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Political RoboCalls Briefly Cripple Comcast VoIP
Company struggles with load in NH, MA
As users in our forums note, Comcast's digital voice service ran into a few problems in the Northeast on Monday. According to Boston ABC affiliate WCVBTV 5, portions of Comcast's VoIP network in Massachusetts and New Hampshire buckled under the weight of political robo-calls, which have ramped up ahead of the elections. "As soon as we were made aware of the congestion this was causing, we began to re-route traffic around it," says the company in a statement. "At the same time, we are working hard to identify the carrier that owns the originating telephone numbers generating these unusual traffic volumes in an attempt to address the situation."
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FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

"Do not Call" should apply to political calls too

"Do not Call" should apply to political calls too. Because they are just a much spam as the calls pushing for desert property in Nevada.

Over the weekend, I must have gotten a dozen of these calls.

tschmidt
MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH

tschmidt

MVM

Re: "Do not Call" should apply to political calls too

I don't mind live calls too much but I hang up on robo calls. They have been getting excessive, multiple calls per day lately.

I'm conflicted about applying the do not call list to political calls.

/tom

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102 to FFH5

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to FFH5
I agree - I had at least a dozen 'political' calls yesterday alone.

newview
Ex .. Ex .. Exactly
Premium Member
join:2001-10-01
Parsonsburg, MD

newview to FFH5

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to FFH5
said by FFH5:

"Do not Call" should apply to political calls too.
I totally agree. These robocalls, the people that create them, and the technology behind it are getting more and more intrusive every election. They call repeatedly and have become the very definition of harassment. I realize they are exempt from the Do Not Call list, which was the stupidest exception to the law I've ever heard of, but I file a complaint about every call, every time anyway.

»complaints.donotcall.gov ··· ?panel=2
rahvin112
join:2002-05-24
Sandy, UT

rahvin112

Member

Re: "Do not Call" should apply to political calls too

What do you think they did with all those robo-call machines with the DNC list banned them?

Expect it to get MUCH worse as each machine owner competes at lower and lower prices driving the calls into smaller and smaller elections. Pretty soon you will be getting robo-calls from your local city mayor. It'd imagine that at the growth rate we see on them every election it will completely saturate the entire telephone grid (not just comcast in a couple markets, but nationwide on every phone provider) 2 weeks before an election.
Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
Aptos, CA

Ulmo to newview

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to newview
I've never had a robocall from politicians, and I'm registered. I don't know if I put my # in the registration, though (likely not).
The Antihero
join:2002-04-09
Enola, PA

The Antihero to FFH5

Member

to FFH5
said by ThrowDemsOut :

"Do not Call" should apply to political calls too.
For once, I agree with you. Even worse is that lately, they've been showing up under spoofed numbers. At least the ones that come up as "political call", I can just pick up the phone and hang up on them before they have a chance to even talk.

Smith6612
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join:2008-02-01
North Tonawanda, NY
·Charter
Ubee EU2251
Ubiquiti UAP-IW-HD
Ubiquiti UniFi AP-AC-HD

1 edit

Smith6612 to FFH5

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I get roughly three calls a day so it seems. I love listening to them though. Verizon, Frontier and Time Warner don't seem to be having any problems with the large volume of calls hitting the area, though I'm sure something is getting overloaded (maybe at the calling center, as it sounds like they're using VoIP) as the audio breaks up just a little bit only for those political calls on both my Frontier and Verizon line.

kdwycha
join:2003-01-30
Ruskin, FL

kdwycha

Member

I really wish....

...they would just outlaw these political commercials and robocalls. Just let the candidates do public debates and newspaper interviews. Would surely cut down on the millions of wasted money anyway. I can't wait until today is over and the TV commercials and calls stop!

jack b
Gone Fishing
MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod

jack b

MVM

Re: I really wish....

said by kdwycha:

...they would just outlaw these political commercials and robocalls. I can't wait until today is over and the TV commercials and calls stop!
Amen! Gimme back all my leaky crotch, limp body part remedy commercials!

