A bill tightening government controls over unsolicited commercial e-mail (spam) cleared its first legislative hurdle late last week, winning the approval of the House telecommunications committee.
The measure (HR-3113), sponsored by Reps. Heather Wilson (R-NM), Gary Miller (R-CA), and Gene Green (D-TX), now goes to the panel’s parent, the House Commerce Committee for consideration.
Although the bill is expected to win the full committee’s overwhelming approval, Committee chairman Rep. Tom Bliley (R-VA) urged committee members to take a careful look at the bill and its potential effects on the Internet industry and electronic commerce to avoid unintended consequences in the future.
Key provisions of the measure would require senders of unsolicited commercial e-mail to include their correct address; identify their e-mails as “spam” while prohibiting them from harvesting e-mail addresses and making it illegal to continue sending spam to anyone asking not to receive any. Failure to comply would pave the way for civil and possible criminal actions to be taken against them.
Internet service providers would be required to protect their customers if they earn profits from allowing spam on their service. The measure would also permit ISPs to develop and enforce anti-spam policies and sue violators for $500 for each infraction.
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