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  **         **      **       ***               POLICY POST
  **         **      **       ***
  **         **      **       ***               June 14, 1995
  **         **      **       ***               Number 18
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  CENTER FOR DEMOCRACY AND TECHNOLOGY
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  A briefing on public policy issues affecting civil liberties online
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CDT POLICY POST Number 18                       June 14, 1995

CONTENTS: (1) Senate Passes CDA -- Battle Moves to House
          (2) About CDT/Contacting Us

This document may be re-distributed freely provided it remains in its
entirety.
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(1) Senate Passes Exon/Coats -- Battle Moves to House

The First Amendment was thrown out of cyberspace by the United States 
Senate today by a vote of 84 to 16 on passage of the Exon/Coats 
Communications Decency Act.

CDT remains adamantly opposed to this legislation, and we will continue 
to fight it as the bill moves to the House of Representatives. A House 
vote is expected in mid July.

In his effort to defeat the Exon amendment, Senator Leahy cited the 
over 35,000 signatures on the Internet petition, as well as the serious 
First Amendment and privacy concerns raised by the Exon proposal. 
Senator Feingold (D-WI) also spoke in opposition to the Exon amendment, 
and asked that the Senate consider the unique features of interactive media. 
Unfortunately, these efforts to protect the Internet from unnecessary and 
repressive censorship were not successful.

A full analysis of the Senate passed bill, as well as a description of 
the events that occurred today on the Senate floor will be posted in the 
next few days. 

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(2) About The Center For Democracy And Technology/Contacting Us

The Center for Democracy and Technology is a non-profit public interest
organization. The Center's mission is to develop and advocate public
policies that advance constitutional civil liberties and democratic
values in new computer and communications technologies.

Contacting us:

To subscribe to CDT's news distribution list (to receive future Policy Posts
directly), send email to  with a subject of 'subscribe
policy posts'.

** NOTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY REQUESTED TO BE ADDED TO CDT's DISTRIBUTION
   LIST:  We are still working to build our listserv -- you will begin
   receiving Policy Posts on this list very soon. We appreciate your patience!

General information on CDT can be obtained by sending mail to
 

CDT has set up the following auto-reply aliases to keep you informed on the
Communications Decency Act issue.

For information on the bill, including
CDT's analysis and the text of Senator
Leahy's alternative proposal and
information on what you can do to
help                                         -- cda-info@cdt.org

For the current status of the bill,
including scheduled House and
Senate action (updated as events
warrant)                                     -- cda-stat@cdt.org

World-Wide-Web:

   http://www.cdt.org/

ftp:

   ftp://ftp.cdt.org/pub/cdt/

gopher:

   CDT's gopher site is still under construction and should be operational
   soon.

snail mail:

Center For Democracy and Technology
1001 G Street, NW Suite 700 East
Washington, DC 20001
voice: +1.202.637.9800
fax:   +1.202.637.9800
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