The online public wants the Federal Election Commission to keep its hands off the Internet rather than getting involved in regulating Internet campaigning. At the commission's request for comments, about 30 groups sent letters or faxes, and more than 1,200 people sent e-mail. About 99 percent of the e-mail messages opposed regulation, officials said. The advent of inexpensive Internet campaigning has created a conflict for the FEC, which seeks to encourage individuals to participate in politics online and needs to monitor campaign expenditures. The surge in online companies that offer college lecture notes shows no signs of slowing this semester.
Companies say student demand is fueling the growth.
Until recently, most note-taking companies were local operations that sold photocopied lecture notes, with the professor's approval, to students. Some faculty and administrators object to the online versions, where notes are free and faculty typically are not notified if their class is included. Revenue comes from ad sales, out of which companies pay a student enrolled in a course to upload their notes from the professor's lectures. Some companies are seeking permission from instructors, in exchange for fees or royalties. And that's why broadband in the home is more and more important.