Opinion: Can the Spam in cell txt msgs

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Ever feel the familiar buzz from the cellphone, only to look down and see a text message offering to sell you a share of a vacation home? Then the burn gets even hotter when you realize that YOU will pay for the unwanted intrusion when you get your monthly bill. Unlike the rest of the economy, cellphone spam is a growth industry, up 38% in 2007 from the year before.

Now two U.S. senators want to do something about it.

Sens. Olympia J. Snowe , a Maine Republican, and Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, have introduced a bill to strengthen the powers of the Federal Communications and Trade Commissions to curb the unloved messages. Called the m-SPAM Act of 2009, the measure would prohibit commercial text messages to wireless telephones listed on the Do Not Call Registry.

-- Michael Muskal

This item will be repeated every hour on the hour until you register here for instant Twitter alerts of all new Ticket items.