Bulletins

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).

(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.

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.

The SLD has identified all applicants in Category 4 defined in the new guidance on CIPA for libraries that received funding commitments for Funding Year 2001.

Since 1994, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has surveyed public schools to estimate access to information technology in schools and classrooms.