ALAWON v10n0019 (March 9, 2001)
URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alawon/alawon-v10n0019.txt

ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 10, Number 19
March 9, 2001

In this issue:
	"EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY" FOCUS OF HOUSE ENERGY AND 
COMMUNICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON MARCH 8TH

SEC. OF EDUCATION PAIGE SAYS BUSH WILL NOT BLOCK GRANT E-RATE


The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet held a hearing on Thursday morning, March 8th on 
"Education and Technology."  Chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), 
the Subcommittee heard testimony from the following witnesses:

Ms. Kate Moore, President, Schools and Libraries Division,
Universal Service Administrative Company

Dr. David Spencer, President and CEO
Michigan Virtual University
                                                         
Dr. Dan Domenech, Superintendent
Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia

Sister Dale McDonald, Director of Public Policy & Educational 
Research
National Catholic Education Association
            
Ms. Judith A. McHale, President and CEO
Discovery Communications, Incorporated

Mr. Hal Krisbergh ,Chairman and CEO
WordGate Communications (Wish TV)
                                                         
Ms. Rae Grad, Chairman
PowerUP-Bridging the Digital Divide
                                 
Dr. Jennifer House, Vice President of Strategic Relations
Classroom Connect, Inc.
                                                         
Dr. Emylyn H. Koster, President and CEO
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, New Jersey,

(Text of all testimony will soon be mounted at the Subcommittee 
website at:
http://www.house.gov/commerce/hearings/03082001-51/08082001.htm)

Witnesses speaking about the E-rate discount all favored keeping 
the program in its current structure at the FCC and described how 
they saw the E-rate program helping schools and libraries.  No one 
referenced the statement made the previous day by President Bush's 
Secretary of Education Roderick Paige at another House hearing 
that the Administration would not be trying to put the FCC-
administered E-rate into a block grant program with other 
educational technology programs in the Department of Education.   
[See report below in this ALAWON.] 

Chief E-rate administrator, SLD President Kate Moore, briefly 
described the implementation of the discount program and 
highlighted the current demand for funding the current year 4 - 
$5.78 billion - almost what the program has distributed in the 
previous three years in total.

Spencer, the Michigan Virtual University President, commented on 
the nature of technology, learning and distance education and the 
affect that the Internet and technology have had on higher 
education.  He briefly described the Internet II project and how 
it would be impacting higher education.  This will also have great 
impact on how teachers are prepared to use technology and distance 
learning.

Domenech, the Fairfax County School Superintendent, described the 
need for technology and professional development.  He described 
the benefits of the E-rate to his school system and the Nation's 
need for improving teaching in technology as well as science and 
math.  He also represented the American Association of School 
Administrators and noted their consensus for the need for 
professional development and in-school technology specialists.

Sister McDonald described the importance of the E-rate to 
parochial schools, in particular, and private schools in general.  
To this community the E-rate is the most significant Federal 
program that private and parochial schools can participate in.  
When asked by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) about the involvement of the 
program for libraries, Sister McDonald responded about the 
important role that libraries have also played.

Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) asked McDonald and others about what was 
being done to protect kids from access to "smut."  McDonald, who 
represents the National Catholic Education Association, answered 
that, while many Catholic schools use filters, the best way to 
protect students was to educate them about the uses of the 
Internet, have them sign agreements and ethical use policies, 
educate their families as well and provide appropriate 
supervision.

McHale and Krisbergh testified about their cable-based projects.  
McHale described some of the productions and curriculum efforts 
while Krisbergh described some of the recent cable technology to 
deliver education services to create a home-school connection.  
McHale also spoke from her perspective as a member of the Maryland 
State Board of Education.  

Dr. House described the need for more research on Internet-based 
curriculum.  Dr. Koster noted how the Internet had expanded the 
reach and exposure of the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, 
NJ, through classroom Internet activities and other efforts.

Questions from members of the Congressional Subcommittee focused 
in particular on professional development.  Subcommittee Chair 
Upton appears very supportive of the E-rate and asked the 
witnesses about the importance of technology and how to assure 
adequate teacher training.  Rep. Tom Sawyer (D-OH) asked about the 
implications "learning about learning" and the applications of 
these new technologies.  He was especially concerned about how 
technology impacts higher order and cognitive skills.  

Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), who represents Fairfax County, asked if the 
application process was too burdensome and Domenech, the Fairfax 
Superintendent, responded that the program was working effectively 
and efficiently, that the process had improved since its first 
year and that it should not be changed.

Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) referenced some of the previous political 
controversies with the E-rate and hoped that it can "settle down."  
She wants to improve it but believes the discount program has 
overall been very successful.

Perhaps the most telling comment came at the end when Chairman 
Upton referenced that FCC Chairman Michael Powell would be 
testifying soon before the Subcommittee and that it would be 
expected that the E-rate would again be discussed at that hearing.


SECRETARY OF EDUCATION PAIGE STATES THAT BUSH WILL NOT BLOCK GRANT 
E-RATE 

Secretary of Education Roderick Paige stated in his testimony 
before the House Committee on Education and Workforce on March 7th 
that President Bush would not be trying to merge the E-rate 
discount program into a state-based block grant with Department of 
Education educational technology programs.  Bush had indicated in 
previous statements that he would attempt to move the E-rate and 
change its structure. 

This was received as welcome news to members of the EdLiNC 
coalition which has worked on the E-rate since its inception in 
the Telecommunications Act of 1996.  Organizations within the 
coalition as well as key telecommunications companies and civil 
rights groups had lobbied the Administration and others to leave 
the program at the FCC.
 
However, this probably means that Bush will still try to have the 
Department of Education consolidate other educational technology 
programs under its purview.  Some reports have said that Paige 
indicated at the hearing that there would not be a reduction in 
the funding.  However, the Bush/Paige proposal block grant 
proposal on ed. tech. is lacking detail so it is too soon to 
describe potential impacts for K-12 school libraries and their 
institutions.

Much of Paige's testimony and the subsequent questioning focused 
on Bush's annual testing proposals.

 

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