands. Something to do for the weekend. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission#Mission_and_strategy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commiss...
wikidani 5y ago
I really would like to see what was the legal reason behind that, I know the US has issues with gov't agencies using their opinions as law but I thought mail was constitutionally protected?
- maxwell 5y ago
  The FCC just makes decisions, we're talking regulations here, not laws. They justified it with "preventing spam" and enabling competition with unregulated OTT apps. I'm glad that Twilio fought for Title II governance: https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/60001324418.pdf https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/60001324418.pdf Where was everyone else? As far as the sanctity of the U.S. Mail, it only applies to sealed envelopes/packages, and Congress can ban items from the mail (e.g. lottery pamphlets, spurious tokens, gasoline, etc.) https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/96/727/ https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/96/727/
  - wikidani 5y ago
    Doesn't congress make a law saying breaking x regulation carries y penalty and at the same time gives the agency power to decide what constitutes breaking x? I know for a fact that BATFE does this rather frequently. Also, thanks for the clarification about the secrecy of US mail. I apreciate it

krono 5y ago

They should really update the "Mission and strategy" chapter on their Wikipedia page [1]. In particular the part about "Protecting Consumers & Public Safety" seems horribly outdated! I will have to look up how this works in the EU and here in The Netherlands. Something to do for the weekend. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission#Mission_and_strategy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commiss...

wikidani 5y ago

I really would like to see what was the legal reason behind that, I know the US has issues with gov't agencies using their opinions as law but I thought mail was constitutionally protected?

maxwell 5y ago
The FCC just makes decisions, we're talking regulations here, not laws. They justified it with "preventing spam" and enabling competition with unregulated OTT apps. I'm glad that Twilio fought for Title II governance: https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/60001324418.pdf https://ecfsapi.fcc.gov/file/60001324418.pdf Where was everyone else? As far as the sanctity of the U.S. Mail, it only applies to sealed envelopes/packages, and Congress can ban items from the mail (e.g. lottery pamphlets, spurious tokens, gasoline, etc.) https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/96/727/ https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/96/727/
- wikidani 5y ago
  Doesn't congress make a law saying breaking x regulation carries y penalty and at the same time gives the agency power to decide what constitutes breaking x? I know for a fact that BATFE does this rather frequently. Also, thanks for the clarification about the secrecy of US mail. I apreciate it