Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Authors Alliance, Internet Archive, Library Futures, Wikimedia, and Other Organizations Send Letter “Urging Congress to Shelve Journalism Competition and Preservation Act”

From a Public Knowledge Statement:

“[We] represent a broad cross-section of organizations focused on protecting and advancing our democracy. We include civil society organizations; librarians and archivists; creators; technology companies; experts in antitrust, copyright, constitutional and digital rights law; and media and news groups. While we represent a broad range of policy positions, we join in the view that this legislation should not be passed.

“We are well aware that local news is in crisis. Many of [us] have passionately advocated for public policy solutions to ensure citizens have the quality information they need to engage in civic life and the political process. However, the JCPA will compound some of the biggest issues in our information landscape and do little to enable the most promising new models to improve it.

“[Additionally], antitrust exemptions [like the one created in this bill] have not accomplished beneficial goals, and instead have harmed competition and consumers, entrenched existing power structures, and increased codependence between industry incumbents. The JCPA will cement and stimulate consolidation in the industry and create new barriers to entry for new and innovative models of truly independent, local journalism. There are other policy solutions to the crisis in local journalism, and we strongly urge you to reconsider the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act.”

Direct to Full Text of Letter

Direct to News Release

List of Organizations Signing Letter

Association of Research Libraries
Authors Alliance
Center for Democracy & Technology
Chamber of Progress
Coalition for Creativity (C4C)
Common Cause
Computer & Communications Industry Association
Consumer Reports
Creative Commons
EFF
Fight for the Future
Free Press Action
Internet Archive
Library Futures
Local Independent Online News Publishers
Patreon
Public Knowledge
R Street Institute
Re:Create

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Associations and Organizations, Libraries, News, Preservation