PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona House committee has passed a bill that would ban unsolicited spam-like text messages that seek to get a person to buy goods or services.
The bill sponsored by Rep. Eddie Farnsworth is aimed at companies that inundate multiple phone numbers with texts, many for adult services.
Technology committee chairman Rep. David Stevens of Sierra Vista says he recently got an unsolicited text along those lines. Stevens describes the ban as a form of the `do not call' list for regular phones. A violation would be a misdemeanor.
A lobbyist for cell phone carrier T-Mobile testified Thursday against the bill, saying it doesn't contain an exemption for companies who can show someone signed up for texts. He also says a federal ban comes into play later this year.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
