[Libs-Or] Tuesday Topic - net neutrality updates

[Roberta Richards]

*Tuesday Topic Information Projectof the OLA **Intellectual Freedom
Committee*


*Intellectual Freedom and Net Neutrality*

Providing access to information is a primary purpose of libraries and a key
principle of intellectual freedom.  Library staff promote access to
information by resisting censorship, promoting government transparency, and
reducing barriers such as the digital divide that may prevent individuals
from receiving the information they need.  In our times, an open Internet
is essential for accessing information.

Many of us have been following the political wranglings
about net neutrality carefully, as libraries have a huge stake in keeping
the playing field level for all Internet users.  This issue has been well
explained in a letter
<http://www.heraldandnews.com/members/keep-the-net-free-at-oregon-s-libraries/article_541ac7ba-7298-11e4-9913-372f9ff21e2e.html>
published
in newspapers around Oregon co-written by OLA President Candice Watkins and
Senator Ron Wyden, and in the OLA Net Neutrality Statement
<http://www.olaweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=500:intellectual-freedom-net-neutrality&catid=20:site-content#netneutrality>

*Updates in the Net Neutrality debate*

   - The FCC panel is expected to vote on net neutrality rules on Feb. 26th.
   - FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler recently hinted support for protecting net n
   eutrality by reclassifying Internet access under Title II of the 1934
   Communications Act.  This is the position supported by OLA, ALA, President
   Obama, and other advocates for an open Internet.
   - Opposition to this reclassification is expected to be fierce.
   Internet Service Providers, cable companies and some others are likely to
   challenge this reclassification in the Courts and through the
   Republican-led Congress.
   - The Oregon library community has access to this Net Neutrality Toolkit
   <http://www.olaweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=500:intellectual-freedom-net-neutrality&catid=20:site-content>
    to participate in this important conversation.

News articles on the latest developments in this debate:
FCC Chairman Wheeler hints at shift in net neutrality rules
<http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fcc-wheeler-net-neutrality-20150108-story.html#page=1>
 (LA Times)
Will the GOP challenge Obama over net neutrality?
<http://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-the-gop-challenge-obama-over-net-neutrality/>
(CBS
News)

This debate is a reminder that freedom, including intellectual freedom,
requires constant vigilance.


*Tuesday Topic Information Project: *

*Intellectual Freedom Committee*

Welcome to the next installment in a monthly series covering topics with
intellectual freedom implications for libraries of all types.  Each message
is prepared by members of OLA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee.  Look for
our message on a Tuesday each month of the academic year except
December.  Questions can be directed to the IF Committee member who sent
the message or to one of the co-chairs of the IFC
<http://www.olaweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=159>.

-- 
Roberta Richards
Faculty Reference Librarian
971-722-4962
rrichard at pcc.edu
Southeast Library Research Desk: 971-722-6289
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20150113/48789de0/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: IF_LOGO.JPG
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 5406 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20150113/48789de0/attachment.jpe>