[OPLINLIST] FW: [IFCFCC:533] Fwd: [ALA-WO:262] Action needed on Net Neutrality bill

[Kent Oliver]

FYI.  The Net Neutrality issue is an important one that all of us should
be aware of. What is going on now in D.C. could change the face of the
Internet as we know it - and NOT for the better.  Kent
 
 

Kent Oliver, Executive Director 
Stark County District Library 
715 Market Ave., N., Canton, OH 44702 
W: 330 458 2710 FAX: 330 455 9596 
KOliver at starklibrary.org <mailto:KOliver at starklibrary.org>  
"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of
all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily
defeat us."--Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas



-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Caldwell-Stone [mailto:dstone at ala.org] 
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 2:45 PM
To: FCC Subcommittee
Subject: [IFCFCC:533] Fwd: [ALA-WO:262] Action needed on Net Neutrality
bill



ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline

Volume 15, Number 49

May 4, 2006

 

In This Issue: Action Needed on Net Neutrality Bill

 

Yesterday Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) sent a letter to his 

colleagues in the Congress asking for support of H.R. 5273, the 

"Network Neutrality Act of 2006," a bill he co-sponsored along 

with Representatives Boucher (D-VA), Eshoo (D-CA), and Inslee (D-

WA).

 

Please call your Members of Congress today and urge them to co-

sponsor this important legislation. 

 

Background:

Until now, all Internet content is equally accessible to users - 

it is not more difficult to access one website than another. But 

some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) want to change the rules - 

economically or technically - to allow favored access to some 

content providers for an added fee. 

 

If the nation's largest telephone and cable companies are allowed 

to limit access and discriminate against those who cannot pay 

higher tolls, then libraries, schools, colleges, non-profit 

groups, small businesses, independent publications and bloggers 

could be blocked from digital-age benefits and innovations.

 

Library advocates can make a difference by emphasizing the need 

for network neutrality and an open Internet and its importance to 

library users, businesses, education and the general public.

 

Key Messages:

Ask your Member of Congress co-sponsor H.R. 5273 and preserve 

network neutrality. Please feel free to use the following 

messages:

 

* Libraries are committed to the core principle of open and 

equitable access to information of all kinds. The Internet is 

built upon a similar principle that ensures the ability of all 

people to publish and access information without discriminatory 

barriers. 

 

* Libraries are both users and creators of Internet content.  It 

is critical for libraries to have non-discriminatory access to 

serve the public whether for those who come to libraries or those 

who remotely access library resources.

 

* H.R. 5273 is civil rights for the Internet.  It will ensure that 

the basic and essential principle of open and non-discriminatory 

access to all information will endure.

 

A copy of the bill is located here:

http://markey.house.gov/docs/telecomm/Markey%20Net%20Neutrality%20

Act%20of%202006.pdf

 

 

 

******

ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the 

American Library Association Washington Office. All materials 

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reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with 

appropriate credits.

 

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ALA Washington Office, 1615 New Hampshire Ave., N.W., First Floor, 

Washington, D.C. 20009-2520; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 

toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; Web site: 

http://www.ala.org/washoff.  Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff. 

Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Don 

Essex, Melanie Anderson, Erin Haggerty, Patrice McDermott and 

Miriam Nisbet. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick 

Weingarten, Director; Carrie Lowe, Kathy Mitchell, Carrie Russell. 

ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.

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