Legislating the Net

As Congress took up a spate of Net issues this week, lawmakers unanimously approved a major spending bill that includes the controversial CDA II, a Net filtering mandate for federally funded access at schools and libraries, and bans on forms of online gambling.

CDA II, Net gambling bill passed update Senators approve the first legislation restricting content on the Internet since portions of the CDA were ruled unconstitutional. New e-rate plan in store update In the wake of a political battle over funding for the so-called e-rate, federal lawmakers will propose a new plan to hook up schools and libraries to the Net. 2000 census to address Net use The chairs of the House Census subcommittee introduce legislation to add questions to the 2000 census about computers and Net access. CDA II added to Senate bill audio | update The Senate puts controversial amendments in legislation to also require most schools and libraries to filter Net access.