DOPA Jr. Is Not A Wikipedia Ban

This isn't a defense of one of the most dangerous senators on Capitol Hill, just a plea to call it like it is. His term's up in '08, by the way.

DOPA, or the Deleting Online Predators Act was introduced into the House in 2006 by Pennsylvania Republican Mike Fizpatrick, who lost his reelection bid. The bill, which sought to block access to social networking sites in federally-funded schools and libraries, died in the Senate.

When Stevens tacked on an amendment to the Telecommunications Act of 1934, with which I'm sure he's familiar ever since those lively debates back in junior high (he's old), the Stevens-leery public immediately called it a DOPA rebirth. Title II is even called "Deleting Online Predators."

This leads to headlines saying Stevens wants to other apparent
Okay, so librarians need a note from home. Not a ban, though.

The bill requires that schools protect " against access to a commercial social networking website or chat room unless used for an educational purpose with adult supervision."

Okay again, so Wikipedia is allowed as long as the teacher's in the room and its used for learning. Still not a ban.

That's good news for librarians and teachers. Fretting over DOPA last year, the Young Adult Library Services Association compiled a list of

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