Anmerkung der Redaktion: Wir dokumentieren dieses amerikanische "Telekommunikationsgesetz" nicht nur aufgrund des Stellenwerts in der aktuellen Debatte um die Zensur des Internet, sondern vor allem deswegen, weil der Verstoss gegen amerikanische Gesetze auch von nicht-Amerikanern und auch ausserhalb der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika verfolgt werden kann; im Zweifellsfall können die USA also einen Auslieferungsantrag z.B. gegen deutsche Stellen, die gegen dieses Gesetz verstossen.

Sec. 507 of the Telecom Bill Ammends Section 1462 of title 18 of the U.S. Code (Chapter 71), in ways which may make sending the following over the Internet illegal:

o any text, graphic, or sound that is lewd, lascivious, or filthy

o any information telling about how to obtain or make abortions and drugs, or obtaining or making anything that is for indecent or immoral use

Here is Section 1462 as Ammended:

(Telecom bill chnages in "<" and ">"):

Section 1462. Importation or transportation of obscene matters

Whoever brings into the United States, or any place subject to the jurisdiction thereof, or knowingly uses any express company or other common carrier , for carriage in interstate or foreign commerce -

(a) any obscene, lewd, lascivious, or filthy book, pamphlet, picture, motion-picture film, paper, letter, writing, print, or other matter of indecent character; or

(b) any obscene, lewd, lascivious, or filthy phonograph recording, electrical transcription, or other article or thing capable of producing sound; or

(c) any drug, medicine, article, or thing designed, adapted, or intended for producing abortion, or for any indecent or immoral use; or any written or printed card, letter, circular, book, pamphlet, advertisement, or notice of any kind giving information, directly or indirectly, where, how, or of whom, or by what means any of such mentioned articles, matters, or things may be obtained or made; or Whoever knowingly takes , from such express company or other common carrier any matter or thing the carriage of which is herein made unlawful -

Shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, for the first such offense and shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both, for each such offense thereafter.

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Here is the text which addes the interactive computer service part in the Telecom Bill:

SEC. 507. CLARIFICATION OF CURRENT LAWS REGARDING COMMUNICATION OF OBSCENE MATERIALS THROUGH THE USE OF COMPUTERS.

(a) Importation or Transportation.--Section 1462 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--

(1) in the first undesignated paragraph, by inserting ``or interactive computer service (as defined in section 230(e)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934)'' after ``carrier''; and

(2) in the second undesignated paragraph--

(A) by inserting ``or receives,'' after ``takes'';

(B) by inserting ``or interactive computer service (as defined in section 230(e)(2) of the Communications Act of 1934)'' after ``common carrier''; and

(C) by inserting ``or importation'' after ``carriage''.

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Media Notes:

USAToday 02/01/96 - 07:37 PM ET http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/ncs16.htm

Telecommunications deregulation breaks down electronic walls

"At one point, the debate veered off on abortion.

Seeing a ''high-tech gag rule,'' Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., joined by Pat Schroeder, D-Colo., and several other women lawmakers, asserted the anti-pornography provisions would outlaw discussions about abortion over the Internet, the global computer network.

Rep Henry Hyde, R-Ill., a leading abortion foe, assured members that nothing in the bill suggested any restrictions on discussions about abortion."

Well, Henry Hyde was right - nothing in the bill suggests restrictions on abortion discussion - the restrictions are in Title 18 of the U.S. Code, which now includes computer networks.

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Thanks to the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute (http://www.law.cornell.edu/)and the Alliance for Competitive Communications (http://www.bell.com/) for source text.