================================================================= ALAWON Volume 5, Number 53 ISSN 1069-7799 August 16, 1996 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: TELECOMMUNICATIONS: pt. 1 of 2 (189 lines) ACTION ALERT: LIBRARY ADVOCATES ASKED TO CONTACT FCC-JOINT BOARD AND STATE PUC'S -- SUPPORT DISCOUNTED TELECOM. RATES FOR LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS SAMPLE "EQUITY RATE" LETTER TO FCC, JOINT BOARD MEMBERS, PUC'S AND CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES _________________________________________________________________ ACTION ALERT: GRASSROOTS EFFORTS NEEDED LIBRARY ADVOCATES ASKED TO CONTACT THE FCC, JOINT BOARD AND STATE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONS: SUPPORT DISCOUNTED TELECOMMUNICATIONS RATES FOR LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS Library advocates are asked to intensify their grassroots efforts in support of discounted telecommunications rates for libraries as part of the rulemaking being conducted at this time by the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal-State Joint Board. The next few weeks are extremely critical for library supporters to make their case for an equity rate as part of the FCC's universal service proceedings. Between now and early October the Joint Board will be finalizing its recommendations and making recommendations to the full FCC before November 8. This is an historic opportunity for libraries and other eligible institutions to participate in assuring universal service for all Americans - especially access to advanced telecommunications services, through America's libraries and schools. For the first time ever, the new Telecommunications Act includes libraries as providers and tools for universal service and eligible for discounted telecommunications rates. Effective discounts are an "equity rate" to assure access by the American public to advanced telecommunications services through their libraries and schools. Without a library equity rate, America risks becoming a nation of information "haves" vs. "have-nots." BACKGROUND: The Federal-State Joint Board on universal service was established as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 passed by Congress earlier this year. The Joint Board is comprised of four state utilities commissioners, a consumer utility advocate and three FCC commissioners. It will make recommendations in early November to the full FCC. The FCC must make a final decision by May of 1997. These rules will determine how to make telecommunications rates "affordable", the degree of discount, and how intrusive (or not) the administration of an equity rate will be for libraries, schools and rural health care institutions. THE MESSAGE: Libraries are instruments of universal service. Libraries collectively invest in and provide access to valuable, specialized high end information services and resources and provide all Americans with access on a non-discriminatory basis to the full range of electronic information resources available. WHAT YOU CAN DO: 1. Write to the Federal Communications Commission. 2. Write other members of the FCC-State Joint Board. 3. Contact your state public utility commission and let them know that you support affordable telecommunications rates for libraries and tell them about the importance of telecommunications services for library services - both now and in the future. 4. Inform your congressional representatives about your support for this affordable or equity rate provision; ask them to express their support of these policies to the FCC as regulatory proceedings move forward. 5. Contact and utilize local media; consider placement of op-ed pieces, letters to the editor, and special articles on"telecommunications and libraries, etc." 6. Organize local library events, perhaps in conjunction with local schools and other allies and supporters of an equity rate (such as K-12 schools and rural health care providers); demonstrate library technology and highlight the needs for discounted telecommunications rates and how local communities can benefit from a universal service equity rate for libraries. _________________________________________________________________ For the names of FCC and Joint Board members and addresses, as well as for additional details on the universal service proceeding, direct your browser to the ALA Website: http://www.ala.org/oitp/uniserv.html Also, look for the link to the Executive Summary of ALA's comments. For those without electronic access and for further information about the key points outlined, contact Andrew Magpantay at OITP (1-800-941-8478). _________________________________________________________________ SAMPLE LETTER SAMPLE "EQUITY RATE" LETTER TO FCC, JOINT BOARD MEMBERS, PUC'S AND CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES NOTE: It is recommended that your letters be sent no later than mid-September to have maximum impact. We suggest you adapt this draft letter to include specifics related to your own library situation. See the ALA OITP issue briefing paper, "Universal Service: How You Can Get Involved" which includes the addresses for the FCC and Joint Board members. The address for the ALA website is: http//www.ala.org/oitp/involved.html or contact Andrew Magpantay, director of the ALA Office of Information Technology (see above). _________________________________________________________________ Dear_________: RE: CC Docket 96-45, Universal Service I write in strong support of meaningful discounts for libraries and schools as the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal-State Joint Board implement the universal service provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In passing this landmark legislation, it is clear that Congress meant to ensure that, upon a bona fide request, a carrier is to provide services to libraries and schools at some type of discounted rate, less than the amounts charged for similar services to other parties. Libraries need an "equity rate" to enable libraries to serve as community access points to the information infrastructure and to help libraries provide the American public with an expanded range of information opportunities for lifelong learning, work and career development, job hunting, citizenship, and leisure. This "equity rate" will spur library use of new technology and encourage development of new consumer markets while providing consumers with opportunity to gain new skills and technological literacy at their libraries. Libraries need the capacity to support large numbers of simultaneous users and multi-media and high bandwidth applications. Libraries are increasingly the provider of local community electronic information. To provide libraries with the flexibility to meet community needs, all telecommunications services available commercially, by tariff, or be contract should be available to them at a discount. Libraries are responsible and accountable users of technology; they have in the past and will continue to leverage efficiently all kinds of resources available to them, but libraries need affordable, discounted access to best serve the American public. Deeper discounts will also be necessary for libraries in high cost and rural areas, and in low income communities to reach "affordability". I ask that you consider what libraries are telling you about their local needs, including the necessity of making any terms and conditions for an equity rate, simple and straight forward. We do not need to add to the costs of administration or local library budgets by onerous or complicated procedures to obtain a discounted rate. I encourage you to assure universal service for all Americans by providing discounted and equitable telecommunications rates for libraries and schools. FINAL PARAGRAPH FOR LETTERS TO U.S. SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES Please convey these recommendations to the FCC and the Federal-State Joint Board, and send me a copy of your letter on my behalf. Thank you for your attention to this matter of considerable importance to the libraries and users in your (district) (state). _________________________________________________________________ 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 Contributors: Andrew Magpantay All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================