ALAWON v11n0017 (March 8, 2002)
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ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 11, Number 17
March 8, 2002

In This Issue: ALA Supports Full Funding of TOP and CTC

ALA has sent letters to leaders of the Senate and House Appropriations
committees indicating support for full funding for the Technology
Opportunities Program (TOP - previously TIIAP) in the Department of
Commerce and the Community Technology Center initiative (CTC) in the
Department of Education.  ALA has been working with a diverse group of
organizations led by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, seeking to
save TOP and CTC since President Bush's proposed FY2003 Budget would
eliminate all funding for both programs.
  
The Technology Opportunities Program (TOP), administered by the Department
of Commerce and funded at approximately $12.1 million, provides matching
grants to bring the benefits of innovative digital network technologies to
under-served communities across the United States.
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/top/

The Community Technology Center (CTC) initiative, a competitive grant
program administered by the Department of Education, is a vital
community-based resource providing a broad range of services in locations
that are convenient to underserved and disenfranchised individuals.  It is
funded at about $33 million. 
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OVAE/AdultEd/CTC/

Over the years several library projects have been sponsored by TOP (TIIAP)
and CTC, and while not a major source of funds for libraries, these
programs have provided grants for unique and collaborative
telecommunications applications that have almost no other source of
funding.  ALA asks that librarians in colleges, universities or communities
that have received grants, as well as library supporters who have seen TOP
and CTC projects at institutions elsewhere in their communities, write
their senators and representatives and ask that the two programs be fully
funded.  

The ALA letter stated in part:
"The "seed" funding from these programs is still needed for our Nation to
close the "digital divide."  Just as we shall "leave no child behind" - we
must "leave no community behind."  As you know, libraries serve all kinds
of individuals and communities - in urban and rural areas as well as in
colleges and schools.  We work in partnership at the local, state and
federal government to promote quality information services. . . . There is
an extremely important function for "seed" monies like TOP and CTC to
foster cost-effective and collaborative services and advance
telecommunications resources within communities and on campuses. 
Preserving the funding for both programs, less than $50 million, is a real
bargain."


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ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403,
Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free;
fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site:
http://www.ala.org/washoff.  Executive Director: Emily Sheketoff. Office
of Government Relations: Lynne Bradley, Director; Camille Bowman, Mary
Costabile, Don Essex, Patrice McDermott and Miriam Nisbet. Office for
Information Technology Policy: Rick Weingarten, Director; Jennifer Hendrix,
Carrie Russell, Claudette Tennant. ALAWON Editor: Bernadette Murphy.