Alliance Supports Public Access Act

Consumer Groups want access to peer-reviewed research articles on the Internet within six months of publication.  Fewer then 5% of publications funded by NIH are currently being deposited within a 6 month time frame.

WASHINGTON, DC – Eight consumer groups have announced their support for the Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006 (S.2695). The Act was introduced by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and requires federal agencies that fund over $100 million in annual external research to make electronic manuscripts of peer-reviewed journal articles that stem from that research publicly available via the Internet. Consumer groups add their voices to those of universities, libraries, researchers, publishers, and patients – together representing thousands of individuals and institutions – that support the bill.

“It’s gratifying to have the support of organizations that represent consumer interests and rights, especially in the realm of information and technology,” said Heather Joseph, Executive Director of SPARC (the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Research Coalition, an ATA founding member). “We all share a belief in the advancement of science for the public interest.”

The Consumers Union, the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, and Consumer Project on Technology (CPTech), are joined by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Essential Action, IP Justice, Public Knowledge, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and Union for the Public Domain in pledging their support and applauding the Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006.

“Technology has opened the door to the sharing of knowledge,” said Manon Ress of the Consumer Project on Technology. “The Public Access Act constitutes a major step toward using the barrier-free potential of the Internet to provide all stakeholders in the scientific enterprise – including the public – access to critical information.”

The Alliance for Taxpayer Access encourages taxpayers and discrete stakeholders in the scientific process to add their support for this important legislation. Details are online at http://www.taxpayeraccess.org.