[Infowarrior] - Educause CFA: College Filesharing Amendment

[Richard Forno]

http://connect.educause.edu/blog/hwachs/urgentcalltoaction/44790?time=118524
3074

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TO: Institutional Primary Reps

RE: EDUCAUSE Urgent Request

URGENT, ACT TODAY: AMENDMENT HARMFUL TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to ask your help in a matter of urgency to higher education in
general and the IT community in particular: U.S. Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-NV) intends to offer a very harmful amendment, involving
illegal file sharing, to the Higher Education Reauthorization Act when the
Senate turns to this issue on July 22-23. The amendment can be found at
<http://tinyurl.com/2x45d2>. The amendment:

*  Makes the Secretary of Education an agent of the entertainment industry;

*  Requires the Secretary to take action using data given to her by the
entertainment industry that is terribly inaccurate;

*  Requires targeted colleges and universities to plan for implementing a
"technical solution" to illegal file sharing that does not yet exist for
many campus environments;

*  Is aimed only at colleges and universities, and NOT other Internet
service providers; 

*  Ignores the fact that the higher education and entertainment communities
are working together to develop a mutually acceptable technological solution
to illegal file sharing, a process that should be allowed to continue
without interference from the Federal government;

*  Ignores the fact that the bill already contains a provision that requires
all colleges and universities to submit an annual report to the Secretary of
Education providing details of the education and enforcement strategies
being used on campus to reducing illegal file-sharing; and

*  Is yet another attempt by the Federal government to dictate the
day-to-day operations of colleges and universities.

It is important that your institution (CEO, government relations official,
and yourself) CALL today, not write, your state¹s U.S. senators¹ staff
members for higher education issues and tell them how much higher education
opposes this amendment. Please also call Senator Reid¹s office
(202-224-3542), Senator Edward Kennedy¹s office (202-224-4543), and Senator
Michael Enzi¹s office (202-224-3424). Thank you for your help.

EDUCAUSE will provide you with further information when it is available, but
please do not wait to make your calls.

Best regards,

Mark Luker

Vice President

EDUCAUSE