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SPAM Laws of 2001"

By: A.T.Rendon

Article Word Count: 779 words  [Comments (0)]
Total Views: 46 Views




For a law to take effect on the U.S. federal level, both the

House and the Senate must pass the bill and then the President

of the United States must sign the bill into law.



Last year we almost got a SPAM law on the books when House

legislators approved their version of the SPAM bill, H. R. 3113,

the "The Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail Act of 2000",

with a vote of 427-1.



However, it never came close to becoming law because the Senate

never even voted on it.



This year, there are already several attempts being made to

place SPAM under the law.



The most recognized is known as bill HR 95, which is a

re-introduction of H. R. 3113 from last year and is named: "To

protect individuals, families, and Internet service providers

from unsolicited and unwanted electronic mail." http:/

homas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:h.r.00095:



A SUMMARY AS OF: 1/3/2001--Introduced.



"Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail Act of 2001 - Amends the

Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for

intentionally initiating the transmission of any unsolicited

commercial electronic mail message (message) to a protected

computer in the United States with the knowledge that any domain

name or other initiator identifying information contained in or

accompanying such message is false or inaccurate.



Prohibits any person from sending such a message unless the

message contains a valid e-mail address, conspicuously

displayed, to which a recipient may send notice of a desire not

to receive further messages.



Makes it unlawful for a person to initiate the transmission of

such a message in violation of a policy regarding unsolicited

commercial e-mail messages that complies with specified

requirements, including requirements for notice and public

availability of such policy and for an opportunity for

subscribers to opt not receive such messages.



Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to notify violators

under this Act, to prohibit further initiation of such messages,

and to require the initiator to delete the names and e-mail

addresses of the recipients and providers from all mailing

lists.



Provides a right of action by a recipient or provider against

e-mail initiators who violate the above requirements. "



As bill HR 95 stands right now, it is not expected to pass vote

in the House for two reasons, even though the language of the

bill is exactly the same as that passed last year in a vote of

427-1:



First, because of the language that allows for a one-time email

to be sent so long as a valid return email address is provided

by the sender and the sender removes anyone the so requests to

be removed from that mailing list.



Although this is the same exact language that was included in

the bill that passed the House last year, many SPAM fanatics are

raising objections to its' inclusion in the bill this year.



Second, is the language in the last paragraph that would allow a

"right of action by a recipient or provider", the problem being

that the law would allow Internet Service Providers, ISP's, to

file for monetary damages against spammers to the tune of $500

per email sent or $50,000 per mailing incident.



Opponents argue that ISP's would be filing against anyone that

might be accused of SPAM, guilty or not, in hopes of reaping big

financial gains.



Considering how SPAM compalints are often handled these days

with innocent people having their services terminated or web

site shut down without even having allegations of SPAM

investigated, perhaps there is reason for such fears of abuse.



A search of both the Senate, http://www.senate.gov/ and the

House, http:/ homas.loc.gov/ found only the following under The

keyword "Spam":



Two other bills introduced in the House are:



1. Wireless Telephone Spam Protection Act - H.R.113 : http:/

homas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c107:1:. emp/~c107WLOF59::



2. Anti-Spamming Act of 2001 - H.R. 1017: This Act may be cited

as the `Anti-Spamming Act of 2001' http:/

homas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c107:2:. emp/~c107WLOF59::



Rep. Gene Green, from the 29th District in Texas and is the

sponsor of HR 95, so if you wish to make any suggestions or

comments on the proposed Spam Law, he can be reached by any of

the following:



HON. GENE GREEN 2335 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 (202)

225-1688 Fax: (202) 225-9903



HON. GENE GREEN 256 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E., Suite 29 Houston,

TX 77060 (281) 999-5879 Fax: (281) 999-5716



If you would like to send him an email, you may do so by

visiting his official web site at: http://www.house.gov/green/

and filling out the supplied form.

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