My objection (well, not my ONLY objection) to spam and telemarketers is that I pay for their "free speech." Billboards, TV spots, etc., they pay for, so I am OK with those. But I pay for my phone and internet connection, so I should get to say how/who uses it.

BUT . . .

What if they did pay for it? In other words, if I want a free phone, I can have one -- except that telemarketers will call on it. They are paying for it, so OK.

Or, if I want free Internet service, then I accept all sponsors' spam.

Now, this is not at all about implementation -- I'm too dumb for that. But as a principle, I think it's workable. You could have free public phones -- but expect telemarketing breaks every 2 minutes, say.

Poof! No coin box to get stolen, need emptied, etc. No change to make and transport and count. No one standing there with an unusable phone 'cause they don't have correct change.

Free internet ISP could work along similar lines.

One advantage of this would be to help put the Communications industry on the side of the consumers -- they would help stamp out FREE spam and telemarketing; they would only want the spammers who pay them to get through.

No more trying to get us to believe they have some high-minded First Amendment ideas about telemarketer's free speech -- they can admit it's a pocket issue. They could still sell to telemarketers, but only for use on free phones.

Which is as it should be.

What do you think of this idea or comment?
(You can change your vote at any time)

I agree

No opinion

I disagree