NorthwestJuly 19, 2000

Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Legislation passed by the House Tuesday would make it easier for consumers to keep unsolicited junk e-mail off their computers.

The legislation, which passed 427-1, also gives Internet service providers, or ISPs, new legal weapons to combat junk e-mail, or "spam" messages, that clog their networks. The single no vote was cast by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.

"The most annoying thing about the Internet is junk e-mail," said Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., sponsor of the bill. In addition to deluging consumers with often false or pornographic messages, she said it costs ISPs an estimated $1 billion a year to cope with the added traffic of millions of spam messages.

"It's a tool that can now be used to filter and stop unwanted intrusions into our homes and offices," Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas, said of the legislation.

The bill requires those sending unsolicited commercial electronic (UCE) mail messages to provide a valid return electronic mail address so recipients can serve notice that they want to be taken off the mailing list.

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The Federal Trade Commission is given the authority to bring action against spam senders who violate the provisions of the legislation. ISPs can also sue spammers in federal court for $500 per message, up to $50,000, if a spammer willfully breaks anti-spamming law.

The Senate has not yet voted on the measure.

Rich D'Amato, a spokesman for America Online, the nation's largest Internet provider, said AOL appreciates the way the bill focuses on enforcement of spamming rules.

"We've tried to eliminate it as a nuisance to our members," he said, noting that the company had sued more than 40 junk e-mail companies and individuals over the past three years.

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