================================================================= ALAWON Volume 5, Number 40 ISSN 1069-7799 June 28, 1996 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (199 lines) ALA, NCLIS and COSLA Plan Open Forum on Affordable Telecommunication Rates for Libraries Monday, July 8 2-4pm Sheraton - Riverside Ballroom ALA Annual Conference - New York, New York _________________________________________________________________ ALA,NCLIS and COSLA Plan Open Forum on Affordable Telecommunication Rates for Libraries at ALA Annual Conference Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) and the American Library Association's (ALA) Committee on Legislation's Telecommunications Subcommittee are co-sponsoring an open forum on affordable telecommunication services for libraries at the ALA Annual Conference in New York City on Monday 8 July 1996 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Riverside Ballroom of the Sheraton New York Hotel. This forum is also sponsored by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies. The forum will explore strategies needed to assure affordable telecommunication services for libraries. Forum participants will discuss plans and strategies for interstate and intrastate regulations, rates, and discounts required for libraries to access advanced information and telecommunications services at discounted rates in accordance with provisions included in the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104). Recent ALA and NCLIS filings with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) joint Federal-State Board on universal service provide background for the forum. In commenting to the FCC, ALA proposed a discount methodology for library and school telecommunications services and NCLIS called for the FCC to address serious discrepancies in levels, types and costs of public library Internet and in provision of Internet access services to the public. ALA and NCLIS reply comments to the FCC support the critical need for universal service mechanisms that will allow libraries to offer patron access to sophisticated information and telecommunication services. The forum addresses the need for involving the library and educational communities in state public utilities commission proceedings and in the formation of future telecommunications policies. This ALA/NCLIS forum offers an opportunity for participants to offer views and comments on telecommunications issues from the national, regional, state, and local levels. Forum proceedings will inform policy officials and regulators who are developing discount structures to assure that libraries and schools provide the American public with access to the full panoply of electronic information resources available either commercially or in the public domain. In order to offer access to quality library and information services, libraries must have access to advanced telecommunications services. Forum testimony is expected to provide information about the extent of telecommunications connectivity and services required by libraries, the type of services required, library connectivity costs, and what libraries require in order to provide public access to these advanced telecommunications and information services. *****************************AGENDA***************************** ALA/NCLIS/COSLA OPEN FORUM ON AFFORDABLE TELECOMMUNICATION RATES FOR LIBRARIES Monday 8 July 1996 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Sheraton New York Riverside Ballroom Open Forum Sponsors: American Library Association, Committee on Legislation, Telecommunications Subcommittee U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and Chief Officers of State Library Agencies Purposes of Open Forum: 1.) Provide status information about FCC's universal service proceedings; 2.) Share information about interstate and intrastate processes for determining rates, discounts, and regulations related to library use of telecommunication and advanced information services such as the Internet and WWW; 3.) Gather information from participants about library involvement, advocacy, and strategies related to affordable telecommunication rates. SCHEDULE 2:00 - 2:05 pm INTRODUCTIONS AND OPEN FORUM OVERVIEW - Jeanne Hurley Simon, NCLIS Chairperson - Sharon Hogan, Telecommunications Subcommittee Chair 2:05 - 2:10 pm "Universal Service 101" - defining the terms - Sharon Hogan 2:10 - 2:40 pm THE FEDERAL PROCEEDINGS (Interstate Concerns) PERSPECTIVES ON THE FCC AND JOINT FEDERAL/STATE BOARD ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE - Ira Fishman, FCC Special Council and Chair of the FCC Staff Taskforce on Education OVERVIEW OF ALA'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO FCC ON AFFORDABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS RATES - Andrew Magpantay, Director, ALA Office of Information Technology Policy QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION ON FEDERAL PROCEEDINGS 2:40 - 3:10 pm THE STATE PROCEEDINGS (Intrastate Concerns) Colorado - Nancy Bolt, Deputy State Librarian and Assistant Ed. Commissioner Texas - Jean T. Hamrick, University of Texas-Austin, Asst. Dir. For Information Systems Planning, The General Libraries Maryland - Agnes M. Griffen, Director, Montgomery County (MD.) Department of Public Libraries others........... QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION ON STATE PROCEEDINGS 3:05 - 3:15 pm OVERVIEW OF STRATEGIES FOR INFLUENCING LIBRARY TELECOMMUNICATION RATE DECISIONS - NCLIS Member Panel - Jeanne Hurley Simon, NCLIS Chairperson - Martha B. Gould, NCLIS Vice Chair - Robert S. Willard, NCLIS Member - Joan R. Challinor, NCLIS Member - Carol DiPrete, NCLIS Member - Abe Abramson, NCLIS Member - Walter H. Anderson, NCLIS Member 3:15 - 3:35 pm TABLE PLANNING SESSION Table leaders facilitate participant discussion of interstate and intrastate issues, strategies, and advocacy. Table recorders note suggestions, comments, and recommendations related to affordable library telecommunications rates by addressing such questions as: What participant examples, experiences, and lessons relate to these issues? What research and analysis are needed to for libraries to contribute effectively to telecommunication rate proceedings? What do libraries stand to win/loose in these proceedings? What opposition do libraries face? What library-school partnerships and alliances are needed to address affordable telecommunication rate issues? Are there models for achieving equity on the information superhighway? What related activities and functions should ALA and NCLIS consider? 3:35 - 3:55 pm TABLE PLANNING SESSION REPORTS Table facilitators and recorders present brief summary reports to forum participants about the results of table discussions. 3:55 - 4:00 pm OPEN FORUM WRAP UP & CONCLUSION for further information: Peter R. Young Executive Director U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 1110 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Suite 820 Washington, D.C. 20005 (202) 606-9200 Fax (202) 606-9203 Internet: py_nclis@inet.ed.gov Lynne E. Bradley Deputy Executive Director ALA Washington Office 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403 Washington, D.C. 20004 (202)-628-8410 Fax (202) 628-8419 email: leb@alawash.org _________________________________________________________________ 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. =================================================================