Communications Decency Act: Regulation In Cyberspace

Communications Decency Act: Regulation In Cyberspace


David Hembree

October 23, 1996

Dr. Willis


            Being one of millions of  surfers throughout the Internet, I see that

fundamental civil liberties are as important in cyberspace as they are in

traditional contexts. Cyberspace defined in Webster's Tenth Edition dictionary

is the on-line worlds of networks.    The right to speak and publish using a

virtual pen has its roots in a long tradition dating back to the very founding

of democracy in this country.  With the passage of the 1996 Telecommunications

Act, Congress has prepared to turn the Internet from one of the greatest

resources of cultural, social, and scientific information into the online

equivalent of a children's reading room.  By invoking the overboard and vague

term “indecent” as the standard by which electronic communication should be

censored, Congress has insured that information providers seeking to avoid

criminal prosecution will close the gates on anything but the most tame

information and discussions.

     The Communications Decency Act calls for two years of jail time for

anyone caught using “indecent” language over the net; as if reading profanities

online affects us more dramatically than reading them on paper.  Our First

Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of

religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of

speech, or of the press....”  The Act takes away this right.  The Constitution-

defying traitorThis is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Electronic References. Please register below now!


Get This Full Article After Registration



When you subscribe to Electronic References, you get complete access to the meta-collection of full text articles and papers written by researchers and students spanning the last 5 years. For $19.95 a month, you will receive unlimited access and the ability to expand your research opportunities and knowledge.

This subscription package includes:

24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week unlimited access on any computer with Internet access
Complete access to all 60,000 articles, essays, and research papers
Ability to view, save, print and download any document you find
Ability to browse through perfectly arranged catalog of articles
Superior search and relevancy ranking techniques using our optimalized search engine
Instant access to the online database after registration


You can pay by credit card or checking account. You get instant access after registration:




1 Month ($ 19.95)
3 Months ($ 29.95)
6 Months ($ 39.95)





You will be billed $19.95 every 30 days or $29.95 every 90 days (recurring billing) starting on the day you subscribe.

Your credit card or checking account will automatically be renewed for your convenience until you cancel.