Bulletins

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday said it would carry forward about $420 million in unused funds to provide Internet access and other telecommunications services to libraries and schools.

Commissioner Abernathy Statement

News Release

On December 8, the FCC issued an Order (FCC 03-313) that consolidates the review of appeals from eight FY2002 appellants who used a "Systems Integrator" approach in their Forms 470 and whose related funding requests were denied by the SLD. In this order, the FCC clarified important concepts for applicants and service providers.

In general, equipment that is located at the applicant site is considered for funding under the eligibility requirements for Internal Connections. However, if the on-premise equipment is an integral part of an end-to-end Priority 1 service (i.e., Telecommunications Services or Internet Access), recurring or non-recurring charges for that service may include the cost of on-premise equipment used by the provider to provide that Priority 1 service.

Today the Schools and Libraries Committee approved the opening and closing dates for the Funding Year 2004 Form 471 application filing window.

On August 15, 2003, NTIA released a report pursuant to section 1703 of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Pub.L.No. 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-336 (2000), evaluating the effectiveness of technology protection measures and safety policies used by educational institutions.

On August 19, 2003, the FCC released Public Notice DA 03-2690 [PDF format 104kb]. In this notice, the FCC announced that the revised Form 486 and Form 479 were approved by the Office of Management and Budget on August 14, 2003.

The FCC order (FCC 03-188) concerning library compliance with the filtering provision of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) became effective August 14, 2003 upon the approval by OMB of the revised Form 486 and Form 479.

The Task Force on the Prevention of Waste, Fraud and Abuse held its third meeting on June 25-26, 2003. The primary goal of the third meeting was to continue to review and refine Task Force recommendations and to permit more extended time to discuss addressing waste, fraud and abuse issues through a revision of the discount matrix and/or by imposing some sort of ceiling on funding requests.

On July 11, 2003, the Schools and Libraries Committee of the USAC Board authorized the SLD to lower the threshold for funding Internal Connections for Funding Year 2003 to 85%. This authorization was effective for Wave 8 of Funding Commitments to be released on July 28.

In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that the Commission's current suspension of rules concerning libraries' compliance with Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) filtering requirements remains in effect until the Commission acts or the recent Supreme Court decision, U.S. v. American Library Association, becomes effective, whichever comes first.

(Toronto) The American Library Association (ALA) today expressed disappointment in today's very narrow decision from the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the Children's Internet Protection Act.

Two forms of federal assistance help public libraries provide patrons with Internet access: discounted rates under the E-rate program and grants under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy hosts public forum to strengthen compliance and oversight over the schools and libraries program of the federal universal service support mechanisms, often called the "E-rate" program.

Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

This month a new pilot project was to begin that would use wireless technology to turn New York libraries into high-speed Internet hubs for low-income neighborhoods. But it has been delayed, thanks to the controversy over a federal program known as E-rate.

If Al Gore did indeed invent the Internet, it's time for him to return and teach America's public schools how to use it.

In this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau announces the proposed universal service contribution factor for the first quarter of 2003.1 Under section 54.709 of the Commission's rules, the quarterly contribution factor is based on the ratio of total projected quarterly costs of the federal universal service support mechanisms to total end-user interstate and international telecommunications revenues, net of prior period actual contributions.

In response to concerns from the applicant and service provider communities - and in consultation with the FCC and the USAC Schools and Libraries Committee - the Schools and Libraries Division is extending the deadline for the Funding Year 2003 Form 471 application filing window to Thursday, February 6, 2003 at 11:59 PM EST.