FCC Chair Wants E-Rate Funded
at Authorized Maximum
Federal Communications Commission Chair William Kennard has proposed funding the e-rate program of telecommunication discounts for libraries and schools at its $2.25-billion authorized annual maximum, $900 million more than it received in its first 18 months. “If we follow this course, we will be able to wire 528,000 public school classrooms to the Internet,” Kennard said May 5.
The Associated Press reported that Commissioners Susan Ness and Gloria Tristani support the increased funding, so the five-member commission is expected to approve the plan.
Funding requests for the second year of the program, which begins July 1, are expected to total $2.43 million. Over 32,000 applications have been filed.
Kennard’s proposal was attacked by some Republican lawmakers and consumer groups who fear the program, which is financed through a fee on phone bills, could lead to higher phone charges. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) plan to reintroduce legislation that would curtail spending for the program and phase out its link to phone bills.
Posted May 10, 1999.
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