Bloggers could be fined $11000 by the FTC. Is paid speech still free?

Bloggers could be fined $11000 by the FTC.

This excerpt is from an article published by Slate.com, “The FTC put bloggers on notice that they could incur an $11,000 fine if they receive free goods, free services, or money and write about the goods or services without conspicuously disclosing their "material connection" to the provider. The FTC guidelines extend even to Facebook and Twitter posters.”

So is speech that's paid for still considered free speech? Apparently the FTC doesn't feel that it's free if you get paid for it.

I will say, for the record, that I have not been paid by anyone, for anything, on this blog. But if you would like to pay me, for anything, please contact me through this blog. All donations will be given to my wife and our needy child fund.

For the full article from Slate.com please click on the link http://www.slate.com/id/2231808/