OPG ENEWS

The electronic journal of the Online Policy Group, Inc.

This issue is available online at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/media/opgenews/opgenews010202.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 Blocking Technology Legislation: FCC Comments by Feb. 10
  The US Congress has passed legislation requiring Internet blocking technology in all schools and libraries participating in certain federal programs (more about this in the Online Policy Projects and News sections below). Until February 10, 2001, the FCC is accepting comments on regulations for the new law, called CHIP or CIPA as an abbreviation of the Children's Internet Protection Act. Take a moment to let the FCC know what you think by checking out the action alert available at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/action/legpolicy/chipfccalert.shtml

• Send IRS Comments on Proposal to Regulate Nonprofit Web Activities
  The U.S. Internal Revenue Service is initiating regulation on electronic communications by nonprofit organizations including potentially monitoring who nonprofit organizations link to from their web sites and constituting links as possible lobbying violations, so please send in your comments by the deadline of February 13, 2001, using the action alert at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/action/legpolicy/irswebalert.shtml

Online Policy Projects
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• Joint Statement Opposing Legislative Requirements for School and Library Internet Blocking Technologies
  The Online Policy Group facilitated the organization of a network of organizations and individuals opposed to legislative requirements for school and library Internet blocking technology. So far, 18 organizations, including the ACLU, EFF, and PFAWF, as well as 16 individuals, many of them librarians have endorsed the joint statement produced by the network. Read and/or endorse the joint statement yourself, plus find and contribute organizing tools related to the joint statement at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/network/statement.shtml

• Blocking Discussion Lists Established
  Three new email lists for discussions about Internet blocking technologies are now available to cover general, school-specific, and library-specific topics. To subscribe, see http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/network/emaillists.shtml

• Blocking Technology Can't Work
  A new list of the top ten reasons why Internet blocking technology can't work especially in light of the U.S. Congress' requirement for school and library blocking technology. See the document at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/research/blockcantwork.shtml

• Online Service Provider Assessment
  The Online Policy Group has brought an intern on board to coordinate the research portion of the Online Service Provider Assessment project, designed to test online service providers, such as AOL and Yahoo, to determine if they discriminate against particular types of content or communities by using a statistically sound survey methodology. You can read more about the project at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/research/ospa.shtml

Online Policy News
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• Legal Challenges to CHIP / CIPA
  The ACLU, the American Library Association, and the People For the American Way Foundation have announced legal challenges to the Child Internet Protection Act, requiring blocking technologies in all schools and libraries participating in certain federal programs. For the full story, see http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/network/statement.shtml#additionalresources

• U.S. Congress Approves Omnibus Bill with Blocking Technology Requirement
  The U.S. Congress passed legislation requiring the use of Internet blocking technology in all public school and libraries as a condition of receiving education technology funds, library services funds, or universal service discounts, U.S. House Appropriations Committee release and releases in response available at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/action/legpolicy/us00-hr4577-a3610.shtml#media

• Fear Comes to Hollister
  In a case that pits the privacy of so-called anonymous "John Doe" web site authors against protections against potential defamation, the lesbian owners of a small-town weekly sue to discover who is tormenting them. For more info, see http://www.onlinepolicy.org/privacy.shtml#media

• AOL & Time Warner Merger Approved
  It's old news by now that not only the European Union, but also the United States Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission have approved the mega-media merger of AOL and Time Warner. More details available at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/access/broadband.shtml

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 Granted Tax-Exempt Status and Credit Cards Now Accepted
  On January 30, 2001, the Internal Revenue Service granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status to the Online Policy Group. This means your contributions are tax-deductible to the full amount permitted by law. OPG can now also accept your donations by credit card or from your bank account using the PayPal system. For donation information, see http://www.onlinepolicy.org/joindonate.shtml

• Online Policy Group Merges with QueerNet and PLUSnet
  On January 1, 2001, the merger of QueerNet and PLUSnet as projects of the Online Policy Group became official. The merger is designed to bolster universal access to production and distribution of community-based information on the Internet. See the media release at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/media/001212.opg.merger.shtml

• Online Policy Group Adopts Comprehensive Nondiscrimination Policy
  The Online Policy Group adopted a comprehensive nondiscrimination and accommodation policy on January 30, 2001. See the policy at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/nondiscrimination.shtml

• Media Coverage
  Various media picked up the media release for the joint statement opposing legislative requirements for school and library Internet blocking technologies. To see the media release or to access the media coverage that resulted, have a look at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/network/statement.shtml#organizingtools

• IFEA Membership
  On January 16, 2001, the Online Policy Group became a member of the Internet Free Expression Alliance, an alliance of organizations dedicated to ensuring "the continuation of the Internet as a forum for open, diverse and unimpeded expression and to maintain the vital role the Internet plays in providing an efficient and democratic means of distributing information around the world". For more information, see http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/network.shtml

• OPG Email Lists
  As part of the Online Policy Group merger with QueerNet, OPG now has access to new email list management facilities. As part of the transfer to the new email list management system, current subscribers may receive an email notifying them of subscriptions to the new email lists or possibly even requesting authorization to complete the email list subscription. Please respond as directed to the authorization request if you wish to remain on the OPG email list. For information on which lists are available, how to subscribe, and how to unsubscribe, see http://www.onlinepolicy.org/about/network/emaillists.shtml

• Stats
  More than 50 people have already signed up as subscribers to OPG ENEWS. The web site has received over 1500 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 260 pages with links to thousands of news items, action alerts, online policy organizations, and other resources.

• 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

Volunteer / Intern
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• Volunteer of the month (December):
  Bryce Eberhart
  for public relations advice related to OPG media work.

• Volunteer of the month (November):
  Sean Feeney
  for updating the design the OGP logo that appears on the web site.

• For recognition of other volunteers and donors, check out http://www.onlinepolicy.org/donate/donorrecognition.shtml

INTERNS!
Thanks to OPG Board Director David Gudelunas for advertising OPG's internship program to the key web sites that serve students seeking internships. The rate of new internship applications has increased dramatically, although there are still internship slots available.

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

We particularly need HTML coders interested in updating the OPG web site on a regular basis.

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 make a tax-deductible donation of funds, equipment, goods, or services to benefit the online policy cause at http://www.onlinepolicy.org/joindonate.shtml

Editorial Policy
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* 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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OPG ENEWS, ISSN 1533-6387

Copyright (c) 2001, Online Policy Group, Inc.

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