Ouch - FEC to redefine "Public Communications"

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

This has an ominous ring to it....

Drudge

FEC May Tighten Restrictions On Internet Political Activity
Mon Feb 14 2005 10:38:41 ET

The Federal Election Commission next month will begin looking at tightening restrictions on political activities on the Internet, ROLL CALL reports Monday.

The FEC is planning to examine the question of how Internet activities, when coordinated with candidates' campaigns, fit into the definition of 'public communications.

Specifically, the FEC is planning to examine the question of how Internet activities, when coordinated with candidates' campaigns, fit into the definition of "public communications." While coordinated communications are considered campaign contributions and therefore subject to strict contribution limits, current FEC regulations adopted in 2002 carve out an exemption for coordinated political communications that are transmitted over the Internet.

Developing...

[Harry Tuttle]

This sounds like an attempt to reign in services contributed to campaigns and 527's that are of dubious value. It's like if I had 10 servers and allowed a 527 to use my server space, but I only charged them a pittance. The 527 reports the pittance as the true value of the services contributed rather than the cost of powering the server, maintaining it, and depreciating it.

[Japher]

better start censoring the phrase "hit it"

[Dis]

sounds like facism to me.

the republicans are going to shut down those who do not agree with them.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

the FCC, like many govt functions, should be closed down.

and the only party whose going to do that is the libertarian party.

vote libertarian

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Its the Federal Election Commission not the FCC. But your point stands.

[Dis]

my bad, I thought it was the FCC. .

[Harry Tuttle]

Originally posted by Dissident
sounds like facism to me.

the republicans are going to shut down those who do not agree with them.

No, it sounds like the FEC and IRS are finally cracking down using the current laws in place.

[Japher]

Yeah, I thought it was the FCC too.. man, I must really hate the the FCC. As for the FEC, I got news from them that I cared about?

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Originally posted by Dissident
sounds like facism to me.

the republicans are going to shut down those who do not agree with them.

or the Dems who wanted to shut down 527's like Swift Boat Vets.

In any event the committee is made up of Equal parts Dems and Repubs.

In 1975, Congress created the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to administer and enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) - the statute that governs the financing of federal elections. The duties of the FEC, which is an independent regulatory agency, are to disclose campaign finance information, to enforce the provisions of the law such as the limits and prohibitions on contributions, and to oversee the public funding of Presidential elections.

The Commission is made up of six members, who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Each member serves a six-year term, and two seats are subject to appointment every two years. By law, no more than three Commissioners can be members of the same political party, and at least four votes are required for any official Commission action. This structure was created to encourage nonpartisan decisions. The Chairmanship of the Commission rotates among the members each year, with no member serving as Chairman more than once during his or her term.