Member Community: ALCTS Advocacy & Policy Committee

Shortly after ALCTS News published “Three Things ALCTS Members Can Do to Advocate for Net Neutrality,” the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) voted to repeal Net Neutrality in a 3-2 party-line vote. Since that time, technology companies, consumer advocacy groups, and officials from both legislative and judicial branches at the state and federal levels have taken steps to fight back. What can you do to continue to advocate for protections to net neutrality? Inform yourself on the issue. Contact your representatives in Congress. Keep up to date with ALA and ALCTS advocacy.

In the fraught and fast-paced environment of today’s Capitol Hill, ALA’s Washington Office monitors and advocates for issues important to libraries and the communities they serve, including issues of particular interest to ALCTS and its sections. One advocacy issue of particular interest to ALCTS is the modernization of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and Title 44 of the U.S. Code.

On November 21, 2017 the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) formally announced its intention to repeal the “Open Internet Order,” a set of net neutrality rules adopted by the FCC in 2015. The five commissioners of the FCC will vote on the proposed repeal [PDF], titled “Restoring Internet Freedom,” on December 14, 2017.

What can you do to advocate for continued protections to net neutrality? Contact your representatives in Congress. Encourage your institution to sign on to a joint letter to the Energy and Commerce Committee. Contact the FCC. Keep up to date with ALA and ALCTS advocacy.