By Kevin McCarty

At a May 26 press conference on Capitol Hill, Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell and Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido, leaders of the Conference on telecommunications matters, delivered the views of the nation’s mayors that the FCC should act to fully fund the "E-Rate" program next year at $2.25 billion.

The press event was held the eve of the Federal Communications Commission’s vote on next year’s funding level for the program, which was authorized in the "Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996." This law made resources available from the Universal Service Fund to assist the nation’s poorer schools as well as libraries in accessing the Internet and to discount the cost of line charges. In a May 27 action, the Commission approved full funding of $2.25 billion for the program for next year.

At the press briefing, Campbell and Guido released a May 26 letter signed by Conference President Deedee Corradini and Conference Vice President and Wellington E. Webb, along with more than twenty other Conference leaders, to FCC Chairman William E. Kennard urging the FCC to fully fund the "E-Rate" program.

In talking about the FCC’s action, Campbell, noting his role as mayor of a city which is identified with civil rights, said, " Civil rights was the issue of the 20th Century, and ‘cyber rights’ will be the issue of the 21st Century. E-Rate is trying to close the digital divide. This issue will determine the future of our citizens in inner cities and rural areas."

Citing data that illustrates the gap between the wealthy and poor in accessing new technology, Campbell said, "Households with incomes of $10,000 or less have computers, while households with $70,000 or more, 75 percent have computers. This is one of the few programs that can make a difference."

He noted how 53 schools in Atlanta were connected to the Internet, with the $6.1 million of the $1.7 billion nationally that was made available to schools in his city in the first year of the E-Rate program. "This indicates an appetite for knowledge," Campbell said.

In commenting on pending Congressional legislation to change how the program works, Campbell said, "I can’t imagine Congress turning their backs on people seeking knowledge." He also added that "Here is a program that is working, and we see efforts to dismantle to dismantle it."

Mayor Guido explained how important the support from the E-rate program has been to his City of Dearborn. "The $410,000 that would have gone to line charges now goes to computers and hardware."

He particularly emphasized the benefits of this public information infrastructure at schools and libraries where so many immigrants, particularly from the Middle East, have settled. "They use the Internet to communicate with their families," Guido said.

Explaining how the ‘34 Communications Act established the principle of ‘universal service,’ Guido said, "The ‘96 Act provides Internet access for the next century."

Joining with the mayors at the press conference was Rep. Bobby L. Rush (IL), who attended the event as a spokesperson for the Congressional Black Caucus. He noted that "30,000 thousand applications for the E-rate program were received last year, 35,000 are expected this year. Clearly, schools and libraries understand this application process and are more than enthusiastic about the program."

Also participating in the event were Ray Ewick, President of the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, and Carla Hayden, Chief Librarian of the City of Baltimore/

USCM Letter to Kennard

In the May 26 letter to Chairman Kennard, twenty-three Conference leaders urged that "As Mayors, we want to deliver a clear, simple message: E-Rate is working-and should be expanded."

The letter continued, "The E-Rate program helps to bridge the gap between the wealthy and poor in urban and rural communities, by providing the deepest discounts to those with the greatest need. The current program level, however, is insufficient to meet the overwhelming need. We strongly urge the FCC to support the program by setting next year’s funding level at the cap of $2.25 billion.

FCC Action on "E-Rate"

In a statement before voting to approve full funding for the program, FCC Chairman Bill Kennard, a champion of the E-Rate program, said, "After one year, though, we find that the digital divide is narrowing. Over 80,000 schools and libraries and more than 38 million kids have been helped by the E-Rate program."

Joining with Kennard in voting for the $2.25 billion level were Commissioners Ness and Tristani, with Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth dissenting and Commissioner Powell dissenting in part.