WASHINGTON -- Congress is currently working on a so-called do-not-call list for your computer. Lawmakers are trying to agree on new rules to protect computer users from unwanted spam.

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Rep. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, is among lawmakers who want the government to curb spam -- unwanted e-mail pitching everything from miracle diets to low-cost loans to adults-only Web sites, WBAL-TV 11 News Washington Bureau reporter Laurie Kinney said.

"Spam is a massive problem," Markey said.

The U.S. Senate is set to vote this week on legislation giving consumers the right to opt out of spam and threatening illegal spammers with jail time. But the House remains split on key issues including who can sue spammers, and some say the marketing industry is trying to block tough rules.

"They're fighting very hard against having restrictions," Markey said.

But that's a charge marketers deny, Kinney said.

"The fraud and abuse is epidemic and that's something that we definitely want any bill to address," Direct Marketing Association spokesman Jim Conway said.

The industry said it wants is a clear definition of spam and confidence that legitimate marketers can still use e-mail as a communication tool to contact customers. Meanwhile, consumer advocates said the bills' opt-out provisions are a mixed blessing for computer users.

"You have to respond to every solicitation that comes in, but at least you have some semblance of a tool," Consumers Union spokesman Chris Murray said about the legislation.

The Consumers Union calls proposed legislation a good start and hopes it will go further. The Consumers Union said forcing consumers to opt out of each piece of unwanted spam puts the legislation back where do-not-call lists were years ago, but still they said it's progress.

But existing state laws concern the Consumers Union because several states already have such laws and they said some of them are tougher than the proposed federal legislation -- which could ultimately overriding state laws.

Although the Senate will likely vote on its so-called "can spam" legislation this week, lawmakers are less optimistic for action in the House this session, since there are still a number of disagreements over the proposed bills.

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