S 1747 IS, Internet Freedom Protection Act.
Re: exempting certain individuals' political web sites from FEC regulation.
Sponsors: Bob Bennett (R-UT), Conrad Burns (R-MT), and Mitch McConnell (R-TN).
Date introduced: October 19, 1999.
Source: Library of Congress.

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

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.'.