Legal Information
New Member
Several bills have been proposed in the 107th Congress that deal with the Internet and high-technology. These new, proposed, preventative measures to deal with electronic abuses take place long after the Internet boom and bust and well behind the proactive and reactive actions of the international community. To date, only state measures have been effective to combat spam and bills to accomplish the same have yet to be agreed upon on a national level. The following bills were introduced into Congress:<br><ul>
<li><b>H.R. 237 - Consumer Internet Privacy Enhancement Act</b> - Law to provide consumers with some disclosure in information collection practices and a meaningful opportunity to opt-out of information sharing by online companies.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 556, Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act, H.R. 3215 Combating Illegal Gambling Reform and Modernization Act</b> - Laws prohibiting the use of certain banking instruments for online gambling, including regulation of credit cards in such a capacity.<br>
<li><b>S. 512 and H.R. 1410, Internet Tax Moratorium and Equity Act</b> - To protect the Internet from new and unfair taxation and encourage state and local governments to simplify the sales tax system as it applies to remote sellers. Specifically, the bill would extend the current moratorium on Internet access fees and multiple and discriminatory taxes by five years, ending December 31, 2005. In addition, under H.R. 1410 Congress would urge state and local governments to dramatically streamline and simplify the sales and use tax system as a condition of granting authority to collect sales taxes on remote transactions.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 718, Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail Act of 2001</b> - Regulation of unsolicited e-mail within which advertisers must not provide inaccurate or misleading headers or misinformation as to the source of the message. Jail time may be imposed. Includes warnings regarding material offensive to children.<br>
<li><b>S. 792 and H.R. 2246, Media Marketing Accountability Act of 2001</b> - Regulation of how media companies market their wares to children. Grants the FTC the power to bring misleading advertising claims against companies that market inappropriate content to children. Prevents companies from marketing adult-rated movies and other products directly to minors. Violators will be subject to cease and desist orders and penalties of up to $11,000 per day for each violation.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 2724, Music Online Competition Act</b> - Creation of a compulsory license for musical works online. The record industry is obviously not supportive of this bill.<br>
<li><b>S. 88 and H.R. 267, Broadband Internet Access Act</b> - Tax on Internet access to fund the increase of broadband access to rural areas.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 1765</b> - Increasing penalties for common carrier violations of the Communications Act of 1934.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 1697, Broadband Competition and Incentives Act of 2001</b> - Regulation of Bell-based companies (not AOL-Time Warner)</ul>
<li><b>H.R. 237 - Consumer Internet Privacy Enhancement Act</b> - Law to provide consumers with some disclosure in information collection practices and a meaningful opportunity to opt-out of information sharing by online companies.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 556, Unlawful Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act, H.R. 3215 Combating Illegal Gambling Reform and Modernization Act</b> - Laws prohibiting the use of certain banking instruments for online gambling, including regulation of credit cards in such a capacity.<br>
<li><b>S. 512 and H.R. 1410, Internet Tax Moratorium and Equity Act</b> - To protect the Internet from new and unfair taxation and encourage state and local governments to simplify the sales tax system as it applies to remote sellers. Specifically, the bill would extend the current moratorium on Internet access fees and multiple and discriminatory taxes by five years, ending December 31, 2005. In addition, under H.R. 1410 Congress would urge state and local governments to dramatically streamline and simplify the sales and use tax system as a condition of granting authority to collect sales taxes on remote transactions.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 718, Unsolicited Commercial Electronic Mail Act of 2001</b> - Regulation of unsolicited e-mail within which advertisers must not provide inaccurate or misleading headers or misinformation as to the source of the message. Jail time may be imposed. Includes warnings regarding material offensive to children.<br>
<li><b>S. 792 and H.R. 2246, Media Marketing Accountability Act of 2001</b> - Regulation of how media companies market their wares to children. Grants the FTC the power to bring misleading advertising claims against companies that market inappropriate content to children. Prevents companies from marketing adult-rated movies and other products directly to minors. Violators will be subject to cease and desist orders and penalties of up to $11,000 per day for each violation.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 2724, Music Online Competition Act</b> - Creation of a compulsory license for musical works online. The record industry is obviously not supportive of this bill.<br>
<li><b>S. 88 and H.R. 267, Broadband Internet Access Act</b> - Tax on Internet access to fund the increase of broadband access to rural areas.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 1765</b> - Increasing penalties for common carrier violations of the Communications Act of 1934.<br>
<li><b>H.R. 1697, Broadband Competition and Incentives Act of 2001</b> - Regulation of Bell-based companies (not AOL-Time Warner)</ul>
