This doesn't bode too well - going after a newspaper on racketeering charges for running provider ads?http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21839537/
How does this bode for TER and phoenix411.net?

You would think these jokers (LE) could find a better use for their time.  Perhaps even spending our hard earned tax dollars to catch real criminals like murders.  

However, the implecation of going after newspapers or other media that just run adult ads is troublesome.  Lets keep our fingers crossed that the court does the right thing - enforces our 1st Ammendment rights of free speech and dismisses this case.

I do not believe it will have any impact on TER or Phoenix411.net. First, as troubling as the article may be, I believe the arrests made have afr more in common with the insane grand jury subpoena that was served on our local New Times. It seems that the arrests of the Orlando Weekly's account executives was politically motivated and retaliatory for a story run about police misconduct during investigations at strip clubs. Sounds eerily similar to the grand jury subpoena served on New Times after the paper published Sheriff Joe's home address.

"The free alternative paper is calling the arrests an assault on the First Amendment — an argument that might not fly in court, given that investigators say they videotaped Weekly employees selling ad space to undercover officers who openly claimed to be prostitutes."

To my knowledge, not only do local papers rarely "sell" to providers, they've lately even been placing ads for providers without the providers' permission!  As for TER, I would love to see Randy Andy Thomas try to go after TER, given the fact that it's incorporated (and its servers are housed) in the Netherlands.  I don't think even Sheriff Joke could deliver that summons!

"As for TER, I would love to see Randy Andy Thomas try to go after TER, given the fact that it's incorporated (and its servers are housed) in the Netherlands.  I don't think even Sheriff Joke could deliver that summons!"

Ture, but if the US government wanted to, it probably could implement an American version of "Great Firewall of China" and keep Americans from have easy access to web sites located outside of the US.

The increased concentration through mergers and acquisitions of the telecomunications sector would also mean that a limited number of firms would have to be leaned on in order to gain their cooperation in restricting access.