****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ISSN 1069-7799 ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 3, Number 9 February 25, 1994 In this issue: (348 lines) CORRECTION TO ALAWON VOL. 3, NO. 8 SUMMARY OF ALA COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY BILLS MULTIPLY *************************************************************************** CORRECTION TO ALAWON VOL. 3, NO. 8 In ALAWON Vol. 3, No. 8, we left off an important part of the telnet address to be used in accessing the Administration's Budget on the Internet. The correct command is telnet ebb.stat-usa.gov. Our apologies for any problems this has caused. *************************************************************************** SUMMARY OF ALA COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS RELATED TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION TO EILEEN D. COOKE CD 21, sponsored by the Committee on Legislation and passed by Council on February 9, 1994. RESOLVED, That the American Library Association express its appreciation to Eileen D. Cooke for her many legislative accomplishments on behalf of libraries, and congratulate her on the occasion of her well-deserved retirement. ___________________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION ON LSCA AND HEA II APPROPRIATIONS CD 21.1, sponsored by the Committee on Legislation and passed by Council on February 9, 1994. RESOLVED, That the American Library Association urge Congress to remember that the first priority of WHCLIS was the Omnibus Youth Legislation and to reject the Administration's cuts and fund LSCA and HEA library programs at current levels of funding; and be it further RESOLVED, That ALA urge Congress to recognize that FY94 funds for LSCA II are not available for rescission and should not be included in budget cut amendments; and be it further RESOLVED, That ALA transmit a copy of this resolution to the Chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees, the Department of Education, and other appropriate House and Senate committees. ___________________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION ON ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CD 21.2, sponsored by the Committee on Legislation and passed by Council on February 9, 1994. RESOLVED, That the American Library Association urge Congress to protect the Library's FY94 funding and approve the Library's full budget request for FY95, thereby protecting the Library's services to the nation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESOLUTION ON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE APPROPRIATIONS CD 21.3, sponsored by the Committee on Legislation and passed by Council on February 9, 1994. RESOLVED, That the American Library Association urge the Congress to protect the Superintendent of Documents Salaries and Expenses budget from any FY94 budgetary rescissions and appropriate the full $33.7 million dollars requested by the Public Printer for the Superintendent of Documents appropriations for FY95 to provide ongoing funding for the Federal Depository Library Program and implementation of P.L. 103-40; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to appropriate committees of Congress and the Public Printer. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESOLUTION ON THE FUTURE OF THE FEDERAL DEPOSITORY LIBRARY PROGRAM CD 21.4, sponsored by the Committee on Legislation and passed by Council on February 9, 1994. RESOLVED, That the American Library Association urge Congress to ensure the American public access to government information through a centralized agency which has responsibility for printing, procurement and dissemination of government information, regardless of format -- as currently vested in the Government Printing Office; and be it further RESOLVED, That ALA urge Congress to provide adequate funds for the distribution of government information; and be it further RESOLVED, That ALA urge Congress to ensure that any legislative changes: * retain in the Legislative branch the overall information dissemination authority, * strengthen Congressional oversight responsibility for government information dissemination, * guarantee a centralized authority to provide a system of equitable, effective and efficient distribution to depository libraries which permits full and no-fee public access to government information in all formats including print, microform, electronic, audio and visual presentations or other means of information transfer, * provide for timely comprehensive catalogs or locators using standardized description of government information products, * implement compliance mechanisms to ensure depository libraries no-fee, timely, and equitable access to government information produced and disseminated by all government agencies, * provide access to government information in a format that is most appropriate, most cost effective, most timely and most useful for government agencies, libraries and the general public, * provide avenues for the regular evaluation of information programs, products and services with input from users' councils, federal agencies, participating libraries, the public, business, industry, and appropriate others, * strengthen the government's obligation to archive and preserve government information, regardless of format, * advance the development and promotion of standards in the area of information technology, bibliographic control and government-wide search software, * foster communication between Federal Depository Library Program participants, such as Federal agencies, libraries, and the public, in the design of government information products and services, and in the development and promotion of standards, and * fund the Federal Depository Library Program at the level necessary to comply with statutory requirements and to ensure its effectiveness and participation in the emerging National Information Infrastructure; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the appropriate Congressional committees and federal officials. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, AND ENGINEERING INFORMATION REGULATIONS CD 21.5, sponsored by the Committee on Legislation and passed by Council on February 9, 1994. RESOLVED, That the American Library Association urge the Department of Commerce and the National Technical Information Service to further define and clarify the definition of STEI products; and be it further RESOLVED, That ALA urge the Department of Commerce and the National Technical Information Service to distribute STEI products in usable formats and in a timely manner to depository libraries; and be it further RESOLVED, That ALA urge the Department of Commerce and the National Technical Information Service to remove the depository libraries' access, use and reuse restrictions to online STEI information, and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the National Technical Information Service and appropriate Congressional committees. ___________________________________________________________________________ RESOLUTION ON PRINCIPLES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE CD 21.6, sponsored by the Committee on Legislation and passed by Council on February 9, 1994. RESOLVED, That the American Library Association support the Principles for the Development of the National Information Infrastructure as published as a result of the September 8-10, 1993 Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Policy Forum, with the understanding that further elaboration and development of these principles will be forthcoming, subject to