Resolution on Net Neutrality, 2007

Approved by the Maine Library Association, April, 2007

The Maine Library Association began discussing the issue of Net Neutrality in 2006. In January of 2007 the MLA Board voted unanimously to endorse the American Library Association resolution promoting Net Neutrality (full text attached).

The Maine Library Association believes that libraries "preserve our democratic society by making available the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions, and ideas and believe that equal and equitable access to information is a core value of the library profession."

The ALA resolution defines network neutrality as "the delivery over broadband or high speed Internet access of any content or use of any service in a neutral fashion without a preferential structure favoring some providers of content or services to the detriment of other providers."

Without protecting network neutrality, the Internet "could develop into a multi-tiered system...favoring large established businesses or those with ties to broadband network providers."

Resolution Approved by the Maine Library Association