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One Internet with Equal Access for All
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Bobby Approved (v 3.2)
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Copyright ©2000-2004
Online Policy Group, Inc.

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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
-------------------------

  • 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
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  • 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
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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.

Subscribe / Unsubscribe
-----------------------------

To subscribe or unsubscribe to OPG ENEWS, or for any other queries or comments related to the publication, please email your request to subscribe@onlinepolicy.org

[Ed. These sub/unsub instructions are out of date... please

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