Subject: TIIAP cut proposed; grants prohibited to E-rate recipients
patricem@ombwatch.org
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 16:18:12 -0500
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 16:18:12 -0500 From: patricem@ombwatch.org Subject: TIIAP cut proposed; grants prohibited to E-rate recipients To: roundtable@cni.org Message-Id: <Chameleon.900361461.patrice@patrice.rtknet.org>
For your information and action.
-------------------------------------
Patrice McDermott
patricem@ombwatch.org
OMB Watch
Date: 07/13/98
Time: 16:18:12
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Excerpted from:
ALAWON Volume 7, Number 92
ISSN 1069-7799 July 13, 1998
American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
- ACTION NEEDED: COMMITTEE PROHIBITS TIIAP GRANTS TO ALL E-RATE
ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES; REGISTER CONCERN WITH SENATORS
ACTION NEEDED: COMMITTEE PROHIBITS TIIAP GRANTS TO ALL E-RATE
ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES; REGISTER CONCERN WITH SENATORS
A July 2 Senate Appropriations Committee report prohibits all
E-rate eligible schools and public libraries from applying for
Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance
Program grants (S. 2260; S. Rept. 105-235). The prohibition
covers all schools and libraries -- even in partnerships with
other community entities -- who are eligible for the E-rate,
not just schools or libraries receiving the E-rate discounts.
The Appropriations Committee also agreed with the
subcommittee's June 23 recommendation to cut TIIAP by 50
percent, placing FY99 funding at $11 million. The FY99 budget
request from the Administration was for $22 million; in FY98
the program was funded at $20 million.
The attack on TIIAP comes at a time when Congressional critics
are attempting to halt or further delay the E-rate program.
Some Congressional supporters of schools and libraries are
working to overturn or remove this provision from the TIIAP
budget. However, even if schools and libraries are again made
eligible, major cuts to the program would severely limit the
number of FY99 TIIAP grants.
The E-rate discount in no way lessens the need for TIIAP
grants. TIIAP supports the use of the information superhighway
through personal computers, modems, network equipment, end user
training, software, network design and system maintenance, as
well as costs associated with project evaluation and
dissemination of project results. Most if not all of these
costs are ineligible under the E-rate.
TIIAP, administered by the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration in the Department of Commerce,
provides matching grants to non-profit organizations --
including libraries, schools, hospitals, and state and local
governments -- for innovative projects that demonstrate the
benefits of telecommunications and information technology and
help extend their reach to underserved communities. In FY97
twelve libraries were among the fifty-five recipients of the
$20.9 million in federal matching grants to nonprofit entities
in 38 states and the District of Columbia for fiscal year 1997.
ACTION NEEDED: Library supporters are encouraged to write
and/or call their Senators and register their concern about
these drastic cuts and limitations placed on TIIAP. (The U.S.
Capitol Switchboard phone number is 202 224-3121.)
It is important to stress that since 1994 TIIAP grants have
been used by libraries and schools -- directly or through
coalitions -- for community networking, education and
extending library services. The program has been able to fund
only one out of every thirteen organizations that have applied.
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