Internet Freedom Protection Act (Introduced in the Senate)

S 1747 IS

                                         106th CONGRESS

                                            1st Session

                                             S. 1747

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to exclude certain
Internet communications from the definition of
expenditure.

                             IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                                        October 19, 1999

Mr. BENNETT (for himself, Mr. BURNS, and Mr. MCCONNELL) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration



                                             A BILL

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to exclude certain
Internet communications from the definition of
expenditure.

     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 `Internet Freedom Protection Act'.

SEC. 2. EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS FROM DEFINITION OF
EXPENDITURE.

     Section 301(9)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2
U.S.C. 431(9)(B)) is amended--

          (1) in clause (ix), by striking `and' at the end;

          (2) in clause (x), by striking the period at the end and
inserting `; and'; and

          (3) by adding at the end the following:

          `(xi) any communication or dissemination of material through
the Internet (including electronic mail, chat rooms,
          and message boards) by any individual, if such material--

               `(I) is not a paid advertisement;

               `(II) does not solicit funds for, or on behalf of, a
candidate or political committee;

               `(III) is disseminated for the purpose of communicating
or disseminating the opinion of such individual
               (including an endorsement) regarding a political issue
or candidate; and

               `(IV) is not communicated or disseminated by any
individual that receives payment or any other form of
               compensation for such communication or dissemination.'.