FEC to Allow First Amendment Stand

Posted March 23rd, 2005 by AlphaPatriot and filed in Blogs etc.

I didn’t comment on the earlier blogosphere buzz about the FEC because I just didn’t believe it. Apparently, I was right:

Its “notice of proposed rulemaking,” as it is known, indicates that the FEC is focusing much of its attention on whether to apply federal contribution limits on online political advertising campaigns. It also indicates that the six-member panel has not decided to impose, but is leaning against imposing, restrictions on independent bloggers or bloggers who work for political campaigns.


“I think that we’re trying to use this document as some sort of broad hint that, at least at this stage, we don’t plan to regulate the vast majority of what individuals do [online] and the vast majority of what bloggers do,” said FEC Chairman Scott E. Thomas (D).


“It is designed to give people a pretty clear signal that the FEC never did have any intent to overregulate citizens who want to use Internet technology for communicating in the area of politics,” he added.

Update: Wizbang is “cautiously optimistic“.

2 Responses to “FEC to Allow First Amendment Stand”

  1. In the Agora says:

    FEC Draft Rule

    The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has now released its proposed changes to its rules regarding internet activity during a campaign and is seeking feedback from interested parties. ITA has received a copy of the text, but RedState.org offers is onli…

  2. Proposed FEC Rules

    Thanks to William Teach, I learned the Democracy Project has a draft of the proposed FEC definition of “public communication” (full text here) as it relates to bloggers and the Internet. It’s important to note that this is only a…