Controlling unwanted communications to the home

Walter S. Baer

Expert InsightsPublished 1978

A greater volume of communication into the home increases concerns about offensive messages and unwanted solicitations. The paper presents legal, regulatory, and technical approaches to giving individuals more control over the communications they receive through the mails, over the telephone network, via broadcast television, and from cable TV. Technical means for allowing greater subscriber control are available, but they have generally received low priority in system design. Although receivers' rights to avoid unwanted communications may sometimes conflict with senders' rights to free speech, placing more choice and responsibility on the recipient seems consistent with the values of a free society.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1978
  • Pages: 23
  • Document Number: P-6107

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Baer, Walter S., Controlling unwanted communications to the home. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1978. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P6107.html.
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