United American Technologies
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United American Technologies is an Oklahoma-based telephone service and Internet Service Provider which has become the center of a controversy concerning its telemarketing techniques, which include anti-gay polemics.
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".
"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.
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
[edit] Automated calling
In most cases, the telemarketing campaign starts with an automated telephone call with a recorded 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," or another similar message.
The Caller ID for these telemarketing calls point back to United American Technologies (UAT).
[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.