there being no conflict with ALA policy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL HEALTH CARE PROGRAM CD 21.7, sponsored by the Committee on Legislation and passed by Council on February 9, 1994. RESOLVED, That the American Library Association endorse the need for creation of a national health care program that is based on the principles of universal access, portability, and equitable funding and urge Congress to adopt a national health care program based on these principles; and be it further RESOLVED, That ALA transmit a copy of this resolution to the President and appropriate committees of Congress. *************************************************************************** TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY BILLS MULTIPLY HOLLINGS BILL. The Communications Act of 1994 (S. 1822), a comprehensive rewrite of the 1934 Act, was introduced on February 3 by Senator Ernest Hollings (D-SC), Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and a majority of the Communications Subcommittee members. See the February 3 _Congressional Record_, pp. 771-88, for introductory remarks, the full text of S. 1822, and a summary. In his introduction, Sen. Hollings asked: How can the public interest be guaranteed? The bill establishes a detailed framework to protect universal service, and allows public entities such as schools, libraries, local governments, public broadcasters and other public entities to receive preferential rates for access to the telecommunications infrastructure. In their remarks, some cosponsors, notably Sens. Rockefeller (D-WV) and Burns (R-MT), mentioned the need to guarantee access for schools and libraries. Other cosponsors include Sens. Danforth (R-MO), Inouye (D-HI), Stevens (R-AK), Exon (D-NE), Pressler (R-SD), Robb (D-VA), Gorton (R-WA), Dorgan (D-ND), Kerrey (D-NE), and Kerry (D-MA). The bill's 39 findings include numerous items of interest to the library community, such as the need for assistance for school and library access, preferential rates for schools and libraries, the importance of telecommunications services in a democracy, special attention needed for rural areas, the potential for distance learning and distribution of health information, the need for a mandate for access by those with disabilities, and: "access to switched, digital telecommunications service for all segments of the population promotes the core First Amendment goal of diverse information sources by enabling individuals and organizations alike to publish and otherwise make information available in electronic form." Title I would require every common carrier to contribute to the preservation and advancement of universal service. The Federal Communications Commission and the states would define universal service and ensure that the bill's universal service goals are met. Those goals are: "(1) To ensure that every person has access to basic telecommunications services at reasonable charges. "(2) To promote the development and widespread availability of new technologies, "(3) To ensure that consumers have access to diverse sources of information. "(4) To allow each individual the opportunity to contribute to the free flow of ideas and information through telecommunications services. "(5) To maximize the contribution of communications and information technologies and services to economic welfare and quality of life. "(6) To protect each individual's right to control the use of information concerning his or her use of telecommunications services. "(7) To promote democracy.". A section on public access deals with preferential rates for schools and libraries, and is quoted here in full: SEC. 103. PUBLIC ACCESS (a) Amendment.--Section 202 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 202) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(d)(1) Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (c), it shall be the duty of all telecommunications carriers that use public rights of way to permit educational institutions, health-care institutions, local and State governments, public broadcast stations, public libraries, other public entities, community newspapers, and broadcasters in the smallest markets to obtain access to intrastate and interstate services provided by such carriers at preferential rates. Entities that obtain services under this provision may not resell such services, except to other entities that are eligible for preferential rates under this subsection. "(2) Within one year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall prescribe regulations to enforce the provisions of this subsection". (b) Rulemaking on Advanced Telecommunications Services.--The Commission shall commence a rulemaking proceeding for the purpose of prescribing regulations that-- (1) enhance, to the extent feasible, the availability of advanced telecommunications services to all public elementary and secondary school classrooms, health care institutions, and libraries; and (2) ensure that appropriate functional requirements or performance standards, or both, including interoperability standards, are established for telecommunications arrangements that interconnect educational institutions, health care institutions, and libraries with the public switched network. In other provisions, the FCC and states are required to ensure that rural and noncompetitive markets have access to high quality interoperable telecommunications network facilities and capabilities. Such services are to be designed to be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Two years after enactment, or earlier if universal service requirements are implemented, any entity will be allowed to provide telecommunications services, and be regulated as a common carrier with interconnection and nondiscriminatory access requirements. The regional Bell operating companies would be allowed to engage in previously prohibited lines of business, such as manufacturing of telecommunications equipment, electronic publishing, information services, and long distance services. In general, separate subsidiaries are required, and other safeguards are imposed. Provisions are included which are intended to achieve regulatory parity between telephone and cable companies, so that new monopolies are not created in local areas. OTHER ACTIVITY. In January and February, several hearings were held on two House bills which together constitute a major regulatory revision of telecommunications policy and related antitrust issues. The bills are HR 3636, introduced by House Telecommunications and Finance Subcommittee Chairman Edward Markey (D-MA) and ranking minority member Jack Fields (R- TX); and HR 3626, introduced by Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the parent Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Jack Brooks (D-TX), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Subcommittee and committee action on these bills is imminent. Meanwhile, the Administration has been circulating for comment various pieces of legislative language, including a new title VII of the Communications Act--a new kind of regulatory environment for hybrid companies which would otherwise be subject to regulation under both telephone and cable television provisions. *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Internet: alawash@alawash.org; Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363. Editor: Carol C. Henderson (cch@alawash.org). All or part of ALAWON may be redistributed, with appropriate credits. ALAWON is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. 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