News Flash:
Anti-Spam Bill Update

A second bill to tighten the government’s controls over unsolicited commercial e-mail or spam, but with stiffer criminal penalties than the first, has been introduced in the House by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA).

Goodlatte’s Anti-Spamming Act of 2001 (HR-1017) would amend the Federal Criminal Code, to prohibit the sending of unsolicited commercial e-mails and subject violators to a year in jail, a flat $15,000 fine, or a fine of up to $10 per message, whichever is greater. Similar legislation, but with lighter penalties, was introduced a month ago by Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM).

Her bill, the Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail Act (H.R.718), would amend the Federal Communications Act of 1934 and subject violators to a fine of no more than $500 for each communication sent, plus no more than a year in jail.

Both measures would authorize the recipients of unsolicited commercial e-mails to sue violators for civil damages and reasonable legal fees and indemnify Internet Service Providers.