WRITE CONGRESS for Public Lane on Info Highway (fwd)

[Madelynne Johnson <madelynn@BUSH.EDU>]

Dear LM_NETters,

Forwarding something for your consideration and action...

.....Madelynne Johnson...Assistant Librarian, The Bush School (k-12)
                         405 36th Ave E, Seattle WA 98112
                         madelynn@helen.bush.edu


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 94 09:03:50 -0700
From: Dave Chappell <chappell@inspire.ospi.wednet.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list <k12wa@u.washington.edu>
Subject: WRITE CONGRESS for Public Lane on Info Highway (fwd)



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 21 Jun 1994 15:25:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: email list server <listserv@snyside.sunnyside.com>
To: cpsr-announce@sunnyside.com
Subject: WRITE CONGRESS for Public Lane on Info Highway


                          *** ACTION ALERT! ***
          ***  WRITE TO YOUR SENATORS TO SUPPORT S. 2195! ***

                 Help create public space in cyberspace.
      Prevent the NII from becoming simply an electronic shopping mall.

  An unprecendented coalition of nonprofit, educational, arts, service,
  labor, civil rights, consumer, public broadcasting, religious, community,
  public interest, civic, and cultural organizations are working to get
  Congress to designate a public lane on the information highway.

  Toward this goal, an important new bill has just been released that
  would open up media and communications networks to a wide range of
  information and service providers. S. 2195 would ensure that television
  and other media will have democratic and diverse offerings for the
  public in the next decade.

  But in the face of tough odds, the coalition needs _your_ help.

* Please write to your Senators ASAP in support of S. 2195:
  The National Public Telecommunications Infrastructure Act of 1994.

  Included in this post:  * Fact Sheet on S. 2195
                          * Sample Letter to Your Senators

  Please distribute this information widely.


--


PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY LEGISLATION (S. 2195)

        Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Chairman of the Communications
Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Transportation and Science
Committee, has introduced important legislation to require the
reservation of capacity on advanced telecommunications networks
for non-commercial educational and informational services and
civic discourse.

        Telecommunications infrastructure legislation is generally
believed to have the potential to transform education, self-governance,
civic discourse and artistic expression.  However, this promise will
not be fulfilled unless there is a guaranteed right-of-way for the
public to share non-commercial educational, cultural, civic and
informational services.  Senator Inouye's legislation seeks to address
this problem by reserving up to twenty percent of the capacity on
advanced telecommunications networks for use by state and local
governments, educational institutions, public broadcasters, libraries
and nonprofit organizations organized for the purpose of providing
public access to noncommercial, educational, informational, cultural
civic and charitable services. The legislation is not, however,
intended to cover the Internet.  Nor is it intended to cover point
to point telephone communications that are not intended for the public.

        While many people contemplate that at some point in the future
there will be ample capacity on these "switched" networks so that
technological and economic barriers to access would disappear, this bill
would insure such uses in the interim.  If and when adequate capacity is
available, the legislative requirement to reserve space would be phased
out or terminated.  The legislation also includes a funding mechanism to
give those entities for which the capacity is being reserved sufficient
economic support to use the capacity.

        Absent legislation, the telecommunications industry is
unlikely to provide adequate, affordable, non-discriminatory access
to communications networks, and could potentially control the ideas
and information we all now receive and send over computer networks.
Information technologies are already having a profound impact on the
way we communicate with each other, keep abreast of and disseminate
important information, educate ourselves, receive health care, expand
our cultural horizons, and engage in political and civic discourse.
Politicians and members of the telecommunications industry have all
recognized the potential of the "information superhighway" expand the
delivery of noncommercial educational services and contribute to a
new era of democratic self-governance and to enrich the lives of
those people that have traditionally been left out.  Senator
Inouye's legislation will provide the mechanism for the information
superhighway to realize these goals.

        We need to support public right-of-way legislation.  We encourage
you to begin lobbying efforts by writing letters to your Senators
immediately.


--


SAMPLE LETTERS IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY BILL (S. 2195)

* Please write your Senators as soon as possible on this urgent matter.
  If you can, also write Senator Inouye and Senator Hollings.


The Honorable [your senator]
___ Senate ________ Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator ____________:

We are writing to encourage you to support the legislation
(S.2195) introduced by Senator Inouye to provide space for
non-commercial uses on the "information superhighway." We
hope that you will recognize the importance of this
legislation and consider becoming a co-sponsor.  Congress must
ensure that as the legal landscape for the provision of
telecommunications services changes dramatically, those
organizations committed to providing informational,
educational, cultural and charitable services to the public
are not left out.

Congress has an historic opportunity to shape the nation's
communications system for the future.  But the promise of
economic development, educational reform and enhanced
democracy will not happen if the new technologies are
utilized principally for home shopping and movies on demand.
It is crucial that any such legislation provides for the
reservation of capacity for open, non-discriminatory use by
state and local governments, libraries, schools,
public broadcasters, and other nonprofit entities. [If
applicable, please state potential uses for your
organization.]

Sincerely,

--


The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye
Chairman, Subcommittee on Communications,
  Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation
722 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

We are writing to commend your efforts to ensure that space
is provided for non-commercial uses on the "information
superhighway."  We support your proposal (S.2195) regarding
the reservation of capacity and hope that your proposal will
be considered simultaneously with the Senate's debate on the
broader telecommunications reform bill, S. 1822.

Congress has an historic opportunity to shape the nation's
communications system for the future.  But the promise of
economic development, educational reform and enhanced
democracy will not happen if the new technologies are
utilized principally for home shopping and movies on demand.
It is crucial that any telecommunications reform legislation
provides for the reservation of capacity for open, non-
discriminatory use by state and local governments, libraries,
schools, public broadcasters, and other nonprofit entities.
[If applicable, please state potential uses for your
organization.]

Sincerely,

--


The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings
Chairman Committee on Commerce, Science
  and Transportation
125 Senate Russell Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Mr. Chairman:

We are writing in support of legislation (S.2195) introduced
by Senator Daniel Inouye to ensure that space is provided for
non-commercial uses on the "information superhighway."

You have been a leader in telecommunications reform efforts.
Senator Inouye's important legislation would advance your
objectives by insuring that the information superhighway
provides more than home shopping and movies on demand.  We
hope that you will help ensure that S.2195 is included in the
current debate on telecommunications reform and considered
contemporaneously with S. 1822.

Congress has an historic opportunity to shape the nation's
communications system for the future.  But the promise of
economic development, educational reform and enhanced
democracy will not happen if the new technologies are
utilized principally for home shopping and movies on demand.
It is crucial that any such legislation provides for the
reservation of capacity for open, non-discriminatory use by
state and local governments, libraries, schools,
public broadcasters, and other nonprofit entities. [If
applicable, please state potential uses for your
organization.]

Sincerely,

--


A copy of the "public space" bill (S. 2195), and other supporting
materials will be placed online shortly.

Please distribute this post widely. Thank you for your support.

--
Anthony E. Wright                       cme@access.digex.net
Coordinator, Future of Media Project    Center for Media Education


--
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