roundtable: Re: FINS Response to Education-Library Coalition Action Alert (fwd)

roundtable: Re: FINS Response to Education/Library Coalition Action Alert (fwd)

Re: FINS Response to Education/Library Coalition Action Alert (fwd)

Vigdor Schreibman - FINS (fins@access.digex.net)
Fri, 10 Mar 1995 11:46:15 -0500 (EST) 

Date: Fri, 10 Mar 1995 11:46:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <fins@access.digex.net>
To: Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <fins@access.digex.net>
Subject: Re: FINS Response to Education/Library Coalition Action Alert (fwd)
Message-Id: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950310114236.25976B-100000@access2.digex.net>



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 1995 10:36:21 -0600
From: Vigdor Schreibman - FINS <fins@access2.digex.net>
To: Multiple recipients of list <telecomreg@relay.doit.wisc.edu>
Subject: Re: Education/Library Coalition Action Alert

Library needs in this medium are certainly among those which I would
support on a favored basis.  However, I question the below proposal, which
seeks to solve one important sectoral problem by tapping into one
available fund while disregarding the larger unresolved set of problems of
designing an information and telecommunications infrastructure that works
equitably and purposefully for the society-at-large. 

In my view, such an infrastructure must include three paramount levels: 

Level 1.  US Public information.  This is the lifeblood of democracy.  It
must be supported and managed by public organs (e.g., the US Congress,
Joint Committee on Printing, the Government Printing Office, the
Superintendent of Documents, and the Depository Library Program conducted
in partnership with public interest institutions throughout the nation); 

Level 2.  Global "sustainable development." This is essential to "a life
sustaining Earth."  It must be supported by broad cooperation and
collaboration of public, not-for-profit, and private funds (local, state,
national, global) and managed by the not-for-profit research, education,
and environmental communities; and

Level 3.  Global "free market" information and telecommunications.  This
is the cornerstone of the "free enterprise" engine that has within it the
seeds of creativity of all humanity, if augmented by support for the
paramount social goods described in levels 1 and 2 above, which the "free
market" does not equitably satisfy.  Level 3 must be managed by private
industry with limited regulation designed to assure fair competition,
equal access, and universal service. 

The guarantee of privacy, security, free expression, and intellectual
property rights must extend to all three levels (where applicable and
as appropriately adapted to the electronic medium). 

Vigdor

---------------------------------
On Wed, 8 Mar 1995, educate wrote:
> 
> 
> 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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