WASHINGTON – Today, the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet adopted an amendment authored by Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI) aimed at curtailing online child pornography. 

“The child porn industry is growing by leaps and bounds,” Stupak said.  “Now is the time to crack down.” 

The amendment was incorporated into a larger, telecommunications package that will enable telephone companies to offer cable television service.  Adopted unanimously by the Subcommittee, Stupak’s measure would order the Federal Communications Commission to devise regulations that require both traditional cable service and phone companies offering cable services and technologies to prevent child pornography from being conveyed over Internet networks. 

Stupak crafted his amendment on the heels of a hearing held yesterday that heard from victims of online child pornography.  The amendment also follows the day after a top-level Homeland Security official was arrested for attempting to use the Internet to seduce a 14-year old girl.   April is National Child Abuse Prevention month, making the timing of the amendment all the more apt. 

During today’s session, leaders of the Telecommunications Subcommittee and full Energy and Commerce Committee agreed to adopt the amendment with the possibility of making slight revisions at a later date, as the Committee considers the broader telecommunications bill. 

“I’m pleased the Committee moved swiftly and decisively to approve my amendment,” Stupak said.  “As we enhance the services and availability of our telecommunications industry, we should hold those that make billions of dollars from data and image transmission accountable for allowing transmission of lewd and pornographic images over the Internet.  The only way to combat this $20 billion per year child pornography industry is to remove the profit and the ability to transmit surreptitious pornography over the Internet.”

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