[Federal Register: February 14, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 31)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 6883]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14fe02-30]                         

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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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[[Page 6883]]



FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

11 CFR Parts 100, 114, and 117

[Notice 2002-2]

 
The Internet and Federal Elections; Candidate-Related Materials 
on Web Sites of Individuals, Corporations and Labor Organizations

AGENCY: Federal Election Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Public Hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Election Commission is announcing a public hearing 
on proposed changes to its regulations to clarify the status of 
campaign-related Internet activity conducted by individuals, and of 
hyperlinks and endorsement press releases on Internet Web sites 
established by corporations and labor organizations.

DATES: The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 20, 
2002. Requests to testify must be received on or before March 1, 2002. 
Persons requesting to testify also must submit written comments by 
March 1, 2002, if they have not previously filed written comments on 
the proposed rules.

ADDRESSES: Requests to testify and any accompanying comments should be 
addressed to Rosemary C. Smith, Assistant General Counsel, and must be 
submitted in either written or electronic form. Written comments should 
be sent to the Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20463. Faxed comments should be sent to (202) 219-3923, 
with printed copy follow-up to insure legibility. Electronic mail 
comments should be sent to internetnprm@fec.gov. Persons sending 
requests and comments by electronic mail must include their full name, 
electronic mail address and postal service address within the text of 
the request or comments. Commission hearings are held in the 
Commission's ninth floor meeting room, 999 E Street, NW., Washington, 
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemary C. Smith, Assistant General 
Counsel, or Richard T. Ewell, Staff Attorney, 999 E Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20463, (202) 694-1650 or (800) 424-9530.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 3, 2001, the Commission published 
a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [``NPRM''] addressing three issues 
relating to the use of the Internet for campaign-related activity: (1) 
The application of the volunteer exemption in 2 U.S.C. 431(8)(B)(i) and 
(ii) to Internet activity by individuals; (2) The status of hyperlinks 
placed on corporate and labor organization Web sites; and (3) The 
status of corporate and labor organization press releases that announce 
candidate endorsements and are made available to the general public on 
the corporation or labor organization's Web site. 66 FR 50358, et seq. 
(Oct. 3, 2001). The comment period for the NPRM ended on December 3, 
2001. Twenty-four comments were received by the Commission in response 
to the NPRM. Two commenters requested to testify at a public hearing if 
one is held.
    After considering these requests and the other comments received to 
date in response to the NPRM, the Commission believes a public hearing 
would be helpful in considering the issues raised in the rulemaking. 
The hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on March 20, 2002.

    Dated: February 8, 2002.
David M. Mason,
Chairman, Federal Election Commission.
[FR Doc. 02-3632 Filed 2-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6715-01-P