II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2918 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 19, 2006 Mr. Dodd (for himself and Mr. Lott) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration A BILL To provide access to newspapers for blind or other persons with disabilities.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Free Newspaper Access for Blind and Other Persons with Disabilities Act.

2.

Authorization of program

(a)

Program authorized

(1)

In general

The Librarian of Congress is authorized, subject to the availability of appropriations, to pay telecommunications costs for blind and other persons with disabilities to have interstate free access to electronic editions of periodicals and newspapers, disseminated in specialized audio and electronic text formats and available contemporaneously with their print editions, from a multi-State nonprofit source described in paragraph (2). (2)

Multi-State nonprofit source

The multi-State nonprofit source referred to in paragraph (1) shall be an entity that obtains content from publishers for free distribution of 1 or more periodicals or newspapers to blind and other persons with disabilities in each State in which eligible persons receive books and other publications supplied by the Librarian of Congress under the Act entitled An Act to provide books for the adult blind, approved March 3, 1931 (2 U.S.C. 135a). (b)

Definition of blind and other persons with disabilities

In this section, the term blind and other persons with disabilities means individuals who are eligible or who may qualify, in accordance with the Act entitled An Act to provide books for the adult blind, approved March 3, 1931 (2 U.S.C. 135a), to receive books and other publications produced in specialized formats.

3.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Library of Congress to carry out this Act $750,000 for fiscal year 2007 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2011.