Media Advisory
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Contact: Danielle Yates
dyates@netcaucus.org
202.638.4370
Congressional Internet Caucus Panel To Look at FEC Regulation of
Bloggers and the Internet
How Will Proposed Rules Affect
Online Campaigning?
What: The Advisory Committee to the Congressional Internet Caucus (ICAC), in conjunction with the Caucus and its Co-Chairs, will host an afternoon panel discussion to look at the Federal Election Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
and its implications for political campaigning on the Internet. The event, titled McCain-Feingold in Cyberspace: How Much Should Bloggers and the Internet be Regulated?,
will be held Thursday, March 31 at 3 PM in the Capitol Building. The FEC's NPRM, released March 23, discussed extending the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold law) of 2002 to regulate political communications on the Internet. A federal judge overturned the blanket exemptions previously determined by the FEC, thus forcing the commission, even as it appeals the ruling, to determine whether and how Weblogs (blogs
), paid advertising, and other speech on the Internet should be regulated under the campaign finance laws. The ICAC will assemble a fair and balanced panel to look at the implications of the FEC's proposed rules and discuss how campaign finance laws should view online campaigning.
Who: The Internet Caucus will introduce an hour-long panel debate, geared to appeal to Congressional staff, followed by an audience question and answer session. The panel will be moderated by Mike Cornfield, Pew Internet & American Life Project, and will feature: Chairman Scott Thomas, FEC; Mike Krempasky, Internet blogger for redstate.org; and John Morris, Center for Democracy & Technology.
When: Thursday, March 31 from 3 -- 4:30 p.m. Snacks and refreshments will be served.
Where: Room HC-5 of the U.S. Capitol Building.
RSVP: RSVPs are appreciated for this event. Please RSVP via e-mail to rsvp@netcaucus.org or via phone at 202.638.4370.
Press Welcome.
The Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee is a diverse group of public interest, non-profit and industry groups working to educate Congress and the public about important Internet-related policy issues. This event is hosted in conjunction with the Internet Caucus and its co-chairs -- Senators Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Congressmen Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Rick Boucher (D-VA), and Wireless Task Force Chair, Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA).