In a significant victory for supporters of Net Neutrality, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today reclassified broadband Internet as a public utility, and established a new Open Internet Order that applies to both fixed and mobile broadband. The new Open Internet Order includes three “bright line” rules, specifically banning broadband providers from blocking access to legal content, applications, and services; impairing access to content, applications, and services; and prioritizing Internet traffic in exchange for “consideration of any kind.”
Library Copyright Alliance Releases Letter Welcoming OPEN Act
RLUK Announces New Publisher Terms; ARL and LYRASIS Sign Negotiation Agreement
Research Libraries UK (RLUK), which represents 30 research libraries in the UK and Ireland, announced on December 1 that JISC Collections had “secured better terms and conditions” for the UK higher-ed market as part of negotiated deals with the two largest academic journal publishers in the UK, Elsevier and Wiley-Blackwell. In a separate announcement on November 29, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and LYRASIS announced that they have signed an agreement designating LYRASIS, the largest U.S. regional nonprofit library membership organization, as a negotiating agent for online content on behalf of interested ARL members.
Library Copyright Alliance Voices Concerns Over Anti-Piracy Legislation
The Library Copyright Alliance (LCA)—whose members include the American Library Association, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and the Association of College & Research Libraries—yesterday released a letter [PDF] written to the ranking members of the House Judiciary Committee to voice “serious concerns” about two provisions in H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) […]