Panel OKs Anti-Spam Bill

A House subcommittee unanimously approved a bill that would require senders of Internet junk mail to honor consumer requests to be left off their mailing lists. The bill seeks to place limits on spam, or unsolicited commercial e-mail messages that are often sent out by the millions. The bill would give Internet users the right to remove their names from the e-mail lists of marketing companies. Spammers would be required to notify all recipients of this right and include a valid return e-mail address in their messages. Companies that fail to comply with such requests would face action from the federal government and suits from Internet service providers for $500 for each violation, up to $50,000.