Foxx takes the ‘Robo-Pledge’

By Scott Nicholson

U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC 5) backed up her push for legislation that would help limit automated political calls by becoming the first member of Congress to take a “Do Not Robo Call” pledge.

As part of the pledge, she agreed not to send automated calls to voters in her district who have registered their phone number with the National Political Do Not Contact (NPDNC) registry.

Foxx has spearheaded efforts to reduce unwanted calls and to help protect people’s privacy rights by giving them more control over the messages that come to their homes. Last year, she introduced H.R. 248, the Robo Calls Off Phones (Robo COP) Act, and the U.S. Senate recently conducted hearings on the practice.

“The public can’t stand it when the Congress makes one rule for constituents and another for politicians,” Foxx said in a statement.

Foxx signed a pledge developed by the Citizens for Civil Discourse, founded on the belief that automated calls were sullying people’s attitudes toward the political process. CCD created the National Political Do Not Contact registry as a step towards reducing unwanted political phone calls, particularly automated messages or “robo” calls.

Surveys suggest many people are unaware that political calls were exempted from the national Do Not Call registry that was established several years ago with the goal of reducing unwanted and unsolicited calls.

Shaun Dakin, founder and CEO of the NPDNC, praised Foxx for being the first to step forward and promise voters they would not receive unwanted calls if they signed up for the registry and thereby expressed their wish not to receive political calls.

“I started the registry to give voters back their sanity during election season,” said Dakin.

“Many voters consider their homes to be a sanctuary and consider calls, especially the automated ‘robo’ calls, from politicians and political groups to be invasive. It’s so invasive, in fact, that the experience alone can turn people off from the entire electoral process.”

People can sign up for the voluntary registry at www.stoppoliticalcalls.org.

http://www.mountaintimes.com/mtweekly/2008/0228/foxx.php3