[Libs-Or] INFORMATION Fwd: [District Dispatch] ALA supports FCC’s Third Way to preserve Internet neutrality

[Diedre Conkling]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jacob Roberts <jroberts at alawash.org>
Date: Thu, Jul 15, 2010 at 1:29 PM
Subject: [District Dispatch] ALA supports FCC’s Third Way to preserve
Internet neutrality
To: district at ala.org


FULL POST: http://nblo.gs/5S5nx
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District Dispatch has posted a new item, 'ALA supports FCC’s Third Way to
preserve Internet neutrality'

Contact: Jenni Terry
Press Officer
ALA Washington Office
(202) 628-8410
jterry at alawash.org
For Immediate Release
July 15, 2010

Washington, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) filed comments
(pdf) with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the commission’s
Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on the Framework for Broadband Internet Service,
commonly referred to as the “Third Way.”  The ALA has a strong track record
of advocating for an open, or neutral, Internet.  The ALA sees the Third Way
as
the most appropriate level of oversight as it provides the flexibility
needed
by the Internet community and also provides key protections to guarantee the
public has equal access to the wide variety of online content readily
available
today.

The NOI proposes the FCC use a set of six provisions from Title II, two of
which are particularly important to the library community.  The ALA comments
bring attention to the significance of Section 202, nondiscrimination, and
Section 254, universal service.  Including these sections is paramount to
ensuring that libraries can continue to provide quintessential services to
their patrons.

The ALA has long supported the concept of nondiscrimination which treats all
Internet content equally.  Libraries across the country provide the public
with
access to high quality educational and recreational online content – at no
fee to the patron.  In fact, 75 percent of libraries offer access to online
databases that include business journals, full-text news articles, and job
certification exams.  Libraries provide patrons with downloadable and
streaming
audio and video content, as well as E-books.  The ALA cautions that without
Section 202 on nondiscrimination, this educational and other content could
be
relegated to the Internet slow lane by service providers in favor of content
from the private sector.

The ALA recently submitted comments (pdf) to the FCC on E-rate reform and
strongly supports the inclusion of Section 254 in the proposed Third Way.
Retaining appropriate oversight of the E-rate program, the part of the
Universal Service that provides discounts on advanced telecommunications
services to libraries and schools, will help ensure the stability of this
important program.

In addition, the ALA recommends that the commission only reclassify those
broadband networks that are available to the general public.  Higher
education,
libraries, and K-12 schools often have their own networks that connect
institutions to each other.  These are private networks that should not be
regulated.

The ALA reaffirms its position that all consumers need to be assured that
they
will be able to access legitimate Internet content or services without
concern
that access be blocked or degraded by any entity with the means and control
to
do so.

###

You may view the latest post at
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=5161

You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates
are
posted.
Best regards,
Jacob Roberts
jroberts at alawash.org



-- 
Diedre Conkling
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR  97365
Work phone & fax:  541-265-3066
Work email:  diedre at beachbooks.org
Home email:  diedre08 at gmail.com
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