[blindlaw] Legislative Alert on Electronic Newspapers Act (fwd)

[Ford, Tim (DHS-OLS)]

Great work!



-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2006 9:00 AM
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org; nfb-talk at nfbnet.org; nfb-announce at nfbnet.org;
nabs-l at nfbnet.org; nfb-newsline-sponsors at nfbnet.org;
blindlaw at nfbnet.org; journalists at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blindlaw] Legislative Alert on Electronic Newspapers Act (fwd)



>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 17:33:45 -0400
>From: "Hartle, Jesse" <JHartle at NFB.ORG>
>To: undisclosed-recipients:  ;
>Subject: Legislative Alert on Electronic Newspapers Act
>
>Fellow Federationists,
>
>Shortly after our National Convention the Senate passed S. 2918, the 
>Free Newspaper Access for Blind and Other Persons with Disabilities 
>Act. This legislation authorizes funding for dissemination of 
>newspapers or magazines in an electronic or audio based format.  If 
>this legislation is enacted, and suitable arrangements are made, it 
>would then not be necessary to have an appropriations earmark approved 
>each year to pay the telecommunication cost for NFB Newsline.
>
>
>
>S. 2918 has now been referred to the Committee on House Administration.

>We must contact our members of the House of Representatives and urge 
>them to ask the Committee on House Administration to take prompt action

>to pass this legislation.  I have included a list of the Committee on 
>House Administration below.  Republican Representatives should be urged

>to contact Chairman Vernon Ehlers of Michigan, while Democratic 
>Representatives should contact Ranking Member Juanita 
>Millender-McDonald of California.
>
>
>
>Currently, we are able to provide Newsline year-to-year through the 
>earmark process.  Some members are trying to cut back on unauthorized 
>earmarks, which puts our Newsline program in danger of being cut.  If 
>we act now to ensure that S. 2918 is passed through the House before 
>the end of the second session, we will have taken a large step in our 
>effort to protect the Newsline system.
>
>
>
>If you need more information, I have listed my contact information 
>below.  A fact sheet is also enclosed.  Thank you all in advance for 
>your work on this matter.
>
>
>
>Committee on House Administration:
>
>
>Republican Members
>
>
>Congressman Ehlers, Chairman, Michigan
>
>Congressman Ney, Ohio
>
>Congressman Reynolds, New York
>
>Congressman Mica, Florida
>
>Congressman Doolittle, California
>
>Congresswoman Miller, Michigan
>
>
>
>
>Democratic Members
>
>
>Congresswoman Millender-McDonald, Ranking Member, California
>
>Congressman Brady, Pennsylvania
>
>Congresswoman Lofgren, California
>
>
>
>Jesse Hartle
>
>Phone: 410-659-9314, ext. 2233
>
>Email:  <mailto:jhartle at nfb.org> jhartle at nfb.org
>
>
>
>JH/wmb
>
>
>
>Enclosure
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>TECHNOLOGY AND LITERACY:
>
>
>REACHING THE BLIND IN THE INFORMATION AGE
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Purpose:  To provide access to newspapers for blind or other persons 
>with disabilities, by passage of the Free Newspaper Access for Blind 
>and Other Persons with Disabilities Act'.
>
>
>
>BACKGROUND:  In 1931 Congress created a national "Books for the Blind" 
>program within the Library of Congress.  This special media library, 
>administered by the National Library Service for the Blind and 
>Physically Handicapped (NLS), continues to be the principal source of 
>Braille and audio books and magazines for the blind.  However, NLS did 
>not supply newspapers until quite recently.
>
>
>
>Public libraries are a free source for books, magazines, and newspapers

>but have very little to offer a patron who is blind.  However, rapid 
>distribution of newspapers and magazines is now possible.  For example,

