================================================================= ALAWON Volume 5, Number 27 ISSN 1069-7799 May 16, 1996 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (120 lines) REQUEST LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO FCC IN UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROCEEDINGS DRAFT LETTER TO FCC _________________________________________________________________ REQUEST LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO FCC IN UNIVERSAL SERVICE PROCEEDINGS Library advocates should continue to ask Congressional representatives and senators to send letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in of support affordable telecommunications rates for libraries and schools as part of the universal service proceedings, Docket 96-45. A number of senators have already sent a joint sign-on letter to the FCC. Several House members will be sending their own letters, in part as a result of office visits made by library supporters and participants in National Library Legislative Day on May 7. Attached below is a draft letter that could be used by Congressional offices in signaling their support for effective implementation of the new universal service regulations. Congressional supporters and other library advocates are asked to send their letters as soon as possible, certainly before the middle of June. Although the FCC and the Joint Board will not be completing their work until November 1996, it is important that the FCC and Joint Board hear from supporters during this early period of the proceedings. This letter could be re-crafted for other library supporters who are also asked to write the FCC in support of the ALA proposals. (See ALAWON, Vol. 5, No. 25, May 13, for details of the ALA filing.) The ALA web page provides updated information on future proceedings as well as details of ALA's filings, instructions on filing at the FCC, and the makeup of the Joint Board. Links are also provided to state legislation on universal service and/or state plans. To access these and other ALA web sites, direct your browser to: http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oitp/uniserv.html. For a copy of the full filing, direct your browser to: gopher://gopher.ala.org:70/00/alagophwashoff/ alagophwashoffoitp/comments.txt Or call for more information: Andrew Magpantay (OITP) or Lynne Bradley (WO) at the ALA toll-free number in Washington, D.C.: 1-800-941-8478. _______________________________________________ DRAFT LETTER TO FCC (Date) The Honorable Reed Hundt Chairman Federal Communications Commission 1919 M Street, NW, Room 814 Washington, DC 20554 Dear Mr. Chairman: I write in strong support of meaningful discounts for libraries and schools as you implement the universal service provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In passing this landmark legislation, Congress meant to ensure that upon a bona fide request, a carrier is to provide services to libraries and schools at rates less than the amounts charged for similar services to other parties. Representatives of the libraries in my district have told me how much this provision will mean to them in spurring use of new technology, enabling libraries to serve as community access points to the information infrastructure, and in helping libraries to provide the public with an expanded range of information opportunities for learning, citizenship, leisure, and work. Libraries are responsible and accountable users of technology; they have in the past and will continue to leverage efficiently every bit of help available to them, but they need affordable access. I know that you are hearing from many parties on how to implement the universal service provisions for libraries and schools. I strongly recommend that you listen especially closely to what the libraries themselves say they need. Clearly, they need meaningful discounts for a wide range of services to continue and expand their missions in communities and in schools. Libraries in high cost areas may need special provisions. Please give serious attention to the libraries and to the proposals they are making directly and through the American Library Association. Thank you for your attention to this matter of considerable importance to the libraries and their users in my district and throughout the country. Sincerely, (signature) cc: Members of the Federal State Joint Board _______________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname]" to . ALAWON archives gopher.ala.org; select Washington Office Newsline. Web page HTTP://www.ala.org/alawashington.html. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 Lynne E. Bradley, Editor All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================