Friday, September 11, 1998

08:32:41 AM

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FCC Takes Next Step

In what is surely only the next in a brewing battle, the FCC voted to curtail the Erate program. Funding cuts equal to nearly 43% of the overall budget and a lengthened timeframe are geared at saving the program from a full scale political war. The program will be moved to a fiscal year in order to add 6 months to the 1st year disbursements. Priority will be given to the poorest communities leaving some of the applicants without funding. This could have major ramifications if an organization did not negotiate "out" clauses in the contracts, thus putting them on the hook for 100% of the bill. Read a story.

The vote was 3-2 among the commissioners and Furchtgott-Roth issued a statement deriding continuance. Commission Powell issued a dissension statement, but adding "In sum, I would strike a different balance than that struck by the majority. Yet I support the general direction of the changes made in this Order regarding the scope and timing for funding the Schools and Libraries program, in particular, and I commend the majority for having the courage to institute these changes." Read Tristani's Statement, Ness's Statement and Kennard's statement.

In what is beginning to fall along party lines, this is most likely the first major salvo, not the negotiated end.

Items submitted by:
Kenneth S. Bell - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

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