1996-03-01
Craig A. Johnson
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: February 26, 1996
COMMERCIAL INTERNET EXCHANGE ASSOCIATION JOINS SUIT
CHALLENGING COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT
Today, the Commercial Internet eXchange Association ("CIX")
sought to
intervene in litigation challenging the constitutionality of the
indecency standard in the Communications Decency Act ("CDA"). CIX is
the leading trade association of Internet service providers. Its
members carry 75% of U.S. Internet traffic. CIX has joined forces with
a team of parents' groups, librarians, commercial and non-commercial
providers to intervene in litigation filed by EFF, the ACLU and others
in Philadelphia.
"We're going to court to protect our users and the bright future
of
this dynamic communications medium," said Robert Collet, President of
CIX, in announcing the organization's action. Collet noted that
software already exists that provides families with far greater
protection from pornography than the Act's indecency standard. "Our
lawsuit will explain the Internet to the court and show that the
answer to objectionable online content is empowering parents with
blocking technologies, not passing a vague and ineffective criminal
law. We believe that children can be protected more effectively
without this overbroad law, which would chill speech on the 'Net to
adults and children alike."
CIX is particularly concerned that the indecency standard
criminalizes
an unspecified amount of non-pornographic material, and the standard
depends upon each local community's notion of what is "patently
offensive." By intervening in the indecency case, CIX aims to provide
greater protection for families, greater certainty for Internet users,
and clear rules for the continued growth of the Internet.
A copy of the complaint in this case will be available shortly on the
CIX Web site.
CONTACT: Robert D. Collet, President (703) 714-6646
Susan Fitzgerald, Executive Director (703) 709-8200
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