Though spam has attracted the attention of Congress for several years, legislation aimed at stopping its flow has yet to be passed. This year, however, could be different.

A total of seven anti-spam bills have been introduced into Congress since January -- one is now close to a floor vote. And a host of new anti-spam technologies are being rolled out.

Spam also has been a long-term focus of a number of technology lobbyist groups, which are cautiously optimistic about the early signs of real legislative progress. "I think we're pleased with what has been going on this year," Ari Schwartz, the associate director of the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), told NewsFactor. "It's been a pretty consultative process over a complex issue."

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