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spamming IS illegal in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, as is mailbombing
and harassment via the Internet.  


Broadcast Fax and Junk Email Illegal

Under United States law, it is unlawful "to use any telephone facsimile
machine, computer, or other device to send an unsolicited advertisement"
to any "equipment which has the capacity (A) to transcribe text or
images (or both) from an electronic signal received over a regular
telephone line onto paper." The law allows individuals to sue the sender
of such illegal "junk mail" for $500 per copy. Most states will permit
such actions to be filed in Small Claims Court.

Here is the text of the federal law:

>From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [Laws in
effect as of January 24, 1994] [Document affected by Public Law 103-414
Section 303(a)(11)] 

[CITE: 47USC227]
        TITLE 47--TELEGRAPHS, TELEPHONES, AND RADIOTELEGRAPHS
                CHAPTER 5--WIRE OR RADIO COMMUNICATION
                    SUBCHAPTER II--COMMON CARRIERS
Sec. 227. Restrictions on use of telephone equipment

     (a) Definitions
     As used in this section-- * * *
          (2) The term ``telephone facsimile machine'' means equipment
which has the capacity
          (A) to transcribe text or images, or both, from paper into an
electronic signal and to transmit that signal over a regular telephone
line, or (B) to transcribe text or images (or both) from an electronic
signal received over a regular telephone line onto paper. * *
          * 
          (4) The term ``unsolicited advertisement'' means any material
advertising the
commercial availability or quality of any property, goods, or services
which is transmitted to any person without that person's prior express
invitation or permission.
     (b) Restrictions on use of automated telephone equipment 
          (1) Prohibitions
          It shall be unlawful for any person within the United States
-- to use any telephone facsimile machine, computer, or other device to
send an unsolicited advertisement to a telephone facsimile machine; * *
*
     (c) to use any telephone facsimile machine, computer, or other
device to send an unsolicited advertisement to a telephone facsimile
machine; * * * 
          (3) Private right of action 
A person or entity may, if otherwise permitted by the laws or rules of
court of a State, bring in an appropriate court of that State--
               (A) an action based on a violation of this subsection or
the regulations
               prescribed under this subsection to enjoin such
violation, 
               (B) an action to recover for actual monetary loss from
such a violation, or to receive $500 in damages for each such violation,
whichever is greater, or 
               (C) both such actions.
          If the court finds that the defendant willfully or knowingly
violated this subsection or the regulations prescribed under this
subsection, the court may, in its discretion, increase the amount of the
award to an amount equal to not more than 3 times the amount available
under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph. * * *
     (e) Effect on State law
          (1) State law not preempted
          Except for the standards prescribed under subsection (d) of
this section and subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, nothing in
this section or in the regulations prescribed under this section shall
preempt any State law that imposes more restrictive intrastate
requirements or regulations on, or which prohibits--
               (A) the use of telephone facsimile machines or other
electronic devices to send unsolicited advertisements; * * *

[ Amended 1992: Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 102-556 added subpar. (C). ] 

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Lee - Indiana - Practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.