http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-tech-spam-congress.htmlHouse Passes Anti - Internet Spam Bill
By REUTERS
Filed at 3:44 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Saturday for a bill to outlaw most Internet spam and create a ``do not spam'' registry for those who do not wish to receive unsolicited junk e-mail.<snip>
The Senate unanimously passed a similar anti-spam bill last month, but it must assent to the House changes before the measure can become law. The Senate is expected to do so in the coming days.<snip>
Lawmakers faced additional pressure to put a national law into place after California passed a tough anti-spam bill earlier this year. Online marketers say it would be difficult to comply with a patchwork of conflicting state laws. The House bill, which would override state anti-spam laws, would allow businesses to send unsolicited e-mail to Internet users until they are asked to stop, an approach that some anti-spam activists say would only lead to more spam.<snip>
It also would outlaw cell-phone spam, which is commonplace in Europe and Asia. Under the provision, subscribers to cell phone services would not receive text message spam unless they have provided express authorization.<snip>