There's no way they'll be able to keep me or anyone else from writing software and distributing it.
I think software (like speech or text) qualifies under the 1st amendment. I can say or write what ever I want with out being punishable by law. Someone listening to my speech or reading my letter is no different than running my software.
Even if somehow this would get passed, there is no way they'd be able to enforce it. Even if they were able to legally get Microsoft and Apple to make their OS's only run “approved“ software, there is no way they'll be able to get Linux to do the same. But I suppose then they'd make Linux be “unapproved.“ The next logical alternative will be to make computer BIOS authors add this crappy logic to the BIOS so that only “approved“ OS's would be able to run. This would open up all sorts of software and hardware hacks that would re-enable free speech in the Information age.
We must stand up for our rights and make sure our voices are heard!
Source: http://beta.news.com.com/2061-10804_3-5884130.html?part=rss&tag=5884130&subj=news