House to Consider Freedom for the Internet

On March 9, 2006, the House Administration Committee unanimously reported out the Online Freedom of Speech Act (HR 1606) sponsored by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). This bill proposes to exempt communications over the Internet from the definition of "public communications" found in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended. The bill's sponsors expect the change to offer greater protection to political communications made over the Internet, especially by bloggers. The full House will likely consider the bill in the next few weeks.