Internet Bill Could Hurt Democratic Underground

[Eric J in MN]

Congressman Tom Allen (D-Maine) is sponsoring a bill to regulate political websites, HR 4900.

The bill has a contradiction which shows why it should NOT be passed.

Section 4 requires political websites which cost over $10,000/year to be registered as "political committees."

Section 5 refers to a media exemption for online discussions of "stories and commentaries appearing in the media."

How is someone who runs a blog or a message-board which costs over $10,000 supposed to know if he has to register as a political committee?

If section 4 were struck from the bill, then I would probably support it.

But I oppose a bill which says that running a political website which costs over $10,000 sometimes mean you have to register with the federal government, and sometimes not. You'll find out in which category your website falls after you're led away in handcuffs.

All political websites should get the media exemption from campaign finance laws. All newspapers, radio stations, and TV channels already get the media exemption. Fox News doesn't have to register, and neither should the Daily Kos.

The owner of DU should be able to focus on providing us with service, and not on whether he has to register as a political committee.

Please contact your Congressperson against HR 4900.

Above from
http://www.speakspeak.org/speak-blog/2006/03/18/contradiction-in-internet-regulation-bill/