You may have missed it in the fine print. Phone companies like Verizon and AT&T reserve the right to block your free speech and terminate your cell phone services “for any reason or no reason.”

Not scary enough? Here’s the shocker. There are no laws that prevent these giant companies from censoring your speech on their networks. Fortunately, some in Congress are calling for an immediate investigation so that they can stop censorship on cell phones and the Internet … forever. But they need your support. Now.

Tell Congress to Protect Free Speech
on Our Cell Phones, the Internet, Everywhere!

Recently, Verizon censored text messages from NARAL Pro-Choice America. In an op-ed in the Washington Post this week, NARAL’s Nancy Keenan joined with Roberta Combs of the Christian Coalition to call on Congress to convene hearings on whether our laws guarantee the free flow of information everywhere.

“Free speech shouldn’t stop when you turn on your computer or pick up your cell phone,” they wrote. “Recent actions by the nation’s biggest communications corporations should be of grave concern to all who care about public participation in our democracy.”

Sen. Byron Dorgan just responded — calling on Congress to convene hearings to keep the Internet and cell phones free of gatekeepers. Tell your members of Congress to stand with Dorgan and stop cell phone censorship:

Tell Rep. Jim Matheson, Sen. Robert Bennett and Sen. Orrin Hatch
to Stop Cell Phone Censorship

There is an urgent need for Congress to take action now. We simply cannot trust phone companies to protect our most precious democratic freedoms.

Thank you,

Ben Scott
Policy Director
Free Press
www.freepress.net

1. Read the Washington Post op-ed at http://www.freepress.net/news/27062

2. See what people are saying about Verizon’s recent efforts to block text messaging at the Free Press Action Network.