Iowa
Legislature

Tuesday, February 07, 2006 For More Information:

Rep. Reichert, 515-281-3221

Reichert Introduces Kids No E-Contact List

Des Moines, Iowa – State Representative Nathan Reichert of Muscatine today sponsored a bill with other legislators to create a Kids No E-Contact List for electronic communications, similar to the Do Not Call list for telemarketers. The bill would protect minors from electronic messages advertising a product or service that law already prohibits them from purchasing or viewing.

“The Do Not Call list has been highly successful in keeping unwanted telemarketing calls out of our homes,” said Reichert. “I believe the same concept can be used to help parents prevent spammers and advertisers from sending inappropriate materials to their kids. The industry already provides internet filters to help parents and the Kids No E-Contact List is another reasonable protection.”

The Kids No E-Contact List would be created for parents, guardians or institutions that serve minors, such as schools, to register children’s electronic contact points, including e-mail, instant messages, wireless communication devices, or fax numbers. Registration is optional and free and the list would be supervised by the Iowa Attorney General. Senders of electronic messages would have to purchase the no e-contact list and verify that the number or email isn’t on the list. Persons who violate the law would be subject to civil penalties.

The bill is modeled after a similar law in Michigan which took effect last year.

# # #