================================================================= ALAWON Volume 5, Number 63 ISSN 1069-7799 September 20, 1996 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (230 lines) ALA PRESENTS EQUITY PETITIONS TO FCC IN FL, CA AND DC COMMERCE DEPARTMENT AWARDS TIIAP GRANTS TO EXTEND THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY TIIAP PROGRAM AT RISK; SENATE URGED TO RESTORE FUNDING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT HEARING HELD ALA URGES SUPPORT FOR NETDAY96 _________________________________________________________________ ALA PRESENTS EQUITY PETITIONS TO FCC IN FL, CA AND DC From Florida to California to Washington, D.C., library supporters have presented ALA's Equity on the Information Superhighway petitions to federal and state officials in support of affordable telecommunications for our Nation's libraries. On September 19 equity petitions were presented to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from ALA in Washington, D.C. and California. On September 17 petitions were presented in Florida to a key member of the FCC-Joint Board. Former ALA President Betty J. Turock presented more than 21,000 signatures supporting libraries as public access points for electronic information to the Federal Communications Commission Special Counsel Ira Fishman at the Martin Luther King Memorial Library, headquarters of the District of Columbia Public Library on the 19th. FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, originally scheduled to receive the petition, was detained at the last minute in Boston and could not attend. "The people of our nation await good news from the FCC," Turock said as she presented the large stack of petitions to Fishman. "I can assure you that this sends a very strong message to the Board," Fishman replied. He added that Chairman Hundt, a former teacher, is a strong supporter of libraries and congratulated ALA and representatives of the Education & Library Network Coalition (EdLiNC) on their efforts. "This is a burning passion we expect to see right through to the end," said Turock. Letters of support are being accepted until November 8. Additional information about discounted rates, the universal regulatory proceedings and a sample letter is available on ALA's Web site at http://www.ala.org/oitp/univserv.html. Also in attendance was Larry Irving, assistant secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). After signing the petition, he said, "Thousands of children, who come from homes without computers, are within walking distance of a public library and could use a computer in a library." Also on September 19, FCC Commissioner Susan Ness received petitions at the San Francisco Public Library in the main library's children's room. Ness talked about the FCC and discussed the universal service process with young library patrons. She also had a tour of the new SFPL facility and saw demonstrations of their new electronic services. These two presentations of the equity petition followed an event on September 17 in Florida where ALA President Mary Sommerville presented the petitions from Florida library supporters to Julia Johnson, Florida Public Service Commissioner and member of the FCC-Joint Board. Johnson met with a contingent of librarians and library supporters at the Florida State Library. The Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service will soon make critical recommendations on discounted telecommunications rates for libraries and schools. The ALA and other education groups endorse an "Equity Rate" for schools and libraries which will provide full range of telecommunications services at less than commercial rates. ACTION NEEDED: Library supporters are urged to continue to send letters and email and to make other contact with the FCC and all state public utilities commissions to support affordable rates for libraries. Information about the library proposals to the FCC-Joint Board and other materials that may assist libraries, state library agencies, library associations and other library supporters wishing to conduct special events for state or federal decision makers are available from the ALA Office of Information Technology Policy (OITP). Call Andrew Magpantay at 1-800-941-8478 and note the ALA Web site at address above. _________________________________________________________________ COMMERCE DEPARTMENT AWARDS TIIAP GRANTS NTIA Administrator Larry Irving also announced Thursday that the Denver Public Library ($524,492) and the New York Public Library ($500,000) were among the 67 recipients of the 1996 Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) Awards. He added that more than a dozen other libraries are also involved in partnerships with other organizations. Commerce Secretary Michael Kantor announced on September 19 that 67 public institutions in 42 states and the District of Columbia were selected to receive $18.6 million in federal matching grants to help bring the benefits of the Information Age to all Americans, particularly those living in rural and under served inner city areas. With the addition of this year's funds, TIIAP has awarded 277 grants in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. These awards total $78.6 million and have been matched by $131 million in non-Federal funds. Information about NTIA's TIIAP program and descriptions of the grant