ALAWON v6n114 (December 17, 1997) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alawon/alawon-v6n114 ================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 114 ISSN 1069-7799 December 17, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (79 lines) DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE _________________________________________________________________ DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard announced late on December 15 that the rate of contribution by companies to the universal service fund for libraries and schools would be reduced for the first six months of 1998. Under the revised plan, $625 million would be collected in the first half of the year. This change affects collections but not disbursements. The original cap of $2.25 billion for the full year would remain in place, and the program would start up as planned on January 1. A reconsideration order formally announcing the new contribution rate is expected from the FCC today. ALAWON will provide more details once documentation is available. Separately, there are reports that major long distance companies would not put a line item on residential long distance bills for the first six months of 1998, although a line item can be expected on business bills. The FCC May order on universal service (FCC 97-157) stated in paragraph 855 (www.fcc.gov/ccb/universal_service/fcc97157/sec10.html; paragraph 855) that the universal service contribution is not a federally mandated direct end-user surcharge, and that it would be misleading for a carrier to characterize its contribution as a surcharge. If companies choose to pass through their contributions and specify that on customers' bills, they must convey information to customers accurately. (Essentially, such an action is a company's choice, not a requirement of the law or the FCC rule.) ALA is aware that many libraries have now received discount application forms from the Schools and Libraries Corporation, and have planned for and are ready to see this program begin. ALA remains concerned that all library users and students, particularly those in rural and low income areas, be fully able to benefit from the discount program. We are appreciative of those libraries that got involved in the most recent threat to the discounts; without that involvement the current outcome might indeed have been significant delay or serious cutbacks. Please continue to thank your Senators and Representatives for their part in approving the library/school portion of universal service in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and continue to keep them informed about the importance of this program to library services to their constituents. _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc @ala.org. To unsubscribe, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/ washoff/alawon. Visit our Web site at http://www.alawash.org. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V) Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Deirdre Herman, Managing Editor Contributors: Carol C. Henderson All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================