ALAWON v6, n114 - DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE
ALAWASH E-MAIL (ALAWASH@ALAWASH.ORG)
Wed, 17 Dec 1997 12:49:46 -0500
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 12:49:46 -0500
Message-Id: <199712171755.MAA09111@comet.connix.com>
From: ALAWASH E-MAIL (ALAWASH E-MAIL) <ALAWASH@ALAWASH.ORG> (by way of mgolrick@sclc.org (Michael A. Golrick))
To: Multiple recipients of list <conntech>
Subject: ALAWON v6, n114 - DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE
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ALAWON Volume 6, Number 114
ISSN 1069-7799 December 17, 1997
American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
In this issue: (79 lines)
DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE
_________________________________________________________________
DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE
Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard
announced late on December 15 that the rate of contribution by
companies to the universal service fund for libraries and schools
would be reduced for the first six months of 1998. Under the
revised plan, $625 million would be collected in the first half
of the year.
This change affects collections but not disbursements. The
original cap of $2.25 billion for the full year would remain in
place, and the program would start up as planned on January 1.
A reconsideration order formally announcing the new contribution
rate is expected from the FCC today. ALAWON will provide more
details once documentation is available.
Separately, there are reports that major long distance companies
would not put a line item on residential long distance bills for
the first six months of 1998, although a line item can be
expected on business bills.
The FCC May order on universal service (FCC 97-157) stated in
paragraph 855
(www.fcc.gov/ccb/universal_service/fcc97157/sec10.html;
paragraph 855) that the universal service contribution is not a
federally mandated direct end-user surcharge, and that it would
be misleading for a carrier to characterize its contribution as a
surcharge. If companies choose to pass through their
contributions and specify that on customers' bills, they must
convey information to customers accurately. (Essentially, such
an action is a company's choice, not a requirement of the law or
the FCC rule.)
ALA is aware that many libraries have now received discount
application forms from the Schools and Libraries Corporation, and
have planned for and are ready to see this program begin. ALA
remains concerned that all library users and students,
particularly those in rural and low income areas, be fully able
to benefit from the discount program. We are appreciative of
those libraries that got involved in the most recent threat to
the discounts; without that involvement the current outcome might
indeed have been significant delay or serious cutbacks.
Please continue to thank your Senators and Representatives for
their part in approving the library/school portion of universal
service in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and continue to
keep them informed about the importance of this program to
library services to their constituents.
_________________________________________________________________
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ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V)
1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F)
Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V)
Lynne E. Bradley, Editor <leb@alawash.org>
Deirdre Herman, Managing Editor <alawash@alawash.org>
Contributors: Carol C. Henderson
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purposes with appropriate credits.
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