ALA Washington Office welcomes new staffer

Jeff Kratz has joined the ALA Washington Office staff as assistant director for the Office of Government Relations (OGR).

Prior to joining ALA, Jeff worked for the Republicans on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.  Before working for the Appropriations Committee, Jeff gained experience working in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature and for a state legislative monitoring firm.  Jeff received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Among other issues, Jeff will be handling appropriation issues for OGR.

ALA: FCC’s consideration of net neutrality principles key to preserving free Internet

Contact: Jenni Terry
Press Officer, ALA Washington Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. – The American Library Association (ALA) strongly supports Chairman Julius Genachowski’s efforts to move the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) forward in consideration of principles to protect the free and open nature of the Internet.

The FCC voted unanimously today to proceed with issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking, which would add two principles of non-discrimination and transparency to the existing four principles of network neutrality, and to allow a period of public commentary.

“We thank the FCC commissioners for establishing a way for the American public to participate in this important debate,” ALA President Camila Alire said.

“ALA has long supported network neutrality. As information professionals, we know how essential it is to have a diversity of information sources, and we believe an open Internet benefits all. Chairman Genachowski is heading in the right direction by revising and expanding the principles of net neutrality.”

ALA’s principles center on intellectual freedom and access to information. Network neutrality extends these principles to online content; it also encourages innovation and allows even the smallest provider of online information access to a level playing field. The Internet developed as a neutral, democratic technology, and ALA believes the FCC must preserve it.

OPEN FOIA Act awaits presidential signature

The Senate approved the OPEN FOIA Act Tuesday, legislation that would require Congress to openly and clearly state its intention to provide for statutory exemptions to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The bipartisan bill was introduced by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) in March.  Since the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, it will now be sent to the president’s desk.

The ALA – as a long-time protector and promoter of public access to government information – thanks Congress for this effort to safeguard the public’s “right to know.”

Video posted of “D Is For Digitize” Google Book Settlement Conference at NYLS

The great folks over at New York Law School who put together the “D Is For Digitize” conference on the Google Book Settlement have uploaded video recordings of all the sessions (click on linked program titles to go to the video). OITP’s Carrie Russell spoke at Friday’s “P is for Public” session. In addition, Peter Hirtle has written up nice summaries of the proceedings (click through for day 2, 3). Thanks again to James and NYLS for hosting this thought-provoking and well-organized event. Also, check out Daniel Reetz’s public domain photos of the DIY portable book scanner he demoed at the conference.

Fate of LSTA funds still uncertain as Congress rushes through final months of session

We have been watching appropriations activity around the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) since the summer because the House-passed appropriations bill for Labor-HHS-Education has a $1 million increase in the state program over FY2009 for FY2010, and the Senate does not.  But the Senate bill has only passed out of the Committee, no bill has come to the floor.

Now, according to Congressional Quarterly, Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye says that the Senate almost certainly won’t have enough time before the end of the year to pass each spending bill, let alone pass the conference bill for each which would reflect the agreement between the House and the Senate.  He believes they will pull the remaining bills together in an omnibus bill which could pass around Thanksgiving or the beginning of December.

The government’s new fiscal year should have begun October 1.

Emily Sheketoff
Executive Director, ALA Washington Office