recipients are available at . _________________________________________________________________ TIIAP PROGRAM AT RISK; SENATE URGED TO RESTORE FUNDING Efforts are ongoing to restore cuts made to the TIIAP program. Most recently Senators Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) have circulated a "deal colleague" letter to the Senate majority leadership urging them to fight to restore TIIAP to $21.5 million for FY97 (the House version). Last year, the Senate voted to provide $18.9 million for TIIAP. The FY97 Senate Appropriations Committee significantly cut this program to $4 million. ACTION NEEDED: Supporters, especially from libraries and communities that have received TIIAP grants, are encouraged to contact their senators and urge them to maintain the House funding levels of $21.8 million. It is always helpful to tell about how TIIAP has leveraged additional local funds and cooperative efforts within a community. House-Senate negotiations over the FY97 appropriations are moving forward rapidly so supporters are encouraged to write or phone as soon as possible. The Senate switchboard number is 202-224-3121. _______________________________________________________________ YOUTH DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANT HEARING HELD On September 19, the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families of the House Economic and Educational Opportunities Committee held a hearing on the federal role in Youth Development and on the Youth Development Community Block Grant (H.R. 2807). Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), chair of the Subcommittee, cited the more than 200 federal programs for youth and families. He welcomed Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK) and Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), primary sponsors of the bill. Rep. Watts said that H.R. 2807 is an attempt to "work smart." Since there are many categorical programs, putting them together like a puzzle makes sense, he believes. Watts said that local citizens are the best equipped to identify local needs. Rep. Payne, who had sponsored similar legislation in the last Congress, stated that Congress has a responsibility to come up with programs that will save children and that increase community coordination and participation. Payne said much of federal policy is reactive instead of proactive. Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA), a member of the subcommittee, expressed concern that block grants not lead to cuts in program funding. He cited the widespread support and the funding saved in the Safe and Drug Free School program and questioned whether the program's success would have occurred if it had been part of a block grant. The ALA submitted a letter for the hearing record from ALA President Mary Somerville explaining the ALA's interest in programs for children and youth, the programs and initiatives of ALA's three youth divisions, and her focus on youth in her Presidential year. Somerville asked the Subcommittee to include libraries in the listing of community agencies in the legislation, expressed support for the bill and enclosed her Presidential theme white paper on youth. With little time remaining until Congress adjourns, it is unclear whether this legislation will move through Congress. Rep. Cunningham did not indicate when the subcommittee intended to work on the bill. The corresponding Senate bill, S. 673, has been approved by the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee but has not been voted on by the full Senate as yet. _________________________________________________________________ ALA URGES SUPPORT FOR NETDAY96 The American Library Association is urging all librarians and library advocates to participate in and support the national NetDay96. National NetDay is patterned after the first NetDay held in California last year with volunteers installing wiring in many schools and libraries across the state. Forty-two states will launch NetDay activities in October with many states conducting follow-up activities, such as Internet training and expanding connectivity, throughout 1997. In its resolution of support passed by ALA Council at the 1996 Annual Conference, ALA noted the importance of the school library media center as a critical facility to be connected in this effort. "This is an excellent opportunity for librarians to share their expertise and play a leadership role in their communities," said ALA President Mary R. Somerville. "Wiring alone is not the whole answer but it's an important first step in getting every library online." The NetDay initiative has been endorsed by President Clinton and Vice-President Gire and many organizations. A NetDay kit can be purchased by businesses and others who wish to make a donation. Each kit contains enough cable to wire six rooms and costs under $500. Contact Ann Murphy at NetDay96, 2601 Mariposa St., San Francisco, CA 94110-1400. Telephone: 415-553-2311. Fax: 415-553-2401. E-mail: Netday@netday96.com; Web site: . _________________________________________________________________ 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 ALA Washington Office Newsline. Web page . 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: Mary Rae Costabile Claudette W. Tennant Deirdre A. Herman All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================