Bill Overview
Title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the use of automated telephone equipment to send unsolicited text messages, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill expands and modifies prohibitions on the use of automatic telephone dialing systems to include automated text messages and other functionalities.
Sponsors: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Target Audience
Population: Mobile phone users worldwide
Estimated Size: 300000000
- The bill targets the issue of automated text messages, which impact anyone with a mobile phone capable of receiving text messages.
- Worldwide, there are approximately 8 billion mobile phone subscriptions according to recent statistics.
- Automated unsolicited messages, including texts, are a global issue affecting billions of people, potentially including every mobile phone user across the world.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a very widespread issue, affecting nearly every mobile phone user in the U.S.
- The impact of automated text messages varies among individuals, with some experiencing higher annoyance or even financial harm due to these messages.
- Some individuals might not notice tangible changes in their daily life even after the policy because of the overwhelming number of other messages they receive regularly or due to lack of awareness that such policy exists.
- For those receiving a high number of automated messages, this policy can significantly improve their communication experience, thereby enhancing their wellbeing.
- The budgetary constraints suggest a focus on high-impact areas or demographics that register the highest levels of complaints.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I get quite a few automated messages; some are spam, and it's annoying.
- I often have to sift through these to prioritize personal contacts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Austin, TX)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I use automated texts for my business; this might change how I communicate with customers.
- If it reduces spam, that's a good thing, but it might cost more to reach clients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired Nurse (Des Moines, IA)
Age: 67 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I get a lot of scam messages which are worrying.
- If this stops them, it would relieve my anxiety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Graphic Designer (New York, NY)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My personal line gets spammed too much; business line is under control.
- I hope this will make managing client messages easier.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I get annoyed by too many promotional messages while studying.
- Reducing them would help me focus better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 51 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Too many spam messages during work; it's a distraction.
- This bill might make my communication more efficient.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
IT Specialist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I block lots of spam each day; it clogs my notifications.
- Cleaning this up will be a major time saver.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Accountant (Chicago, IL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Financial scams are alarming; they need to be stopped.
- I hope this bill effectively targets those issues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Marketing Intern (Boston, MA)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Some marketing texts are interesting, but most aren't useful.
- A filter would help me focus on important communications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Construction Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 49 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I mostly ignore unknown texts, but they're still a hassle.
- Lessening them would be one less annoyance in my day.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $30000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $40000000)
Year 2: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $35000000)
Year 3: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $30000000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $25000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $20000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $10000000)
Key Considerations
- Effectiveness in reducing unsolicited messages and enforcement feasibility.
- Potential resistance or adaptation by marketers that could impose additional compliance hurdles.
- Balance between consumer protections and business marketing freedoms.