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On February 3, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoked all of the designations of Lifeline Broadband Providers and ordered the retraction of multiple reports, including the “E-rate Modernization Progress Report” and “Improving the Nation’s Digital Infrastructure.”

The American Library Association (ALA) is dismayed by these actions to reduce digital opportunity and revise the public record. ALA President Julie Todaro released the following statement.

“The American Library Association (ALA) strenuously objects to recent actions by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). First, the ALA is alarmed by the sudden revocation of the nine Lifeline Broadband Provider designations. Reducing options for Lifeline broadband services is a step back in efforts to close the homework gap and digital divide, and is at odds with Chairman Pai’s stated desire to advance digital empowerment. The 2016 Lifeline modernization order represented a critical milestone in our national commitment to connect low-income Americans to the broadband that powers educational and economic opportunity. ALA and our nation’s 120,000 libraries are committed to advancing digital opportunity for all, and we urge the FCC to increase the number of broadband options available for Lifeline customers.

“The ALA also calls for the FCC to maintain an accurate and complete historical record. While new FCC leadership may have new policy directions, the public record should not be permanently altered. Governmental agencies must be accountable in this regard. We urge the reversal of the retraction decisions and an agreement that the FCC will not order the removal of any other documents from the public record. Such actions undermine the credibility of the FCC and Chairman Pai’s recent move to increase transparency of the Commission’s rulemaking.

“Full and public debate with the accompanying historical record preserved on these foundational internet issues that affect every person in this country should be the standard we expect and demand.”

Docs:

Archived Obama Administration FCC Website

Erate Progress Report Retraction Order: The Acting Chiefs of WCB and WTB and the Managing Director retract a report entitled “E-rate Modernization Progress Report” that was released by FCC staff on Jan. 18, 2017. This report will have no legal or other effect or meaning going forward.

Lifeline Broadband Providers Reconsideration Order: WCB reconsiders recently adopted orders designating entities as Lifeline Broadband Providers (LBPs), returns outstanding petitions for LBP designation to their status as petitions pending before WCB, and removes applicants from LBP streamlined treatment.

E-rate Modernization Progress Report

Improving the Nation’s Digital Infrastructure

Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries (E-Rate)

Lifeline Program for Low-Income Consumers

The NC Legislature approved an expansion of the School Connectivity Initiative to help pay for wireless expansion in the schools.  Sounds great!  Well not so fast when the NC Department of Public Instruction and it’s CFO, Phillip Price, is involved.

Under the program, schools would be responsible for applying for E-Rate funds and then the amount not paid by E-Rate would be covered by the State.  So far so good.  The problem is that the DPI has mandated (despite the appropriation not calling for them to do so) that all participants use a state convenience contract managed by DPI staff.  Schools who have sought bids for comparison through other convenience contracts or through their own RFPs have found consistently lower prices may be obtained elsewhere.

Unfortunately this is not only a waste of State and Federal funds but as the E-Rate program has a $150 per student  cap on equipment funding for every 5 year period, it is wasting valuable and scarce school funding as well.  We have seen bids well in excess of $100,000 cheaper have to be ignored so that the schools will be awarded funds from DPI. Schools would like to choose the lowest cost qualified vendor but the NCDPI has chosen to pursue power over what is right.  Tax dollars be dammed.  

On February 8, 1996, President Clinton signed landmark telecommunications reform legislation into law, the first major overhaul of telecommunications law in almost 62 years. The overwhelming bipartisan support for this new law demonstrated America's commitment to ensuring that all citizens benefit from the information superhighway now and in the next century.

The Act contains provisions to, among other things:

open competition between local telephone companies, long distance providers, and cable companies

help connect all classrooms, libraries, and hospitals to the information superhighway by the end of this decade

Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries (E-Rate)

give families control of the programming that comes into their homes through television

prevent undue concentration in television and radio ownership so that a diversity of voices and viewpoints can continue to flourish in this Nation

More:

FCC: Telecommunications Act of 1996

NTIA 1999 Website: Overview of Telecommunications Act of 1996

Public Law No: 104-104: Telecommunications Act of 1996

Legislative History - [S.652 ; H.R 1555]

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 and People With Disabilities

March Madness has a whole different meaning for libraries involved in the 2015 E-rate application process. The application window, when libraries file the forms that initiate their E-rate applications, closes on March 26 at midnight eastern time. In the next 43 days, libraries will be “heads down” working through the E-rate rules to make sure the forms are filed correctly.