A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

       FOR RELEASE                                         Contact: Rick Miller     October 10, 1996                                             (202) 401-3026

Education, Agriculture, Commerce Call for Free Internet Access for Schools, Libraries

In a letter delivered today to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Education Secretary Richard W. Riley, Agriculture Secretary Daniel R. Glickman and Commerce Secretary Michael Kantor call for "a guarantee of universal access to advanced telecommunications and information services for every public, private and parochial K through 12 school and library in America."

President Clinton announced the proposal today in a speech in Knoxville, Tenn.

Calling the Internet "the blackboard of the future," the cabinet officials said many schools and libraries cannot afford the connection charges and on going monthly fees usually required by Internet service providers.

Written on behalf of the administration, the filing with the FCC proposes "an E-rate" -- "a free education rate that will guarantee that we reach the goal of universal connectivity by the year 2000."

"This proposal," the secretaries write, "supports the long standing American tradition of providing free education to every American child. It builds on significant investments by schools and libraries. In fact, schools and libraries are investing millions of dollars on computers, software, and teacher training. Those investments would be jeopardized if schools and libraries cannot afford to pay the monthly access charges."

The FCC's Federal State Joint Board on Universal Service will consider the proposal at a October 17 meeting and is expected to make a recommendation to the commission on November 8.

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