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

1 edit

ArrayList to kdwycha

Premium Member

to kdwycha
said by kdwycha:

...they would just outlaw these political commercials and robocalls. Just let the candidates do public debates and newspaper interviews. Would surely cut down on the mbillions of wasted money anyway. I can't wait until today is over and the TV commercials and calls stop!
fixed it for ya.

this election cycle is looking at around 4-6 billion $ spent on all the campaigns. the next presidential election is looking at over $10billion.

ScottMo
Once in a Lifetime
MVM
join:2000-12-15
New York, NY

ScottMo

MVM

Re: I really wish....

Where's you get $4-6 billion?

The Center for Responsive Politics is estimating just under $4 billion, maybe getting to around $4 billion.

»www.opensecrets.org/

Americans spent twice as much at Starbucks last year. Surely democracy is worth twice as much as coffee. I don't see people standing in front of tanks for hot coffee or a mochacino

ArrayList
DevOps
Premium Member
join:2005-03-19
Mullica Hill, NJ

1 edit

ArrayList

Premium Member

Re: I really wish....

said by ScottMo:

Where's you get $4-6 billion?

The Center for Responsive Politics is estimating just under $4 billion, maybe getting to around $4 billion.

»www.opensecrets.org/

Americans spent twice as much at Starbucks last year. Surely democracy is worth twice as much as coffee. I don't see people standing in front of tanks for hot coffee or a mochacino
i beg to differ my friend. campaigning is evil. lots of money for nothing. the man at the end of the election is the same that started it.
joebear29
totesmcgoats
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

joebear29 to kdwycha

Member

to kdwycha
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

cdru
Go Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

cdru

MVM

Re: I really wish....

said by joebear29:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
You have freedom of speech, not freedom to require people to listen. If people have explicitly opted out, as the DNC, they are not limiting speech. You can still give whatever political message you want, people just won't be interrupted by it.
joebear29
totesmcgoats
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

joebear29

Member

Re: I really wish....

said by cdru See ProfileYou have freedom of speech, not freedom to require people to listen. If people have explicitly opted out, as the DNC, they are not limiting speech. You can still give whatever political message you want, people just won't be interrupted by it.
The original caller said ban the speech (robocalls and commercials).

"they would just outlaw these political commercials and robocalls."

I agree with opt out. I wish you had bothered to read what I was replying to before posting an attack on a position I did not take.

NormanS
I gave her time to steal my mind away
MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
TP-Link TD-8616
Asus RT-AC66U B1
Netgear FR114P

NormanS to joebear29

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to joebear29
said by joebear29:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
I agree with cdru See Profile on this one. The DNCR is an "opt out" list. It does not prohibit "freedom of speech", it only allows potential hearers of the "free speech" to opt out from having to hear it. Since the caller is free to call numbers not on the list, "freedom of speech" is not abridged.
joebear29
totesmcgoats
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

joebear29

Member

Re: I really wish....

said by NormanS See ProfileI agree with cdru See Profile on this one. The DNCR is an "opt out" list. It does not prohibit "freedom of speech", it only allows potential hearers of the "free speech" to opt out from having to hear it. Since the caller is free to call numbers not on the list, "freedom of speech" is not abridged.
See my reply to the original. You are attacking a position I did not take.

NormanS
I gave her time to steal my mind away
MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA
TP-Link TD-8616
Asus RT-AC66U B1
Netgear FR114P

NormanS

MVM

Re: I really wish....

said by joebear29:

See my reply to the original. You are attacking a position I did not take.
I can't see that you even "took a position". Only that you quoted the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in response to a rant about political robocalls. In the context of the OP, I inferred a defense of same. If you intended something other than what I inferred, you should have added something to your quote.
joebear29
totesmcgoats
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

joebear29

Member

Re: I really wish....

said by NormanS:

I can't see that you even "took a position". Only that you quoted the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in response to a rant about political robocalls. In the context of the OP, I inferred a defense of same. If you intended something other than what I inferred, you should have added something to your quote.
In that case I apologize for the lack of clarity in my original post.

My original post was in direct response to "just outlaw these political commercials and robocalls". I was quoting the Constitution as to why we can't do that.

If I didn't take a position, according to you, then was did you prescribe me one of favoring not allowing opt-out of political calls?

