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Congressman Introduces Bill to Use Education Funding to Support the RIAA |
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Republican Congressmen Ric Keller (FL-08) has just introduced a disturbing amendment to the Higher Education Act of 1965. The bill (H.R. 1689), which was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor on March 26th, is called the “Curb Illegal Downloading on College Campuses Act of 2007.”
According to Zeropaid:
The measure would expand the allowable use of funds under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) Program under the Department of Education to provide for innovative on-campus, anti-piracy pilot programs designed to reduce digital piracy.
The Recording Industry Association of America, who undoubtedly lobbied for (and possibly wrote) the bill, released a statement almost immediately:
“This is well timed and much needed legislation,†said Mitch Bainwol, Chairman and CEO, RIAA. “During the last two months, we have seen a vigorous public conversation about the extensive theft of music on college campuses. Many schools have re-examined their existing policies and committed to do more to address this mutual problem. That’s an encouraging sign.“The more that schools do to defend the integrity of their computer networks and protect against theft, the less likely that their students will be caught for illegal downloading. That’s a win-win-win for everyone.
I don’t see how this could possibly qualify as a win-win-win situation.
The Record Labels: This is clearly a win for them.
The Colleges: Creating general discontent and upsetting large numbers of their students cannot be considered a win.
The Students: Funding intended for educational purposes will be used to ensure that students have less access to music than anyone else on the Internet. This double blow to the students most certainly qualifies as a loss.
What you can do:
1. Let’s blow up Ric Keller’s phone line and let him know that WE ARE OPPOSED to the Curb Illegal Downloading on College Campuses Act. Funding intended to facilitate learning should never be used to advance the agenda of major corporations.
DC Office: (202) 225-2176
In order to be most effective when you call, be brief, specific, and polite. Be sure to clearly state the name of the bill as well as the fact that you are opposed to it.
2. Boycott the Recording Industry Association of America. You can use RIAA Radar to find out whether or not an artist is a member.
Aren’t there underperforming schools we need to be worrying about? What about no child left behind? Why is the government spending any money to help a losing industry like the RIAA?
You can also try emailing Ric Keller, though I’m not sure it’ll work well. Go to http://www.house.gov/writerep/, choose Florida as your state and 32801-2046 as your zip code. You’ll then get a contact form for Ric Keller.
Here’s what I wrote in that contact form, feel free to use it for yourself:
I will be calling his office on Monday.