Bloggers may face campaign standards

WASHINGTON - Web loggers, who pride themselves on freewheeling political activism, may soon face new federal rules on candidate endorsements, online fund raising and political ads, although bloggers who don't take money from political groups would not be affected.

Draft rules from the Federal Election Commission, which enforces campaign finance laws and is haltingly moving toward regulating how campaign money is spent on the Internet, would require that paid political advertisements on the Internet declare who funded the ad, much as political TV spots do now.

Similar disclaimers would be placed on political Web sites, as well as on e-mails sent to people on purchased lists containing more than 500 addresses.

The FEC is also considering whether to require Web loggers to disclose whether they get money from a campaign committee or a candidate, and to reveal whether they are being paid to write about certain candidates or solicit contributions on their behalf.

The rules would not affect people who don't take money from political action committees or parties.

The FEC has long been reluctant to craft rules for the Internet, and it has exempted the online world from many regulations that apply to other media like TV and radio.

But a court ruling last fall required the agency to include the Internet in its definition of public communications and to begin regulating activities.

The FEC commissioners -- who are divided about how far to extend regulations to the Internet -- are also striving to clarify regulations about online volunteer campaign activity.

The draft rules have prompted a stormy response from bloggers and those opposed to extending FEC regulations to the Internet.

The FEC is accepting public comments on the proposals until Friday, and hearings will be held June 28-29.