“FEC Sets March 16 Vote on Internet Regulations”

Roll Call offers this breaking news report (paid subscription required). A snippet:

    FEC Chairman Michael Toner said he favors less restrictions when it comes to the Internet than more.
    “What the FEC does in this area will affect the online political activities of millions of Americans,” he said. “I also think the FEC should make very clear that the press exemption applies with full force to online activities including the activities of bloggers, who in this society are functioning in my view as press entities.”
    Fred Wertheimer, president of campaign finance watchdog group Democracy 21, said his group also believes bloggers should be able to express their views on the Internet free of the restraint of campaign finance laws.
    But, he said, candidates, parties, corporations and labor unions that are paying for Internet advertising should fall under campaign finance laws.

My own views on the topic are here, here and here.
Meanwhile, BNA reports (paid subscription required): “The Federal Election Commission deadlocked along party lines Feb. 23 in a key vote on a new regulation defining illegal solicitation of “soft money” by federal officials and candidates. FEC commissioners said they would continue working to try to resolve the impasse. Commission Chairman Michael Toner said the FEC would take up the solicitation rulemaking again at an open commission meeting set for March 9.”

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