It took days to Resolve Anti-Spam concerns that Halted a July 4th Weekend Test Run, costing Trump Millions of Dollars in Donations and raising GOP Fears about November. After Sending over 1 million Patriotic-Themed Messages, the Trump Campaign's Text Messaging Program was taken Offline by Anti-Spam Monitors. It raised Alarms about whether the Initiative will face Roadblocks in the Run-Up to the Election.
Trump Son-in-Law, Jared Kushner, a White House Senior Adviser who wields Vast Control over the President's Political Apparatus, quickly reached out to Verizon and T-Mobile Executives to Inquire about Initiating Communication between the campaign and the Companies in hopes of Fixing the Problem.
It took Five days to Resolve the Shutdown, leading Republicans to worry the same thing could happen this Fall as the President urges his Supporters to Vote, when the stakes will be much higher.
People familiar with the Chain of Events said Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, flagged Potential Regulatory Problems with the Peer-to-Peer Messaging Operation, which differs from Robo-Texting in that Texts are sent Individually, as Opposed to a Mass Blast. But it looked like it was Violating, by Not having an Opt-Out Options and needed an Acknowledgment to Send.
But within Trump’s orbit, the Episode has further Fueled Suspicions that Big Tech Companies are looking to Influence the Election. In recent weeks, the President has accused Twitter and Facebook of Censoring Conservative Voices and Son Donald Trump Jr. has Alleged that Gmail is sending Re-Election Campaign Emails to Spam Folders.
“They’re all working to get out the vote, so to see telecom come down and prevent any campaign or organization from getting out the vote is troubling." Tim Cameron, a Digital Strategist who has worked for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).
“A campaign’s email and text messaging list are some of the most important assets they have in 2020,” said Eric Wilson, a Republican Digital Strategist who worked on Marco Rubio’s 2016 Presidential Campaign, adding that it was “really very concerning to see that such a significant issue happened and to see that it wasn’t resolved in a timely manner.”
People Close to Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, said the Decision was Not made by them, but rather by Third-Party Administrators they Employ to Monitor Text Messaging and Protect Consumers from Spamming. They strenuously Denied that there was any Partisan Intent and say they were merely following Guidelines conveyed by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA), a Trade Group that represents Mobile Phone Companies.
The Organization said in a Statement, “We expect all senders — whether airlines, schools, banks or campaigns — to include clear opt-out language and gain prior consent before sending a text. These simple steps help protect consumers from spam and maintain text messaging as a trusted medium for everyone,”.
Democrats also use text messaging in their campaigns, but the digitally focused Trump reelection effort is particularly emphasizing it. It has spent the past few years harvesting cellphone numbers, including from attendees to the president’s trademark rallies. The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has ensured that voter outreach will be more digital — and text message-centered — than usual.
This month's Operation was intended as a Dry Run to determine whether the Texting Program would run into Problems, and to Avoid reprising Mitt Romney’s Election Day Experience in 2012, when his lightly Tested Voter Turnout Program Crashed as People headed to the Polls. Come Fall, the Trump Political Apparatus is looking to Send Tens of Millions of Messages to Supporters prodding them to Vote.
The Problem was eventually Ironed-Out after a Series of Conversations with the Wireless Companies and their Third-Party Administrators. But the Damage was already done. The Independence Day Message was Get-Out-the-Vote-Themed, but the Resulting Shutdown of the Campaign's Texting Infrastructure also hampered Donor Outreach.
The Trump Campaign has previously faced Pushback over its Text Messaging Tactics. Three Minnesotans have filed a Lawsuit alleging the Re-Election effort sent Text Messages without Receiving Consent. A Federal Judge, last month, Denied the Campaign’s Motion to Dismiss the Case. The Legal Wrangling centers on a 1991 Federal Law which aims to Shield Consumers from a Deluge of Unwanted Robocalls and Texts.
But Changing Technology has created Ambiguities around the Statute’s Requirements, and Businesses with an interest in reaching out to People via Text have called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide Greater Clarity. More recently, the FCC has Ruled that Peer-to-Peer Texting does Not Require Consent, as long as Texts are sent Individually and Not by Auto-Dial or Robo-Dial Phone Calls.
“Peer-to-peer texting has quickly become a critical tool for Republicans and Democrats. Both sides agree, it's going to lead to more Americans voting, a great thing for our country,” said Gary Coby, the Trump Campaign’s Digital Director. “There is bipartisan commitment to continue working with mobile carriers and the entire mobile messaging industry to ensure the channel remains open and secure.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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