ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 8, Number 11
January 28, 1999

In this issue:

Action Needed: Representatives Prepare to Attack E-rate; Your 
Efforts Are Needed

On January 26 the new Republican representative from Colorado, Tom 
Tancredo, and returning representatives Pete Sessions (R-TX) and 
Ed Royce (R-CA) sent a Dear Colleague letter stating their intent 
to introduce legislation to end the E-rate.  

The letter, which is being widely circulated on Capitol Hill, is 
designed to garner co-sponsors for their legislation, the E-Rate 
Termination Act.  The letter portrays the E-rate as a "backdoor 
tax" that is not needed because of existing Department of 
Education funding that is earmarked "to improve technological 
capabilities."

While the proposed bill has not yet been introduced, it is not too 
early to show opposition for the idea of "terminating" the E-rate.  
This latest activity on the Hill underscores the need to educate 
or remind legislators that the E-rate is the only federal program 
that funds the ongoing costs of connectivity, Internet services, 
and, for some, internal connections.  This is not a program just 
for schools; all eligible libraries may apply as well.

Action Needed:
(1) For those of you who have received E-rate commitment letters, 
we encourage you to thank the legislators who fought to keep the 
E-rate and prevent funding cuts.  Your efforts to make Congress 
aware of the services you plan to provide with your E-rate 
discount will be very helpful as we begin to fight for the life of 
this vital program. 

(2) The Education and Libraries Networks Coalition (EdLiNC), a 
coalition seeking to expand the use of educational technologies in 
schools and libraries by making sure that these entities are given 
the affordable rate which is guaranteed to them in Universal 
Service Provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, has 
provided an online Action Kit at http://www.edline.org. The kit 
contains sample thank-you letters and publicity ideas for those 
who are receiving year 1 E-rate discounts.

(3) ALA encourages all libraries to apply for year 2 E-rate 
discounts.  The application window is now open.  In order for the 
2-part application to be fully completed by March 11, the first 
part of the application, Form 470, must be filed by February 10, 
1999, according to the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) of the 
Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). For more 
information on applying contact the SLD at 1-888-203-8100 or 
www.slcfund.org/.

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ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, 
Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 
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Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Phyllis Albritton, 
Mary Costabile, Adam Eisgrau, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan, 
Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.