Federal:
ALA submitted a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the recent inclusion of broadband Internet access to the Lifeline program. Lifeline provides low-income Americans with discounted phone service. In March 2016, the FCC voted to include broadband as an additional service of this program. Recommendations made by ALA addressed non-cost-related obstacles in accessing broadband. More on this story is available from the District Dispatch.
Broadband access was again an agenda item for ALA, with comments filed for the FCC’s Broadband Progress Report. At issue were library broadband speed benchmarks, which are 100 Mbps for libraries serving populations of 50,000 or less, and 1 gigabit for libraries in communities greater than 50,000 people. ALA also recommended creating a benchmark for the number of Internet-connected devices within public libraries. Read more at the District Dispatch.
The Illinois Health and Hospital Association has updated its extremely useful overview of state legislative activity affecting the hospital community: IHA Summary: Key Bills from 2016 Spring Legislative Session. One item of possible interest involves required patient educational materials for opioid addiction. See Public Act 099-0553, which is effective 1/1/17, for additional details.