The US House of Representatives has voted 427-1 to pass new legislation which is intended to reduce incidences of junk e-mail being sent to consumers. The move has been welcomed by ISPs, legitimate on-line advertisers and e-mail users who hope that it will reduce costs of downloading junk e-mail.

Under the new provisions, it will only be possible for a business to send unsolicited e-mails if it provides a valid e-mail address giving recipients the opportunity to be removed from any further mailing lists.

Businesses that breach those regulations may be liable to a fine of $500 per e-mail up to a maximum of $50,000.

Rep. Heather Wilson, one of the main sponsors of the bill, stressed the importance of controlling junk e-mails when she said “this bill will allow parents and consumers the power to say enough is enough and close their inbox to annoying and obscene junk e-mail”.

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