Skip to main content
HR 2214 108th Congress House Science, Technology, Communications 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

Reduction in Distribution of Spam Act of 2003

Introduced: May 22, 2003 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 8, 2003
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jul 1, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Jun 25, 2003
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
May 22, 2003
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.
May 22, 2003
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now July 8, 2003

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4