NormanS
I gave her time to steal my mind away
MVM
join:2001-02-14
San Jose, CA

NormanS

MVM

Re: I really wish....

I just took a position of agreement with the opt-out position. Nothing more, nothing less. Political calls are currently exempt from the "Do Not Call List". Why?

thedragonmas
Premium Member
join:2007-12-28
Albany, GA
Netgear R6300 v2
ARRIS SB6180

thedragonmas to joebear29

Premium Member

to joebear29
said by joebear29:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
if your gonna pull that, keep it in mind the next time some one knocks on your door preachin about god. dont you DARE close the door, you MUST listen to them.

sorry bud, dont work that way. every one has the right to free speach, and every one also has the right to not hear any speach they do not desire to hear.
joebear29
totesmcgoats
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

joebear29

Member

Re: I really wish....

said by thedragonmas:

if your gonna pull that, keep it in mind the next time some one knocks on your door preachin about god. dont you DARE close the door, you MUST listen to them.

sorry bud, dont work that way. every one has the right to free speach, and every one also has the right to not hear any speach they do not desire to hear.
What does me slamming the door on preachers have to do with saying political commercials cannot be banned under the Constitution? Please read the post I was replying to and see if your sarcastic reply still makes sense.

And what the hell is "speach"?

thedragonmas
Premium Member
join:2007-12-28
Albany, GA
Netgear R6300 v2
ARRIS SB6180

thedragonmas

Premium Member

Re: I really wish....

said by joebear29:

said by thedragonmas:

if your gonna pull that, keep it in mind the next time some one knocks on your door preachin about god. dont you DARE close the door, you MUST listen to them.

sorry bud, dont work that way. every one has the right to free speach, and every one also has the right to not hear any speach they do not desire to hear.
What does me slamming the door on preachers have to do with saying political commercials cannot be banned under the Constitution? Please read the post I was replying to and see if your sarcastic reply still makes sense.

And what the hell is "speach"?
as mentioned you did not clarify. by posting just the quote it was generalized and applys to every situation of speech.

secondly dont critisize peoples spelling, its very imature

aside. "ban" was probably a poor choise of wording here. i would be perfectly fine with an opt-out system, infact it would be great if the do not call list, paid the fines directly to the people affected
joebear29
totesmcgoats
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

joebear29

Member

Re: I really wish....

said by thedragonmas:

as mentioned you did not clarify. by posting just the quote it was generalized and applys to every situation of speech.

secondly dont critisize peoples spelling, its very imature

aside. "ban" was probably a poor choise of wording here. i would be perfectly fine with an opt-out system, infact it would be great if the do not call list, paid the fines directly to the people affected
I thought it was obvious I was disagreeing with the "ban" and reading the original post, I still dont understand what else I could possibly be referring to, but thats neither here nor there.

Just to be clear – Government banning speech = unconstitutional. Private citizen avoiding, opting out or ignoring speech = his/her own business.

So next time someone says the government should ban speech and I post the first amendment, please assume I am applying it to the government ban of speech, and not private citizen ignoring or avoiding speech (especially when the original poster said nothing about that).
cornelius785
join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

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I don't really agree on completely outlawing TV commercial (an easy way to reach lazy, in term of researching candidates, voters), but everything else I agree. I really don't like how some candidates will throw $40+ million into a campaign, getting calls, WEB ADS, and all the attack ads that go on as 'oooo did you hear what my opponent has done? well... let ME tell you....' .

I am amazed that individually, some candidate have no problem spending millions on a campaign, and collectively billions, yet there are some that would be kicking and screaming if that money went to the government. Now imagine so of the real problems that could be solved if all that money went to something more worthwhile like: companies to hire employees, charities, schools, town/state/nation infrastructure (communication lines, roads, bridges, gas lines, water lines, nuclear power generation, etc.), and so on. I know all the money spent on political campaigns wouldn't make a dent/scratch in some things, but I think it would have a better impact on the nation than some campaign.
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88

Member

Re: I really wish....

The only thing that enables such elections is corporate donations. This stuff didn't happen before corporations bought all the politicians.
severach
join:2002-09-12
Jackson, MI

severach

Member

Re: I really wish....

