================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 32 ISSN 1069-7799 May 7, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (113 lines) ALA WELCOMES FCC DECISION ON DEEP DISCOUNTS FOR LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS; DISCOUNTS ARE AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE _________________________________________________________________ ALA WELCOMES FCC DECISION ON DEEP DISCOUNTS FOR LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS; DISCOUNTS ARE AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE The American Library Association commended the unanimous decision today by the Federal Communications Commission on rules which provide for significant discounts on a wide range of telecommunications services for the nation's libraries and schools. The new rules mandate discounts ranging from 20 to 90 percent, with deeper discounts for libraries and schools in rural, high-cost and low-income communities. The discounts are expected to provide up to $2.25 billion annually beginning January 1, 1998. The new FCC rules will ensure that schools and libraries will be able to afford telecommunications services for students and library users, giving the flexibility to choose from the most basic to the most advanced commercially available services. The discounted rates address one of the most critical factors affecting library access ongoing communications costs. "For those who have no other access to online information resources, libraries are the natural access points," said ALA president Mary Somerville. "These discounts will help the libraries of the 21st century make information technology a reality for millions of children and lifelong learners." Barbara Ford, president-elect of ALA, said that the FCC's rules incorporate many of the key principles advocated by ALA. "Now every American can have global reach via local touch at their library." Carol Henderson, executive director of the ALA Washington Office, commended the efforts of FCC Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Chong, Ness, Quello and their staffs, and said the final decision is a victory for libraries and the public they serve. FCC Commissioner Susan Ness commented that access to information is the key to jobs and prosperity in the information age and that this decision will help stop the growing gap between the information have and have nots. Libraries and schools were designated as instruments of universal service eligible for discounted telecommunications rates in the Snowe-Rockefeller Amendment to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the first major rewrite of communications legislation in six decades. Henderson noted that this historic legislation was characterized by an unparalleled spirit of bipartisan cooperation, and acknowledged the dedicated efforts of the sponsors of this amendment, Senators Snowe (R-ME), Rockefeller (D-WV), Exon (D-NE), and Kerrey (D-NE), and of the Congress which passed the legislation. Henderson also praised President Clinton, Vice President Gore, Education Secretary Richard Riley and National Telecommunications and Information Administration Director Larry Irving for the crucial roles they played in promoting this vital program. "We greatly appreciate the hard work and efforts of the FCC and its staff, the state commissioners, and the Departments of Education, Commerce, Agriculture and Labor, industry participants, and others who have participated in this process. ALA also thanks the many advocates who wrote letters, made calls and submitted filings to the FCC. Without everyone's efforts we would not had this successful rule making," Ford said. "We look forward to working to make universal service an effective policy and to assure that the new age of telecommunications and information becomes a reality for all," Henderson added. The final decision was also welcomed by the Education & Library Networks Coalition (EdLiNC), of which ALA is a member. The full text of the decision is should be available within the next several days. ALA will provide further analysis of the recommendations as soon as they are available. Preliminary information on this decision will be available at http://www.ala.org/oitp/univserv.html. _________________________________________________________________ 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 Andrew Magpantay Aleck Johnson All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================