ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 8, Number 125 December 27, 1999 In this issue: OITP E-Bulletin [1] ALA Files Reply Comments on FCC's Broadband Data Collection Proposals [2] TIAPP Grant Workshops 2000 [3] PBS to Air Digital Divide Series in January; Libraries Urged to Invite Legislators, Community Leaders to Participate [1] ALA Files Reply Comments on FCC's Broadband Data Collection Proposals On December 20, ALA filed Reply Comments regarding the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) proposal to establish a program to collect data on local competition and broadband deployment. This critical data collection program does not currently exist. The lack of data, the need for research and analysis, and the need to document possible disparities in broadband deployment that could widen the digital divide -- prompted the ALA to participate in this rulemaking. In the Reply Comments, ALA agreed with the FCC's recommendations to: -- collect timely and accurate data on the pace and extent of broadband deployment for urban, rural, low-income, and remote areas, and tribal lands; -- establish a mandatory, single data collection program that requires all entities (telecom carriers and others) that provide broadband services, to participate; and -- provide for the full public disclosure of the data. ALA also agreed with recommendations by previous participants in this filing that a nationally uniform and consistent reporting and data collection program is required for research and analysis. The Reply Comments also set forth recommendations and support statements concerning survey questions, frequency of required reporting (annual and semi-annual), data collection levels, and the longevity of the data collection program. Participation in this FCC proceeding is part of the ongoing efforts of ALA's Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) to monitor and address advanced services issues in information technology and telecommunications; and to evaluate the impact of connectivity on libraries and the impact of programs that fund connectivity, such as the E-rate discounts. Data on broadband deployment would be critical to the library community and others in discerning possible public access issues concerning advanced services and broadband. ALA's filing is available at http://www.ala.org/oitp/filings.html; for more information on the FCC proposal see http://www.fcc.gov. -Saundra L. Shirley [2] TIAPP Grant Workshops 2000 The Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) announced the opening of registration for three regional technical assistance workshops to assist potential FY2000 grant applicants. The workshops, which are free and open to the public, will be held: January 31, 2000 in New York, NY; February 2, 2000 in Houston, TX; and February 4, 2000 in Los Angeles, CA. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce administers TIIAP. The program promotes the widespread availability and use of advanced telecommunications technologies in the public and non-profit sectors. Through grants to model projects, TIIAP funds innovative uses of network technology, and evaluates and shares the lessons learned from these projects. In the FY2000, TIIAP will provide about $13 million in matching grants to state, local, and tribal governments, libraries, health care providers, schools, police departments, and community-based non-profit organizations. For more information or to register for the workshops, go to the NTIA/TIIAP Web site at http://www.ntia.doc.gov. -Saundra L. Shirley [3] PBS to Air Digital Divide Series in January; Libraries Urged to Invite Legislators, Community Leaders to Participate Beginning on January 28, 2000 at 9:00 p.m., PBS will air a two- part series on the Digital Divide. (Check the local broadcast listings for the date/time in your viewing area http://www.itvs.org/digitaldivide/broadcast.html or call your local PBS station.) The series will focus on the many aspects of the Digital Divide, exploring how the issues play out in terms of education, employment, race, and gender. Library supporters are urged to hold an event around the series at your local library or with your local PBS studio. Invite legislators, community leaders, library users and others to participate in the event. Discuss what your library does to address the Digital Divide. Have a brief panel discussion on partnerships that libraries can have with the private sector, schools, and others to bridge the Digital Divide. Talk about the services and opportunities the E-rate provides for your library. The greater understanding legislators have of how your library works, the services it provides and the important opportunities the E-rate makes possible, the more likely they are to remain or become an E-rate supporter. For more information on the PBS Digital Divide series, go to http://www.pbs.org/digitaldivide/about.html. --Saundra L. Shirley ****** 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. Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff; Editor: Deirdre Herman. Office of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Mary Costabile, Peter Kaplan, Miriam Nisbet and Claudette Tennant. Office for Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Carrie Russell and Saundra Shirley.