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WASHINGTON, D.C. ÷ Meeting with Secretary of Education Rod Paige Monday afternoon, U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) appealed to the Administration to keep the "E-Rate" program independent, rather than rolling it into federal education block grants. Snowe and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.), who together authored the E-Rate program as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, met this afternoon with Secretary Paige on this and other issues. Using the federal Universal Service fund, the E-Rate program provides discounts to schools and libraries for telecommunications, Internet Access, and to connect classrooms to the information superhighway. "I appreciate the understanding Secretary Paige and the Administration have demonstrated about the E-Rate program, and asked the Secretary to reconsider the proposal to fold the E-Rate program into education block grants to states. He was receptive to our concerns," said Snowe, a member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Communications. "The E-Rate provides critical assistance to schools and libraries so they can afford technology, and by remaining true to our nation's commitment to universal service, it is both self-funding and self-sustaining." "I fear that using a block grant approach would give schools less flexibility, not more. Schools currently can apply for assistance based on needs identified locally, while block grants would instead force schools to apply through state education agencies," Snowe said. Snowe also warned that using a block grant approach could undermine the program's appeal to private and parochial schools, which would be required to seek funding from state education agencies. This approach might cause some schools to opt out of the program altogether, rather than face concerns about entanglement with federal regulations or lawsuits. "The E-Rate was based on a delicate agreement in the original Telecommunications Act. In return for permitting telecommunications companies increased flexibility and competition, Congress insisted on a strong commitment by these companies to preserve and advance universal service. That approach included advanced telecommunications for schools, rural health care providers, and libraries. We should not permit telecommunications companies to walk away from this carefully negotiated and balanced commitment to our nation's schools and libraries," she said. "I appreciate the Secretary's responsiveness, and his eagerness to meet with us to discuss this vital initiative," Snowe said. |