Hello all, This may be "somewhat" off topic, but it is an important issue these days. For those of us who are citizens of the US, please contact your senators and representatives and ask them to support House Bill 1748. This bill would amend the law banning junk faxes to include spam email. The full text of the bill follows:
________________________________________________________________________ Netizens Protection Act of 1997 (Introduced in the House)
HR 1748 IH
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1748
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ban the transmission of unsolicited advertisements by electronic mail, and to require that sender identification information be included with electronic mail messages.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 22, 1997
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ban the transmission of unsolicited advertisements by electronic mail, and to require that sender identification information be included with electronic mail messages.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Netizens Protection Act of 1997'.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON TRANSMISSION OF UNSOLICITED ADVERTISEMENTS BY ELECTRONIC MAIL.
Section 227(b)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(b)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking `or' at the end of subparagraph (C);
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E);
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:
`(D) to use any computer or other electronic device to send an unsolicited advertisement to an electronic mail address of an individual with whom such person lacks a preexisting and ongoing business or personal relationship, unless such individual provides express invitation or permission; or'.
SEC. 3. ELECTRONIC MAIL SENDER IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION REQUIRED.
Section 227(d)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(d)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking `or' at the end of subparagraph (A);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting `; and'; and
(3) by inserting at the end the following new subparagraph:
`(C) to use a computer or other electronic device to send an unsolicited advertisement to an electronic mail address unless such person clearly provides, at the beginning of such unsolicited advertisement, the date and time the message is sent, the identity of the business, other entity, or individual sending the message, and the return electronic mail address of such business, other entity, or individual.'.
William Barnett-Lewis wlewis@mailbag.com