SAINT PAUL, MN. – The state of Minnesota has sent Internet service providers a list of gambling websites available to customers in the state that it wants blocked. The letters are dated April 24 and were sent to ISPs as well as cable, satellite and DSL carriers such as Comcast, Direct TV, DISH, Qwest and Sprint/Nextel, among others.

CNET reports, “The Department of Public Safety’s letters to the Internet providers say that ‘gambling is illegal within Minnesota” and claim that a federal law “requires upon notice by a law enforcement agency that you do not allow your systems to be used for the transmission of gambling information.'”

In dispute is whether cable, satellite and DSL carriers are considered “common carriers,” which are required to “discontinue or refuse, the leasing, furnishing, or maintaining” of any websites” that are “used for the purpose of transmitting or receiving gambling information in interstate or foreign commerce in violation of Federal, State or local law.”

“The U.S. Supreme Court and the Federal Communications Commission, however, have suggested that neither cable providers nor DSL providers are “common carriers,” CNET’s Declan McCullagh said.

The federal law in question also says that “no damages, penalty or forfeiture, civil or criminal, shall be found against any common carrier for any act done in compliance with any notice received from a law enforcement agency.”

Though Minnesota has not said whether or how it intends to enforce the requests, John Willems, a Minnesota Department of Public Safety official, sounded an ominous tone in a statement issued last week.

“We are putting site operators and Minnesota online gamblers on notice and in advance,” he said.