You mean this corporation, right?

Murray Hill Inc. for Congress

Jonee5
@verizon.net

Jonee5

Anon

Pols-Robocalls

Just more Audio SPAM, exempt, of course from DNC (Do not Call) lists.

JohnInSJ
Premium Member
join:2003-09-22
Aptos, CA

1 recommendation

JohnInSJ

Premium Member

Highest Bidder

With all the billions spent on advertising, could we not just offer our votes for sale on ebay? It costs on average $40 for a house seat, $60 for a senate seat, and $50 for a Governor seat.

You can buy all three of my votes for a discount price of $145. Meg will even get a little cut.

At least then I will get a nice dinner out, and be spared all the annoying screaming ads and whatnot.

American Democracy: it's just as ugly here as it is overseas.

Camelot One
MVM
join:2001-11-21
Bloomington, IN

Camelot One

MVM

Re: Highest Bidder

If you have sex for free, it's legal. If you have sex for money, its a crime.
If you vote for free, it's legal. If you get paid for it, it's a crime.
If a politician does something to help you for money, it's normal. If a politician does something to help you for free.....well thats just unheard of.

That is the American Lunacy at work.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5 to JohnInSJ

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to JohnInSJ
said by JohnInSJ:

With all the billions spent on advertising, could we not just offer our votes for sale on ebay?
Not a new idea. The U.S. ha a long history of vote buying:
»www.powells.com/cgi-bin/ ··· 86718436
But even as late as 1987, according to Barrett, the price of a vote in a Kentucky race could reach $200.
WhatNow
Premium Member
join:2009-05-06
Charlotte, NC

1 recommendation

WhatNow

Premium Member

Rich people buy election

The crowd that paid for most of the nasty educational ads are the same group that make hundreds of millions of dollars but pay a less of a percentage in tax then the average Joe.

Grover Norgquist bothered me 3 times in the last 2 days. Funny how they can find an unpublished number on their robo dialers. Maybe I could sue them for mental distress.

••••••••••
brianiscool
join:2000-08-16
Tampa, FL

brianiscool

Member

Comcast VOIP what a joke.

I would not recommend Comcast VOIP. If your going to die I wish you luck finding you on time. Can you imagine being in a natural disaster for a month. Do you think that Comcast VOIP will save you? Doubtful!

LeftOfSanity
People Suck.
join:2005-11-06
Dover, DE

LeftOfSanity

Member

Re: Comcast VOIP what a joke.

said by brianiscool:

I would not recommend Comcast VOIP. If your going to die I wish you luck finding you on time. Can you imagine being in a natural disaster for a month. Do you think that Comcast VOIP will save you? Doubtful!
Can you elaborate on that? Surely you dont mean that story about the old lady who bled to death becasue she called the operator instead of 911 right?
fiberguy2
My views are my own.
Premium Member
join:2005-05-20

fiberguy2 to brianiscool

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to brianiscool
said by brianiscool:

I would not recommend Comcast VOIP. If your going to die I wish you luck finding you on time. Can you imagine being in a natural disaster for a month. Do you think that Comcast VOIP will save you? Doubtful!
Ummm.. this would happen on any phone network, not just "Comcast VoIP"... understanding and education is the key to survival. I'm sorry to say but you're sensationalizing the fact that a elderly lady called 0 instead of 911 and then believe that Comcast is a "joke" (based on the context of this story being comcast cracked under a flood of calls) while other phone companies wouldn't have the same issue.

Phone companies do not run 1 to 1 lines.. ie: not every customer can be on the phone at the same time believe it or not. I don't know the numbers today, but the amount of subscribers that can actually use their phones at the same time isn't as big percentage wise as many may think.

Laws should and do need to be put in place to stop this kind of activity, however, a politician will not do anything to jeopardize their own future ability to annoy the public in order to get their message out of what they promise to do.. when we all know that their promise ends the day after election day.

