The select task force will study technical, legal, and cost issues related to the transmission and receipt of commercial electronic messages over the Internet. The select task force will evaluate whether existing laws are sufficient to resolve technical, legal, or financial problems created by the increasing volume of commercial electronic mail messages. The select task force will also review efforts made by the federal government and other states to regulate the transmission of commercial electronic messages. The select task will prepare a report identifying policy options and recommendations for the House Energy and Utilities Committee by November 15, 1998. There is a need for reasonable restrictions on junk e-mail advertisements.
Some persons like to receive electronic advertisements.
Sending advertisements over the Internet is also much cheaper than mailing them through the postal system. These cheaper costs help small businesses to compete. Advertising through an electronic medium also saves paper. A problem with a ban on sending commercial electronic messages to Washington residents is the fact that e- mail addresses do not indicate residency, so it's difficult to avoid sending messages to Washington residents. Most abuses of electronic messages such as pyramiding schemes or the unauthorized use of an e-mail address are already illegal.