Peter Marshall <peterm@rwing.uucp> (05/18/91)
An article in the May issue of {INFOTEXT} notes:
With the 1992 presidential and congressional campaign season
approaching, the financial potential of 900 fund raising should strike
a responsive chord for candidates and the pay-per-call industry. 900
technology permits the solicitation of contributions from thousands of
people, particularly small contributors, more cheaply than traditional
forms of fund raising.
But, says the {INFOTEXT} article:
Despite this potential, several factors have hindered the development
of this segment of the industry. 900 service itself is still a novelty
and, until recently, many political candidates were unaware of its
fund-raising potential. Moreover, most ... LECs have refused to bill
and collect for such programs.
However, the article is entitled "Feds More Pragmatic About 900
Political Fund Raising," and explains that although "The pay-per-call
industry traditionally has been reluctant to enter this field because
of the regulatory uncertainties and burdens involved, recent Federal
Election Commission actions are helping to alleviate these concerns."
For example, according to the article, Call Interactive sought an
exemption from FEC separate account requirements several months ago,
whereas the FEC had previously ruled that to comply with campaign
record-keeping and reporting requirements, such programs couldn't be
offered "unless telephone companies could provide political campaigns
with the name and address associated with each 900 contribution."
Purportedly responding to the claim that LECs are "often unable" to do
so, the FEC indicated more recently the if 900 service bureaus
obtained this information, 900 political fundraising would be allowed:
The commission endorsed a suggestion that service bureaus be
permitted to use reverse directories and voice capture with
written transcripts of the recorded information. (Presumably,
these and other requirements would also apply to information
providers acting between political campaigns and IXCS.)
The article concludes by noting "it still may be too soon to
successfully use 900 technology for political fund raisers. Although
recent FEC 900 fundraising rulings offer promising developments,
related programs -- such as political polling -- may ultimately prove
more feasible for 1992 campaigns."
[Moderator's Note: I'll tell you who else is finding the use of 900
numbers quite lucrative: Our own Public Television station, WTTW
Channel 11 has had an annual fund raising campaign for many years.
They take a few days away from regular programming, usually in April
or May, and hawk for donations, giving away premiums to donors, etc.
A few months ago they started using a 900 number year 'round: dial it
and after a recorded message thanking you for your support of public
television, $10 is automatically billed to you by Illinois Bell. It
has been a smashing success, and they may eliminate the traditional
fund raising marathon in lieu of the 900 number full time. Both the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera are watching the results at
Channel 11 very closely, and will apparently start somehing similar
for themselves. PAT]K_MULLHOLAND@unhh.unh.edu (KATH MULLHOLAND) (05/20/91)
I can see it now ... innocent consumer dials 900-vote4me, slips a digit because the letters are printed so much smaller than the numbers and gets Patsy panting and gasping various fantasies. Do you suppose the candidate would get increased donations as a result? <:o Kath Mullholand UNH Durham, NH