Rocco
@comcast.net

Rocco

Anon

Not just Comcast

For a time yesterday afternoon nothing worked for me, landlines, Comcast VOIP, and Verizon cell phones. For all the good they do we should just bypass the elections and let the fat cats just buy the seats for their favorites and give the money wasted on campaigns directly to the voters
Kearnstd
Space Elf
Premium Member
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ

Kearnstd

Premium Member

Hopefully comcast Sues someone

if the inbound volume from RoboCall-o-Matics knocked their system offline that means the people running the Robocall system are just as guilty as a bunch of hackers doing a DDoS attack on a computer network since the robocall volume did the same exact thing.

However Goodluck Comcast on finding out who sent the calls, every single political call I have gotten has no number on the CallerID or its not a real TN, Really how is it legal for them to generate phony CID info just so their spam cant be traced back.
viperlmw
Premium Member
join:2005-01-25

viperlmw

Premium Member

The only true voice switch...

Is a class 5 switch. When they get overwhelmed, they don't crash; you just get a busy or fast busy (re-order) tone until a facility is free. But they cost money, especially with less competition (we miss you Nortel).

•••••

Camaro
Question everything
Premium Member
join:2008-04-05
Westfield, MA

1 edit

Camaro

Premium Member

Happens every time

I average about 4 a day for the last 2 weeks,seems in Ma when you register as unenrolled they bug you more,but i am still going to cast my measly vote in a few hours,there are some good questions up for vote that i can't wait to see the outcome.

Ytsejamer1
join:2008-01-18
Somersworth, NH

Ytsejamer1

Member

had to reboot my modem today because of it...

I got a call today at home from an unknown number. I picked up and of course there was just silence on the other end. If I don't hear anything after saying hello, I hang up. The phone kept ringing for about five minutes. My answering machine picked up twice and there was just the sound of something disconnecting. After that stopped, I couldn't get a dial tone. After rebooting the modem, all came back normally...but it pissed me off. Wonder if Comcast was doing something at the time or if it was a faulty robocall causing the issue.

pokesph
It Is Almost Fast
Premium Member
join:2001-06-25
Sacramento, CA

pokesph

Premium Member

evil robo-calls

We have 4 lines here and we've been getting 6 - 10 calls per day per line.. Its insane.
I agree that the do not call list should be expanded to include political and non-profits as well.. (perhaps selectable when you sign up)

Luckily our Comcast DV line (fax) only got a few, didn't crash, and well they had to listen to the lovely fax sync tones..

jgkolt
Premium Member
join:2004-02-21
Avon, OH

jgkolt

Premium Member

no class

Nothing like going to work, getting called repeatedly on the cell phone from an automated person slinging mud at another candidate. I find that very rude and not very classy.
mgamer20o0
join:2003-12-01
Norwalk, CA

mgamer20o0

Member

reroute calls

can we pay to reroute the calls away from our home phones?

ads on tv ads on the net radio print what ever which choose to see that. we look at it but with the phones they are reaching out to us. the only options is take the phone off the hook or maybe miss a important phone call. i wish they would at least make spoofing the number illegal.

heat84
DSLR Influencer
join:2004-03-11
Delray Beach, FL

heat84

Member

6 in one hour

I once got about 6 in an hour including 2 at the same time. Robocalls can do call waiting.
hsdguy
join:2001-06-17
Holbrook, MA

hsdguy

Member

Really?????

I'm sitting here reading all your post and all you can complain about is how the Comcast phone network went down for 6-8 hours and your complaining about the politicians? I have a very sick relative in N.H. and I could not get a hold of her or her neighbor because she too was on Comcast. What would happen if there were an real emergency and all New England comcast customers tried to call for help? I am so sorry I left Verizon at least I know they could handle a flood of calls. Shame on me for trying to save a buck. once my Comcast contract it up I'm going back and I'll make sure all my relatives do the same.

mikedz4
join:2003-04-14
Weirton, WV

mikedz4

Member

email?

Wonder what happens when they start emailing everyone in 2012 probably? At least email you can read quickly and delete. I'd actually rather them email me than call me. Same with telemarketers and bill collectors.

Adam12457896
@comcast.net

Adam12457896

Anon

comcast

im sick of comcrap they keep caping speeds i pay 200 a mounth for 20.00 mbps bull my speed use to be at 35.00 mbps before this xfinity crap cam out WTF is going on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!