C&RL News May 2010  262

Net Neutrality
On April 6, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 
District of Columbia ruled in Comcast v. FCC 
that the Federal Communications Commission 
(FCC) lacks the authority to require broad-
band providers to give equal treatment to all 
Internet traffi c fl owing over their networks.
Or, in other words, Network (Net) Neutrality 
principles could not be enforced by FCC, in 
this case. 

Individuals, like librarians, who work in 
the information trenches every day inherently 
understand why instilling these principles is 
critical to the future of the Internet; however, 
it is often challenging to communicate the 
importance of this highly complex issue to 
those who are unfamiliar with the concept. 
Yet, it is an issue that affects the day-to-day 
life of anyone who goes online. 

“Simply” defi ned, Net Neutrality is a set 
of principles that would protect the free fl ow 
of information on the Internet by prohibiting 
manipulations of the speed at which informa-
tion is transmitted to users. 

Net Neutrality would also ensure that all 
types of content would receive equal treat-
ment and that Internet Service Providers (ISP) 
would not be able to select which content 
was transmitted over their services. ALA 
believes the Internet faces major threats as a 
result of deregulation and has voiced support 
for FCC’s efforts to maintain an open Internet 
by codifying the principles of Network Neu-
trality, which ALA told the commission in a 
letter sent on March 1. 

To view the letter, go to www.arl.org
/bm~doc/ed-library-nn-principles-letter.pdf.

The outcome of the recent court case 
raises questions about FCC’s ability to pro-
tect the future of a free and open Internet.
According to Corey Williams, associate 
director of the ALA’s Offi ce of Government 
Relations, a future without Net Neutrality 

could potentially become a world in which 
entertainment content would be routed in the 
information superhighway “fast lane,” bypass-
ing education or other types of content—all 
unbeknownst to users.

Immediate reactions to the case by mem-
bers of FCC and Congress indicate that both 
bodies believe that they have a stake in the 
matter. While some commissioners say the 
issue should be handled solely by FCC, other 
commissioners say it should be addressed 
by Congress. 

Likewise, some members of Congress say 
FCC has the authority to enforce Net Neu-
trality; others in Congress say it falls under 
legislative jurisdiction. 

Thus, ALA anticipates both regulatory and 
legislative activity in the coming months. Not 
surprisingly, Network Neutrality is one of the 
top ACRL Legislative Agenda items for 2010 
(www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/issues/
washingtonwatch/10agenda.cfm). 

The ALA Washington Offi ce will continue 
working closely with ACRL in planning and 
implementing strategic efforts to keep librar-
ies fully engaged in this issue on the federal 
level. 

Jenni Terry is press offi  cer at ALA’s Washington Offi  ce, 
e-mail: jterry@alawash.org

W a s h i n g t o n  H o t l i n eJenni Terry

Net Neutrality part of ACRL’s 2010 
Legislative Agenda

Each year, the ACRL Government Relations 
Committee, in consultation with the ACRL 
Board of Directors and staff, formulates 
an ACRL Legislative Agenda. Drafted with 
input from member leaders, the legislative 
agenda is prioritized and includes objec-
tives for legislative action at the national 
level on issues that may affect the welfare 
of academic and research libraries. 

The recently adopted 2010 ACRL Legisla-
tive Agenda focuses on eight priorities and is 
online at www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl
/issues/washingtonwatch/10agenda.cfm.

may10b.indd   262 4/22/2010   12:20:48 PM