Public Hearing on Internet Communications

The FEC has been holding hearings to try to sort through how to regulate the Internet in regards to campaign finance rules.

So far, blogs have been the main topic, but as blogger Kos pointed out, looking at blogs only narrowly addresses the problem. New technologies on the horizon can and may have the same impact in future campaigns as blogs did in the past election cycle.

One proposed idea is that bloggers should be given a press exemption. Carol Darr of the Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet points out that such an exemption could open an unforeseen flood gate. Corporations and unions could spend endless amounts of money to exert political influence by just simply calling their activities a blog and proceed without regulations. It would take away the voice of the little people and give it to people who have large amounts of money. According to Kos and many other bloggers, that is the simple beauty of a blog, the little guy gets a chance to speak and people listen.

NPR had a great recap of yesterday’s hearings.