(a) It is an offense for a person without authority to falsify or forge electronic mail transmission information or other routing information in any manner in connection with the transmission of unsolicited bulk electronic mail through or into the computer network of an electronic mail service provider or its subscribers.

(b) Transmission of electronic mail from an organization to its members shall not be deemed to be the transmission of unsolicited bulk electronic mail as prohibited by this section.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to interfere with or prohibit terms or conditions in a contract or license related to computers, computer data, computer networks, computer operations, computer programs, computer services, or computer software or to create any liability by reason of terms or conditions adopted by or technical measures implemented by a Tennessee-based electronic mail service provider to prevent the transmission of unsolicited electronic mail in violation of this section.

(d) As used in this section, “without authority” means a person who uses a computer, a computer network, or the computer services of an electronic mail service provider to transmit unsolicited bulk mail in contravention of the authority granted by or in violation of the policies set by the electronic mail service provider.

(e) The transmission of electronic signals by a local exchange company to the extent that the local exchange company merely carries that transmission over its network shall not be deemed to be the transmission of unsolicited bulk electronic mail as prohibited by this section.

(f) A violation of this section shall be punished according to the damage to the property of another caused by the violation and shall be graded as provided in § 39-14-105.