================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 108 ISSN 1069-7799 December 8, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (126 lines) ACTION ALERT: 11TH HOUR ASSAULTS ON LIBRARY/SCHOOL TELECOM DISCOUNTS _________________________________________________________________ ACTION ALERT: 11TH HOUR ASSAULTS ON LIBRARY/SCHOOL TELECOM DISCOUNTS ACTION ALERT: Calling all library advocates! Contact each of your Representatives and Senators to demonstrate why the library and education communities are working hard to implement the new library/school telecommunications discount program, and to assert that you expect it to begin as planned on January 1, 1998. New assaults on the library/school telecommunications discounts require renewed action from grassroots supporters of the program. This is an effort that we should be doing anyway as this new program (sometimes called the "e-rate") is about to begin with the publication of the final application forms, but now we must be more vigorous in our efforts. LONG DISTANCE PHONE COMPANIES TAKE AIM: At least two long-distance phone companies, AT&T and MCI, recently indicated that, at this 11th hour, they will place a specific line-item charge on customers' long distance bills to cover their universal service costs. This is an indication of their intentions to pass on the alleged increased costs of universal service to customers. The message appears to be to blame universal service and the school/library discount program for increases in long distance rates. Historically universal service costs have not been explicit and in some sense have been considered "a cost of doing business" that supports a long-standing, effective and widely-supported public policy universal service to all communities. In trying to understand the position and reasoning of the long distance companies and others who are fighting the "e-rate discounts," one must try to appreciate the related issues surrounding access charges. The long-distance companies sought and received a decrease in access charges, which are the fees long-distance companies pay to local phone companies for access to the local phone wires in order to deliver long-distance services into consumers' homes. While they have not passed along all these savings, they now want to pass on the costs of universal service which have not previously been an explicit cost on consumers' bills. Some have alleged that the long distance companies are "double dipping" by seeking relief from the access charges and seeking an increase to their rates by passing on the limited new costs of universal service. They shouldn't have it both ways. The education-library discount program is funded through the universal service fund which historically has made basic telephone service affordable to all, especially rural and low income residents. Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the principle of universal service is extended to new telecommunications technologies and uses libraries and schools as one mechanism to provide equitable access to all communities. By focusing on the school-library discount portion of universal service just as it is about to take effect, the programs' critics appear to be trying to pit consumer advocates against the education-library communities. OPTIONS FOR ACTION: Library advocates can help in several ways: - Send copies of the new application forms (they are expected to be released on or about December 16, 1997) with "thank you letters" to your Representatives and Senators. Use this as an opportunity to thank them for this program, and to briefly explain how these discounts are enabling your library or school to provide equitable access to your community. Use specific examples from your community as much as possible. Share highlights of your technology plans and proposed new services with these officials as well. - Invite your Representatives and Senators to your library during the December/January congressional recess to demonstrate what you are doing now and how you are planning to apply these discounts. Then plan to invite your legislators back to your public or school library when you "inaugurate" new services once the discounts are operational. Take the opportunity to make contact while congressional officials are in their home states and districts. -For those with AT&T or MCI accounts, contact your local and regional representatives and ask questions about their intent to increase customers' bills for this purpose, and why they are so anxious to pass on the minimal commitments they made to serve the public interest when they sought regulatory relief in the Telecommunications Act. - Explain to your local officials, including state legislators and public service commissioners, how you are planning to use the discounts and how this is a benefit to your community. Describe any new partnerships or cooperative actions that have been brought together in this effort. _________________________________________________________________ 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. To unsubscribe, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo 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. =================================================================