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December 6, 2004
E-Rate reform gets knocked out?
This bit of silliness speaks for itself, from The Tipsheet, the weekly email newsletter from The Hill newspaper: "Educators and some lobbyists are frustrated that legislation to reauthorize and reform the E-Rate, a portion of consumers' phone bills that go to providing Internet access to low-income schools and libraries, is not moving because of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). The outgoing chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, McCain has legislation to reform professional boxing that he wants to move and the E-Rate is not going to move without the boxing bill."
NSBA continues to urge Congress to pass the E-Rate measure. Background here. And we're not alone. National Journal reports today that telecommunications groups are urging the House and Senate to send President Bush the widely supported universal service bill during this week's brief congressional session. More than 50 organizations—including the regional Bell operating companies, Cox Communications, EarthLink, education advocates, state officials and other groups—Friday urged the Senate to accept a House-passed telecom package. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Frist and outgoing Minority Leader Daschle, the groups said the telecom bills would benefit consumers, public safety organizations, educators, rural healthcare providers and telecom providers.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports that even though E-Rate disbursements have begun flowing again, Louisiana schools are still stuck. A Louisiana expert on the issue tells the paper: "We think the money is going to come in, but in the meantime, these people are having to pay 100 percent of the bills for their telecom and Internet access, which can be real pricey. With E-Rate going into its eighth year, it's sort of like you grow to expect it, and when the water's cut off, even for six months, it can be devastating."
Posted December 6, 2004 12:00 AM
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