ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 8, Number 51 May 27, 1999 In this issue: [1] FCC Votes for $2.25 Billion in E-rate Discounts [2] Update on Appropriations: Action Still Needed [1] FCC Votes for $2.25 Billion in E-rate Discounts On May 27 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided by a 3-2 vote to collect $2.25 billion to provide libraries and schools discounts for telecommunications and Internet access. Just before the vote, FCC Chairman William Kennard said, "If we take this step to fund the E-rate to its cap, we will immeasurably improve the lives of millions more children." Commissioners Susan Ness and Gloria Tristani joined Chairman Kennard in voting for the $2.25 billion collection level. Commissioners Harold Furchtgott-Roth and Michael Powell casted votes against increased funding for E-rate discounts. Even though Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth believes that "this program embodies a great deal of hope," he voted against it because he felt the program operates outside the "parameters of law." Commissioner Powell expressed "shadows of doubt" about the program, including an outstanding lawsuit by GTE and a U.S. Court of Appeals decision requiring the FCC to reconsider access charge reductions. While Powell said he supported the ideals of the program, on the issue of a $2.25 billion collection level he asked, "What's the hurry?" Commissioner Tristani's answer to Powell's question met with resounding applause: "The rush is that our children do not have equal opportunity in this country." In a public show of support, several members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Reps. Major Owens (D-NY), Bobby Rush (D- IL), James Clyburn (D-SC), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Eddie Johnson (D- TX), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Donna Green (O-VI), Eva Clayton (D-NC), Danny Davis (D-IL), Albert Wynn (D-MD), and Carrie Meek (D-FL) attended the public meeting. Chairman Kennard acknowledged the leadership and support that these legislators have shown in striving to close the digital divide. In presenting the order to the Commissioners for their approval, Lawrence Strickling, chief of the Common Carrier Bureau, said that $2.25 billion would allow the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to "allocate support at a level equal to last year's." All qualified applicants will receive discounts on telecommunications services and Internet access, but discounts for internal connections will likely reach only those qualifying for a discount of seventy percent or more. [2] Update on Appropriations: Action Still Needed After two days of struggling with numerous amendments to the H.R. 1906, the FY2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill, House leaders pulled it from floor consideration on May 26. The thrust of the debate, led by Rep. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and other members, was to call attention to the funding caps and, if possible, report appropriations bills that would be significantly less than the caps. The May 26 ALAWON (v8, n49) had requested action on behalf of the Government Printing Office line item, since that had already suffered cuts from GPO's requested amount of $107.7 million. The Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, H.R. 1905, although scheduled for floor action, was also pulled. The Library of Congress appropriations, which is in the bill, are currently higher than the requested level. The Committee Report for the FY2000 Agriculture Appropriations bill, H.R. 1906 (Committee Report - House Rpt. 106-157 - AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2000) and the Committee Report for The Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, H.R. 1905 (House Rpt. 106-156 - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2000) are available at http://thomas.loc.gov ACTION STILL NEEDED: Any amendments proposed to lower funding for either GPO or the Library of Congress should be resisted. Since the bills have been pulled from floor consideration at this time, there is still time to contact House Representatives about the importance of these programs. The Memorial Day Recess offers an opportunity to contact members in their home offices or write to them expressing the importance of funding of the Government Printing Office and Superintendent of Documents accounts as well as that of the Library of Congress. The U.S. Capitol Switchboard phone number is 202-224-3121. To send messages of support to your legislators visit ALA's Legislative Action Center at http://congress.nw.dc.us/ala/ ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Editor: Lynne E. Bradley; Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Phyllis Albritton, Mary Costabile, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan, Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.