The Nation : Senate Approves Ban on ‘Dial-a-Porn’

The Senate gave final congressional approval to legislation that authorizes $7.5 billion for education programs over the next five years and, in its most controversial feature, bans all “dial-a-porn” services. The bill, which was approved on a quick voice vote, now goes to the White House, where President Reagan is expected to sign it into law. The basic legislation, which would maintain and in some cases increase federal programs in elementary and secondary schools, provoked little controversy. But strong disagreement emerged over the provision that would ban telephone services that allow callers to listen to prerecorded pornographic messages for a fee. Sponsors of the ban contended that children now can be exposed to raw pornography over the telephone. Opponents of the provision argued that it probably would be ruled an unconstitutional infringement of free speech.