roundtable: Education-Library Coaltion Action Alert

roundtable: Education/Library Coaltion Action Alert

Education/Library Coaltion Action Alert

educate (educate@idi.net)
Wed, 8 Mar 1995 16:11:16 -0500 (EST) 

Date: Wed, 8 Mar 1995 16:11:16 -0500 (EST)
From: educate <educate@idi.net>
Subject: Education/Library Coaltion Action Alert
To: roundtable@cni.org, cosndisc@list.cren.org, horizon@gibbs.oit.unc.edu
Message-Id: <Pine.3.89.9503081617.A21008-0100000@idi.net>


ACTION ALERT....ACTION ALERT....ACTION ALERT....ACTION ALERT....ACTION ALERT 


***************FOR EDUCATION/LIBRARY FCC PROPOSAL***********************

Our organizations recently formed a coalition to respond to the Federal
Communications Commission's (FCC) "CC Docket 94-1, the Price Cap
Performance Review for Local Exchange Carriers." 

We proposed that the FCC redirect the one-half percent (.5 %) "consumer
productivity dividend (CPD)" allocation now contained in the price cap
formula from a credit that currently goes to long distance carriers to a
credit bank that would encourage participating local telephone companies
to connect public libraries and schools to the National Information
Infrastructure. Up to $300,000,000 a year could be available for this
purpose. 

There are other worthwhile initiatives for helping our schools and
libraries get the telecommunications connectivity that they need to be
able to offer a quality education, equitably and affordably, to learners
of all ages, regardless of where they live or go to school. According to a
1993 NEA survey, only 12% of American classrooms have telephones; only 4%
have modems. Although the CPD amount will not solve all of our needs, it
will be a giant step forward.  It is clear that the only way education and
libraries will come to enjoy the benefits of the NII is if
telecommunications policy is specifically oriented to make this happen. 

If the FCC were to adopt our proposal, it would need to initiate separate
rulemaking proceeding to resolve the details involved in the
implementation of such a program in the states. We are writing a proposal
for such a proceeding, urging that priority be given to multi-year,
community-wide plans for connecting schools and libraries, with preference
given to disadvantaged areas. The FCC has the clear authority under the
Communications Act to adopt our proposal. Our proposal does not constitute
a tax. 

Our proposal offers the potential for a classic win/win opportunity. The
education community wins because hundreds of millions of dollars will be
spent each year on connecting public schools and libraries to the NII; the
local telephone industry wins because it is provided with appropriate
incentives to build the education telecommunication infrastructure; the
public wins because the quality of education will ultimately be improved.
This is not an entirely zero sum solution, since the connected schools are
likely to be more significant consumers of telecommunication services
offered by the long distance industry.  Thus, Interexchange Carriers too
are likely to benefit from our nation's schools and libraries being part
of the NII. 

We would appreciate your sending an endorsement letter to the FCC to help
our efforts. Deadline for comments is March 22. 

More information, including a sample letter, is available at 

http://policy.net/ed/ed.html
gopher: policy.net

If you have questions, please send an email: connect-all@policy.net

Carol Henderson American Library Association
Frank Withrow, Council of Chief State School Officers
Tom Koerner, National Association of Secondary School Principals
Carolyn Breedlove, National Education Association
Michelle Richards, National School Boards Association

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