ALA voice to join FCC Open Internet roundtable

For Immediate Release
Mon, 10/06/2014

Contact:

Jazzy Wright

Press Officer

Washington Office

202-628-8410

jwright@alawash.org

WASHINGTON, D.C.—John Windhausen, network neutrality counsel to the American Library Association (ALA) and president of Telepoly Consulting, will represent libraries and higher education institutions Tuesday as a panelist for an Open Internet roundtable discussion hosted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Windhausen will advocate for strong net neutrality principles during the panel "Construction of Legally Sustainable Rules" of the roundtable "Internet Openness and the Law," which takes place at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7, 2014.

During the panel discussion, Windhausen will explore ways that the FCC can use its Section 706 authority with an "Internet-reasonable" standard that would recognize and support the Internet ecosystem and the Internet as an open platform for free speech, learning, research and innovation. ALA, along with other higher education and library organizations, affirmed the critical importance of network neutrality to fulfilling our public interest missions and outlined the case for an Internet-reasonable standard in its filings (pdf) in the Open Internet proceeding. The ALA also urged the FCC to use available legal authority to adopt strong, enforceable net neutrality rules in a joint letter (pdf) with the Center for Democracy and Technology.

The roundtable is free and open to the public, and will be streamed live.

WHAT: John Windhausen, network neutrality counsel to the American Library Association, will represent libraries and higher education institutions during the FCC roundtable panel “Internet Openness and the Law.”

WHERE: Federal Communications Commission, Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305), 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20554.

WHEN: October 7, 2014 at 11:30 a.m.

For more information, contact Jazzy Wright, press officer of the American Library Association, at (202) 628-8410, or email jwright@alawash.org.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with approximately 57,000 members in academic, public, school, government, and special libraries. The mission of the American Library Association is to provide leadership for the development, promotion and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all.