FEC backs off flirtation with regulating Internet

Democratic members of the Federal Election Commission on Thursday backed off any consideration of regulating political Internet content, after a public outcry and pressure from Republican colleagues. 

The commissioners, in a Washington meeting, sought to calm a controversy thatstarted last fall -- when incoming Chairwoman Ann Ravel said a "re-examination" of the agency's approach to the Internet was "long overdue." 

This triggered concerns that the campaign-finance regulator could try targeting YouTube videos and other posts to make sure their creators file spending reports. But after the FEC received thousands of public comments opposing Internet intervention, Ravel stressed Thursday she was "never" proposing any such rules. 

"There is no such regulation," Ravel said. 

To affirm this, Democratic Commissioner Ellen Weintraub proposed a motion, which Ravel backed, formally excluding "political activity on the internet" from an ongoing regulatory effort concerning contribution limits. 

Weintraub said she wanted to "allay" the public's concerns, and "make clear that we're not" pursuing Internet regulation. 

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