LibrarianActivist.org

Ars Technica writes about UK’s Digital Economy bill “3 strikes” rules. The author writes:

ISPs must log copyright infringement warnings, rightsholders can sue when anyone picks up three warnings within a year, rightsholders must prove they use a solid process to uncover violations, ISPs must prove they can properly match IP addresses to names, and there’s an appeals process.

But the articles asks “who counts as an ISP?” Apparently libraries offering Internet access (including WiFi), could fall into this category. Which means that libraries could be held accountable for the Internet activities of their patrons. Ofcom, the telecommunications regulator in Britain, says:

Those who wish to continue to enable others to access their service will need to consider whether [to] take steps to protect their networks against use for infringement, to avoid the consequences that may follow

This could mean that libraries (and other similar small ISPs, such as coffee shops) will have to start gathering information such as name, email or addresses of patrons before they use the Internet. Ofcom has indicated that small ISPs (libraries, etc.) will not be subject to the law at first. But this may change in the future, and libraries could be disconnected from the Internet if there are repeat offenders using their network.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has published their 2009 Alternative Federal Budget. They suggest massive investment into broadband infrastructre.

Communications for Social and Economic Development: A National Inclusion Strategy

Over the last two decades, telecommunications policy has been increasingly driven by an industrial strategy linked to technological innovation and competitiveness. As a result, regulations were dismantled, and with them, a national vision of the importance of the sector to Canadian identity and prosperity.

In order to reestablish its position nationally and internationally, Canada needs a national strategy that promotes social and economic development by making broadband connectivity ubiquitous. In addition, it will require new investments in community-based programs that help Canadians make effective use of the new technologies and an ongoing process of consultation that ensures that the diverse needs of communities are met.

• The AFB will invest $2 billion over five years in a pan-Canadian infrastructure project to extend broadband connectivity to rural areas.
• The AFB will invest $250 million over three years to support new and existing National Public Access Program sites.
• A sum of $750,000 will be set aside to research and verify community broadband connectivity and support requirements.

Do you have any good ideas that you think should be in the Federal budget? The government has set up a website with a survey asking you to rank their predetermined ideas, or to give your own (in 50 words or less!). This would be my suggestion:

Investing into broadband infrastructure: more broadband should alleviate the need for traffic shapping. ISPs use the excuse that there is limited bandwidth and therefore they need to manage the Internet. Net neutrality should come out a winner if more broadband becomes available (and, of course, if the CRTC or the government create legislation supporting net neutrality). More broadband should also address the digital divide that still exists in this country.

The CLA has put together an Election Kit that pulls together a series of issues of importance to the library community and how to bring those to the attention of the candidates. These include copyright, net neutrality, public library infrastructure, etc.

In the meantime, the CCPA has just come out with a free online book called The Harper Record.

This book gives a detailed account of the laws, policies, regulations, and initiatives of the Conservative minority government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper during its 32-month term from January 2006 to September 2008.

Of interest to libraries, the section entitled “Telecommunications on the Free(Market) Way“, by Marita Moll and Leslie Regan Shade.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has a released a book on the telecommunications policy in Canada: “For Sale to the Highest Bidder: Telecom Policy in Canada“.

“More than ever before, we depend on telecommunications services to conduct our economic, cultural and social lives. But, after 100 years of managing and controlling this industry to safeguard the interests of all Canadians, recent government decisions are leading us to a communications future that doesn’t include us all. Canadian interests in this vital sector are being traded off in the name of deregulation and harmonization. Whether it is about access or affordability, security or sovereignty, the essays in this book will be a wake-up call to anyone wondering how telecommunications policy affects our daily lives.”