OPG ENEWS
November 7, 2000
The electronic journal of the Online Policy Group, Inc.
This issue is available online at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/media/opgenews/opgenews001107.shtml
Please Note: Links to web addresses such as the one above may wrap
on to a second line. Make sure you have the whole link!
Action Alerts
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- Internet Filtering Legislation
The US Congress is poised to approve in its lame-duck session
legislation mandating Internet filtering software or other technological
barriers to online materials that are "harmful to minors" in public
schools and libraries receiving e-rate funding. Find out why mandating
Internet filtering software is not an appropriate solution and let
Congress know how you feel about mandatory filtering in public
schools and libraries by responding to the American Library Association
action alert available at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/action/legpolicy/us00-hr4577-a3610.shtml#media
- Mr. Wong
Icebox.com, a popular online animated cartoon site has continued
production of a defamatory cartoon called "Mr. Wong" despite protests
from the Asian-American community. The cartoon depicts an elderly Asian
man as a domestic servant for a young society woman who abuses him
and ridicules his difficulties in pronouncing English and in driving
cars, among other stereotypes. Find out how you can respond through
a National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC) action alert
available at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/race/surfwhileblack.shtml#alerts
Online Policy Projects
---------------------------
- Online Policy Organizational Survey
The Online Policy Group has conducted a survey of nonprofit organizations
working on online policy issues. You can read it at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/research/orgsurvey.shtml
- Improving Search Engine Access
This story of how the Online Policy Group web site got listed in the
major web search engines and directories includes some commentary on how
to obtain access and why access may be restricted. Search Engine Watch
included the story in its most recent newsletter. You can read it at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/research/searchengines/opglisted.shtml
Online Policy News
------------------------
- AOL & Time Warner Merger: The Effects of Broadband Monopoly
Since the approval of an America Online and Time Warner merger by the
European Union last month, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal
Communications Commission are the only obstacles to the creation of a
broadband monopoly that could easily restrict choice of Internet service
providers and of certain types of content from users of the new services.
For more information, see
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/access/broadband.shtml
- COPA Commission Final Report
The Commission on Online Child Protection final report presented to the
U.S. Congress "concludes that no single technology or method will
effectively protect children from harmful material online" and raises
"significant concerns about First Amendment values when server-side filters
are used in libraries and schools". Read more about it at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/action/legpolicy/copacommission.shtml#additionalresources
- Case Donation to Anti-Gay Ministry
American Online chairman Stephen M. Case and his wife Jean donated $8.35
million to the Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, run by the
same Coral Ridge Ministries that sponsors an "ex-gay" ministry. The Cases
apparently give no donations to lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender causes.
Read more at
http://www.onlinepolicy.com/research/ospa/aol/aolcasedonation.htm
For more online policy news, have a look at the front page and news archive at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org
Organizational News
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- OPG Founded, Articles, Bylaws, Tax-Exemption Applications
The Online Policy Group was founded on July 21, 2000, and incorporated
in the State of California on September 14, 2000. Bylaws were approved
on October 31, 2000, and federal and state tax exemption applications
were sent in on November 1, 2000. You can see the articles of
incorporation at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/articles.shtml
You can see the bylaws at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/bylaws.shtml
- Boards and Committees Seeking Nominations
The Online Policy Group has formed a legal board and three advisory
boards for academic, industry, and nonprofit advisors. There is also a
development committee. We are currently seeking nominations for additional
legal and advisory board members as well as development committee members.
To see who is currently on the boards and committees and to learn more
about the nomination process, have a look at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/boardcommittee.shtml
- FEN Membership
The Online Policy Group applied for and obtained membership in the
Free Expression Network, an alliance of organizations dedicated
to protecting the First Amendment right of free expression and the
values it represents, and to opposing governmental efforts to suppress
constitutionally protected speech. For more information, see
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/network.shtml
- Stats
More than 50 people have already signed up as subscribers to OPG ENEWS.
The web site has received over 700 unique visitors and that number is
increasing rapidly as information about the organization spreads by
word-of-mouth and on the Internet. The web site contains approximately
250 pages with links to thousands of news items, action alerts, online
policy organizations, and other resources.
- Media Coverage
Various media picked up the media release about the incorporation of
the Online Policy Group. To see the media release or to access the
media coverage that resulted, have a look at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/media.shtml
Volunteer / Intern
---------------------
- Volunteer of the month (October):
Steve Weissman of Brady Klein & Weissman, LLP
for reviewing the OPG articles of incorporation, bylaws, and tax
exemption applications.
- Volunteer of the month (September):
David Donnell of Full Moon Graphix
for designing the OGP lgo that appears on the web site.
- For recognition of other volunteers and donors, check out
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/donate/donorrecognition.shtml
VOLUNTEER!
OPG needs volunteers and interns for many projects so please consider
how you can apply your talents to developing universal Internet access
without bias, discrimination, or defamation. Please see the volunteer and
intern page at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/volintern.shtml
Donate
--------
The Online Policy Group depends on donors to provide the financial support
necessary to make these important online policy projects possible. Please
find out how you can donate funds, equipment, goods, or services to benefit
the online policy cause at
http://www.onlinepolicy.org/joindonate.shtml
Editorial Policy
-------------------
* Contribute a story!
OPG ENEWS accepts submissions of news stories, action alerts, and other
materials. Brief submissions may appear in their entirety in OPG ENEWS,
while longer pieces may appear as a link to a page on the OPG web site.
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-----------------------------
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