>the National Federation of the Blind provides readers with content from

>233 newspapers (including 4 in Spanish) and 4 magazines (including 
>"AARP, the Magazine") through its NFB-Newsline(r) program.  This
program 
>uses high-speed computers and telecommunications technology to 
>distribute electronic content to eligible readers twenty-four hours a 
>day, seven days a week.
>
>
>
>Using current production methods, the publication by NLS of even a 
>single daily newspaper for distribution in Braille or on audiocassette 
>would require several weeks for preparation and delivery.  In contrast,

>the electronic system of providing access to newspapers and magazines 
>over the telephone is designed for rapid distribution of each paper on 
>the system.  Using this service, blind people can read their favorite 
>newspapers at the same time that print copies are being delivered to 
>homes, offices, and newsstands.  This is a significant expansion in our

>nation's capacity to meet the specialized information needs of the 
>blind.
>
>
>
>MAINTAINING DAILY SERVICE:  Unlike books of lasting value, newspapers 
>are time sensitive.  Electronic distribution of current news content, 
>updated daily, is essential, and should be supported as an extension of

>the existing National Library Services (NLS) authorization by Congress 
>to serve blind and physically handicapped persons.  Since most eligible

>readers do not have regular access to computers or the technology and 
>skills to use them without sight, distribution of electronic news text 
>by telephone must be a part of the program supported by the Library of 
>Congress.
>
>
>
>With technology such as that used by NFB Newsline, the problem of 
>timely delivery can be solved, but the continuing burden of paying the 
>telecommunications costs must be addressed.
>
>
>
>As passed by the Senate, S. 2918 authorizes $750,000 for fiscal year 
>2007, and such sums for each fiscal year through 2011.  This is 
>considered to be adequate to support the program described above.
>
>
>
>The original funding to make distribution of electronic newspapers 
>possible was provided in the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2001.  Funds

>have since been provided by earmarks in subsequent Legislative Branch 
>Appropriations bills, in fiscal years 2003, 2005, and 2006.  These 
>appropriations have been used to pay telecommunications cost, but are 
>not used to support ongoing operation or maintenance of the service.  
>Also, news organizations have cooperated by contributing their content 
>free.  This arrangement keeps the Federal role to a minimum.  If this 
>bill is enacted, readers will be provided with approximately 27.8 
>million minutes of on-demand service during fiscal year 2007.
>
>
>
>Distribution of local dialing numbers to avoid recurring toll-free long

>distance telecommunication charges should be emphasized.  Counting the 
>increasing numbers of seniors with vision problems who learn about this

>electronic newspaper service, the potential for growth is estimated at 
>about 20 percent per year, but because of the ongoing distribution of 
>local access numbers, the cost of long distance calls will increase by 
>less than 20 percent.  Additionally, technology has been developed to 
>enable readers to receive content on small computer devices (like PDAs)

>used for Braille or audio output.  As the trend advances toward use of 
>these devices, blind readers will become less dependent on listening to

>electronic content on the telephone, avoiding long distance charges 
>altogether.
>
>
>
>Current STATUS:  Chairman Trent Lott and Ranking Member Christopher 
>Dodd of the Senate Rules Committee introduced S. 2918, the Free 
>Newspaper Access for Blind and Other Persons with Disabilities Act, on 
>May 19, 2006.  This legislation was passed by the Senate on July 11, 
>2006, by unanimous consent, and has now been referred to the Committee 
>on House Administration for consideration.
>
>
>
>ACTION REQUESTED:  Please support the Free Newspaper Access for Blind 
>and Other Persons with Disabilities Act, by urging the Committee on 
>House Administration to approve and promptly report this bill to the 
>House.  Approval by the House will ensure that this legislation is 
>passed before the second session is adjourned.  If this bill is not 
>passed, this program will not exist beyond fiscal year 2007.  It relies

>on a small amount of Federal support to provide 38% of the total cost 
>of the service.
>
>
>
>For further information contact:
>
>Jesse Hartle
>
>Government Programs Specialist
>
>National Federation of the Blind
>
>Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2233
>
>Email:  <mailto:jhartle at nfb.org> jhartle at nfb.org