================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 15 ISSN 1069-7799 March 12, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (152 lines) ALA APPLAUDS CONGRESS ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE; URGES QUICK, MEANINGFUL TELECOM DISCOUNTS FOR LIBRARIES MARYLAND EDUCATOR URGES SENATE COMMITTEE TO RENEW COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE ACCESS FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES _________________________________________________________________ ALA APPLAUDS CONGRESS ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE; URGES QUICK, MEANINGFUL TELECOM DISCOUNTS FOR LIBRARIES Washington, D.C.--In testimony released today to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, the American Library Association (ALA) urged swift implementation of discounted telecommunication rates for libraries and schools. "Telecommunications access through public and school libraries is essential for children and adults with no computer at home," said Mary R. Somerville, president of the American Library Association and director of the Miami-Dade County Public Library System. "Americans can't wait." The Senate hearing focused on implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which designated libraries and schools as universal service providers eligible for discounts on telecommunications charges. The nature and amount of the discounts are to be determined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Somerville said ALA applauds the Senate's vision in recognizing the nation's libraries and schools as instruments of universal service. "Last year Congress passed the historic telecommunications law with the Snowe-Rockefeller-Kerrey-Exon provision which has increased universal access to advanced telecommunications services and promoted the development of a fully competitive and robust market," she added. "Now the library and education communities are counting on Congress to continue bipartisan efforts to ensure discounted rates and to implement them for the 1997-98 school year." ALA and the Education and Library Networks Coalition (EdLiNC), of which ALA is a member, told Congress that students and library users of all ages need access to a full range of telecommunications services. As evidence, Somerville noted the following: -By the year 2000 more than 60 percent of new jobs will require computing and information networking skills currently held by only 20 percent of the population. -Only about 40 percent of U.S. households now have computers and less than 20 percent own modems. In order to provide the public with access to electronic information resources successfully, libraries require a range of switched broadband, high-speed, interactive telecommunications services to support users both on site and remotely; that allow for efficient and timely delivery of multimedia information to a number of simultaneous user sessions; and that support delivery of quality interactive, multimedia services for distance learning and other purposes. The nation's libraries, with 16,000 public library facilities, are used by over three-fourths of all U.S. children and more than two-thirds of adults every year. More than 50 million children are served by 107,000 public and private K-12 schools. Although 44 percent of libraries are connected to the Internet, only 28 percent offer Internet access to the public. Only 14 percent of the nation's classrooms have Internet capability. The Chicago-based American Library Association is a nonprofit education association with some 58,000 members, including librarians, library trustees, educators, friends of libraries and other supporters. Its mission is to promote the highest quality library service and public access to information. _________________________________________________________________ MARYLAND EDUCATOR URGES SENATE COMMITTEE TO RENEW COMMITMENT TO AFFORDABLE ACCESS FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES Washington, D.C. -- Today, a Maryland school board member representing the Education and Library Networks Coalition (EdLiNC) -- the collective voice for children, schools and libraries -- testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and urged continued Congressional support for discounted rates for telecommunications services for the nation's schools and libraries. "One key to preparing students for the 21st century is equitable access to new information technologies," said Anthony Wong, a Cecil County Public School Board member from Elkton, Maryland. "Is ensuring affordable telecommunications access good for the country? Is providing electronic access to information good for the education of America's kids? I say the answer to both questions is YES! We must insure that no child is excluded from access to the telecommunications revolution because of an institution's inability to pay." Wong commended Congress for its strong bipartisan endorsement of the Snowe-Rockfeller-Exon-Kerrey amendment in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a provision which assured affordable access to new technologies for schools and libraries. "Congress took a visionary step with the adoption of the Snowe-Rockefeller amendment. Now is the time to move forward to give life to this provision and a new future for America's children." said Wong. He complimented the work of fellow witness Reed Hundt, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, for his efforts to bring America's schools and libraries into the 21st century. "We believe that the Federal-State Universal Service Joint Board got it right. They tackled a difficult issue and made a recommendation that is strong, balanced and consistent with Congressional intent," he added. "We have been faced with the awesome task of bringing our schools and libraries up to speed with current technology -- technology that most businesses now take for granted," said Wong. "Even with the discounts, we can only do this by establishing workable partnerships with other levels of government and with the private sector." _________________________________________________________________ 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 listproc @ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. Visit our Web site at http://www.alawash.org. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V) Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Deirdre Herman, Managing Editor Contributors: Carol C. Henderson All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================