Text and Multimedia Messaging
Emerging Issues for Congress
Description:... The number of text messages in the U.S. has grown to over 48 billion messages every month. Additionally, text messages are no longer only sent as "point-to-point" communications between two mobile device users. More specifically, messages are also commonly sent from web-based applications within a web browser (e.g., from an Internet e-mailaddress) and from instant messaging clients like AIM or MSN. Text and multimedia messaging have raised issues for Congressional policymakers. Contents of this report: Introduction; Definitions: Short Message Service; Common Short Codes (CSCs); Issues for Congress: Distracted Driving Caused By Texting; SMS Spam; Inability of Consumers to Disable Text Messaging; Text Messaging Price Fixing; Carrier Blocking of Common Short Code Messages; Deceptive and Misleading Common Short Code Programs; Protecting Children from Inappropriate Content on Wireless Devices; "Sexting"; Mobile Cyberbullying; Privacy of Text Messages; Using SMS to Support Law Enforcement and Emergency Response; Congressional and Industry Response to SMS-Related Issues; Appendix: Text Blocking with Selected Major Carriers Information for Consumers. Figures. This is a print on demand report.
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