Reduction in Distribution of Spam Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-2214
Sponsor: Rep. Burr, Richard [R-NC-5]
Introduced: 2003-05-22 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Advertising
Civil actions and liability
Class actions (Civil procedure)
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Consumer complaints
Consumer education
Consumer protection
Crime and Law Enforcement
Damages
Deceptive advertising
Direct mail advertising
District courts
Electronic commerce
Electronic mail systems
Evidence (Law)
Facsimile transmission
Federal Trade Commission
Federal preemption
Fines (Penalties)
Fraud
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Grievance procedures
Independent regulatory commissions
Injunctions
Internet
Jurisdiction
Law
Legal fees
Parties to actions
Pornography
Punitive damages
Recidivists
Restrictive trade practices
Sentences (Criminal procedure)
Sentencing guidelines
Telecommunication industry
Telemarketing
Warning labels
Web sites

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: 
Reduction in Distribution of Spam Act of 2003 - Prohibits a person from initiating in interstate commerce the transmission of any unsolicited commercial electronic (UCE) mail message unless the message contains: (1) identification as an advertisement or solicitation; (2) notice of an opt-out opportunity, along with a mechanism for doing so; and (3) a valid physical street address of the vendor. Prohibits the transmission of UCE mail: (1) after valid objection; (2) with fraudulent header information; and (3) from illegally harvested email addresses.
 
Provides a right of enforcement action for: (1) providers of Internet access service; (2) States on behalf of any of their residents; and (3) the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
 
Amends the Federal Criminal code to provide criminal penalties for: (1) falsifying the identify of an UCE mail sender; (2) failing to place warning labels on UCE mail containing sexually oriented material; (3) bulk email violations and repeat offenses; and (4) illegal harvesting of email addresses. Provides for enforcement of such penalties through actions by Internet service providers, the Attorney General, and State attorneys general.
 
Requires the FTC to issue regulations to implement this Act. Requires the FTC and the Federal Communications Commission to report to Congress: (1) regarding the need to protect the rights of users of email to avoid receiving unwanted commercial email; and (2) a detailed analysis of the effectiveness and enforcement of the provisions of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-07-08
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-07-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2003-06-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-05-22
text: Introduced in House