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71 Notre Dame L. Rev. 79 (1995-1996)
Authors, Editors, and Uncommon Carriers: Identifying the Speaker within the New Media

handle is hein.journals/tndl71 and id is 87 raw text is: Authors, Editors, and Uncommon Carriers: Identifying the Speaker Within the New Media Michael I. Meyerson* I. INTRODUCTION ................................................... 79 II. THE FIRST AMENDMENT VALUE IN DISTRIBUTING IDEAS ......... 81 A. Distinguishing Speakers and Distributors ..................... 81 B. Liberty of Circulation ....................................... 84 C. Editorial Discretion ........................................ 89 III. A PAGE [TIRmER: THE CONSTITUTIONAL APPROACH FOR NEW MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES ........................................... 93 A. The Limits of Analog9: Creation of an Intermediate Standard.. 94 B. Classifying Interests ........................................ 100 1. Return of the Luddites .............................. 101 2. Promoting and Protecting the Electronic Marketplace of Ideas ................................ 104 IV. FREE SPEECH AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF IDEAS IN THE NEW MEDIA .......................................................... 105 A. Multiplying Speakers by Regulating Distributors .............. 105 1. Recognizing Bottlenecks ............................. 106 2. Content Neutrality ................................... 109 3. Finding a Reasonable Fit ............................ 111 B. Unconstitutional Influences on Distributors .................. 112 1. Direct State Action .................................. 112 2. Distributor Liability and the Encouragement of Collateral Censorship ................................ 116 V. CONCLUSION .................................................... 124 I. INTRODUCTION Thomas Jefferson andJames Madison, it is safe to assume, never envi- sioned multi-channel fiber optic digital networks carrying voice, video and data at the speed of light. Nonetheless, the eighteenth century promise of freedom of expression will still need to be fulfilled in the ever-changing Information Age. While the principles of the First Amendment are timeless, their appli- cation has always varied with the introduction of new technology. As has ofttimes been stated, Each method of communicating ideas is 'a law unto * Professor of Law, University of Baltimore School of Law. BA., Hampshire College, 1976; J.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1979. Support for this Article was provided by the University of Baltimore School of Law Summer Research Stipend. I wish to thank Emily Greenberg, Will Tress and the rest of the University of Baltimore Law School Library Staff for their invaluable assistance.

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