But Exon's bill ups the ante substantially. Exon's bill seems to be part of a nationwide trend creepingly criminalizes the Net. The Nebraska lawmaker has had more than a year to hone his message, playing the political hand of paranoia. He will likely take the same tack this year, now that telecommunications reform is being given top legislative priority in both the House and the Senate. Beyond being a full-scale attack on our cyber rights, the bill is unworkable on its face.
Every day brings an explosion of newly formed newsgroups, bulletin board topics, and mailing lists.
Under this bill, you don't have to use the word fuck to be held libel. This is a very different type of communications environment, and I think the proposal will raise a whole host of problems. You're damn right, Senator, but you haven't seen anything yet. As this article goes to press, there's still time to drive a stake through the heart of this bill. If, as expected, it gets added as an amendment to the telecom reform bill, enough pressure can be brought to bear so that its cancerous provisions get surgically removed.