United American Technologies
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United American Technologies is an Oklahoma-based telephone service and Internet Service Provider which is popular with many conservative families across America. UAT has become the center of a controversy concerning its telemarketing techniques, which includes a concern about homosexuality being under criticism or attack and those who engage in such activities are deemed 'anti-gay' or 'homophobic', during a time when homosexual rights are generally respected by a large segment of the population, including some conservatives. Those who believe homosexuality is not a normal or acceptable sexual behavior or practice, which includes the opinion of many heterosexuals and even some homosexuals, may support companies like UAT, because they believe in their civil right to protest activities they disagree with. This may be seen as 'hate speech' as well as the right to free speech by some. Those who disagree with such companies choose not to support them and exercise their free speech rights to speak against them and their practices. UAT offers an alternative to the major phone companies, such as Sprint, AT&T, Cingular & Verizon (MCI) which support homosexual rights, also called 'gay rights', and the rights of homosexual partners in cohabitational monogamous relationships. Many conservatives who support UAT believe that homosexuality is forbidden by God and support that belief with the Bible, so they are happy to support a company which supports their belief. However any hate speech or unkind, unloving language or rhetoric should be strongly discouraged and is also considered 'forbidden by God' and supported by the Bible. Some of UAT's literature could appear to be inflammatory and offensive, but as a phone company they have a reliable record, discounted billing, and good customer support. One would prefer that they wrote their literature in more generous language than to brand all homosexual citizens as 'gays' or 'anti-family', but at this time their phone billing documents are efficient, but their literature is dramatic and excitable. The discounted billing is a big draw for many, as there is a financial incentive for customers who choose to mail their payments on time, rather than enjoying paperless (electronic) billing, or late payments. There is the usual monthly fee for service as well as a monthly fee for billing administration, taxes etc.
The telemarketing campaign, run by a nonprofit organization called "Faith, Family and Freedom" begins its pitch by asking the callee if they were opposed to same sex marriage. If the callee responds positively, they are then transferred to a United American Technologies representative who will explain to them how the more common telephone service providers, such as AT&T, MCI and Verizon are supporters of gay marriage and child pornography, and that United American Technologies is "the only carrier that is taking an active stand against same sex marriages and hardcore child pornography". Telemarketers may tell you they are the national campaign to restore morals and rights and ask you a question about sexual offenders. This can successfully draw a potential customer into taking their service. "Faith, Family and Freedom" is a 527 organization created by Lance Cargill, the Republican floor leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. A percentage of the profits from each caller who switched to UAT would be directed back to the 527 to pay for conservative political campaigns. Lance Cargill has claimed, in a private email:
"I have no connection with UAT."
UAT's telemarketing technique has come under considerable criticism and investigation, from such sources as the Wonkette blog and ABC News.
UAT used Christian same-sex opposition to try and persuade people to change their phone company from MCI to a Christian phone company. Comedian Eugene Mirman got contacted by UAT because he donated $50 to the presidential campaign of Alan Keyes in 2000 and was added to the conservative database. He recorded several phone calls with UAT [1], and in those phone conversations, you hear the representative try to convince people to stop using MCI by telling him that MCI actively supports:
- same-sex Marriage,
- pornography
- child pornography
According to The New York Sun approximately 2,000 people a month switch phone companies using this method.[2]
After a call users are prompted to press 1 if they oppose same sex marriage. After that a message will be played: "Please do not hang up ... This information will describe how the ACLU and gays are getting gay marriage in every state." The operator then enters the conversation.
According to UAT's website, it blocks "inappropriate web sites from being accessed" for all family members. It also offers:
- Filtered web browsing from pornography and other unsuitable content.
- Filtered email from pornography and other unsolicited marketing emails
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[edit] Automated calling
In some cases, the telemarketing campaign starts with an automated telephone call that delivers a prerecorded message in a woman's voice saying: "Hi. I'm the mother of three, and I don't support gay marriage. If you don't support gay marriage press one."
Other prerecorded messages take the angle of protecting your children from online predators:
"Did you know that over 80% of children, ages 10 to 17, will receive an unwanted sexual solicitation online? For more information on how to unite with the national campaign to stop child pornography, press 1 now, or contact us a 1-877-266-6277. Are you doing everything you can to protect the innocence of our children? Press 1 to act now."
"Does the thought of a child being the victim of child pornography anger you? If so, press one now. According to the US Department of Justice, one in five children ages ten to seventeen will receive an unwanted sexual solicitation online. For more information on how to unite with The National Campaign for Moral Values, press one now. Or contact us at 1-877-266-6277. Are you doing everything you can to protect the innocence of our children? Press one to act now."
The Caller ID for these telemarketing calls point back to United American Technologies (UAT). Recording messages is illegal for telemarketers. In addition, a recent report by a Fox affiliate (see link below) states:
"According to the Federal Trade Commission, it's illegal for a telemarketer to pose as a political or religious group. In spite of the complaints, the FTC has not taken any action against United American Technologies."
[edit] Recent UAT Caller ID numbers
UAT Telemarking has come from the following Caller ID numbers:
877-266-6277
You can call and ask to be removed from their list.
Also, you can call 800-394-2611 that is their Phone Services Division customer support.
Shows up as 866-266-6277 on caller ID.
[edit] More Recent UAT Calls Received in July of 2007
Caller ID “866-266-6277”. “Did you know that over eighty percent of children, ages ten to seventeen, will receive an unwanted sexual solicitation online? For more information on how to unite with The National Campaign to Stop Child Pornography, press one now, or contact us at 1-877-266-6277. Are you doing everything you can to protect the innocence of our children? Press one to act now.”
Caller ID “866-266-6277”. “Does the thought of a child being the victim of child pornography anger you? If so, press one now. According to the US Department of Justice, one in five children ages ten to seventeen will receive an unwanted sexual solicitation online. For more information on how to unite with The National Campaign for Moral Values, press one now. Or contact us at 1-877-266-6277. Are you doing everything you can to protect the innocence of our children? Press one to act now.”
I called 877-266-6277 several times and each time a representative tried to convince me to switch my long distance telephone service to United American Technology. At no time during any of the telephone conversations did any of the representatives ask me to donate money to The National Campaign to Stop Child Pornography, to The National Campaign for Moral Values, or to any other tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
These calls are in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) because they are telephone solicitations that are made by or on behalf of United American Technology and they are not made by or on behalf of any tax-exempt nonprofit organization.
In their July 2003 Report and Order, the FCC specifically addressed telephone solicitation calls that are made by or on behalf of a tax-exempt nonprofit organization (18 FCC Rcd 14014, 2003 WL 21517853). In paragraph 128 the FCC stated:
“…Consistent with section 227, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that conducts its own fundraising campaign or hires a professional fundraiser to do it, will not be subject to the restrictions on telephone solicitations. If, however, a for-profit organization is delivering its own commercial message as part of a telemarketing campaign (i.e., encouraging the purchase or rental of, or investment in, property, goods, or services), even if accompanied by a donation to a charitable organization or referral to a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, that call is not by or on behalf of a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Such calls, whether made by a live telemarketer or using a prerecorded message, would not be entitled to exempt treatment under the TCPA. We emphasize here, as we did in the 2002 Notice, that the statute and our rules clearly apply already to messages that are predominantly commercial in nature, and that we will not hesitate to consider enforcement action should the provider of an otherwise commercial message seek to immunize itself by simply inserting purportedly “non-commercial” content into that message…” (italics from the original)
[edit] The North Carolina Attorney General Sued United American Technology
In May of 2006 the North Carolina Attorney General filed suit against United American Technology Inc. aka United American Technologies dba The National Campaign to Stop Pornography Fund, and Tom Anderson (case number 06-CVS-7237). The complaint contains affidavits from a number of people who received calls from representatives of United American Technology. The recipients of the calls go into great detail about the prerecorded messages they received, and how the representatives they spoke with tried to get them to switch their long distance service to United American Technology. In December of 2006 the State of North Carolina and United American Technology entered into a Judgment by Consent and Permanent Injunction. The case files can be obtained from the North Carolina Attorney General's office (919-716-5529).
[edit] External links
- North Carolina Attorney General issues press release about court order they received to stop United American Technologies from using illegal robo calls. The Attorney General said the calls were supposed to be about a survey but were really a pitch to get consumers to change their long distance phone carrier to UAT.
- House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, which has oversight authority over the FTC.
- National Do Not Call Registry website, which is administered by the FTC and receives complaints for telemarketing violations at the federal level.
- United American Technologies website. This is the ISP operation, as distinct from the telephone operation which it references.
- One Nation Under God phone and Internet services plans, courtesy of a website registered through TuCows.com to PromiseVision Technology, Inc. The form clearly mentions UAT, which took over the business of PromiseVision.
- MP3s of UAT robocalls, courtesy of Ohio 2nd blog.
- Answers.com article on UAT, an older version of the Wikipedia article.
- Article from Wonkette.
- Article from The New York Sun.
- Report by Austin, TX Fox affiliate.
- Article by ABC News on the exploitation of wedge issues for profit, as exemplified by UAT.
- Blog entry by Good As You focusing on UAT's anti-gay hate speech.
- Jody Wheeler blog entry keying off G.A.Y., with more personal reactions to UAT practices.
- Blog entry by Mark Crispin Miller, citing the New York Sun article, with a follow-up discussion including personal experiences dealing with UAT practices.
- CA service provider info for UAT.
- UAT approval in CA
- Tariff filing in FL
- Revision of UAT tariff in FL.
- Application to operate in IL. Interesting for contact information, especially regarding the law firm representing UAT.
- Illinois Commerce Commission response to filing for operation in IL. Interesting in light of the information regarding UAT executives, the claims they make, and the waivers and variances they seek.
- Tariff filing in KY
- Registration as Intrastate Telecommunication Services Provider in MI
- UAT granted certificates of service authority by MO
- Tariff filing in OH
- Full contact records in regard to filing to operate in OH
- Docket entries for UAT approval process in SC.
- Glimpse of deliberation process leading to authorization for UAT operations in SD
- Authorization to resell long-distance service in TN
- Application process docket for transfer of Promisevision Technology, Inc. customer base to UAT in TN.
- Google cache version of TX commission identification of UAT, with contact numbers.
- letter notifying UAT president that UAT is authorized to operate in WA
- Tariff filing in WA
- Report form for operation in WI, complete with direct contact information for UAT CEO.
- UAT approval to operate in WV.
