Federal funding for libraries

Citation

Fitzsimmons, E. (2000), "Federal funding for libraries", The Bottom Line, Vol. 13 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2000.17013cab.002

Federal funding for libraries

Keywords Telecommunications, Internet, Libraries, Federal government, Rural areas, Urban environment

Federal funding is always a topic of great interest, and this spring was no exception. Decisions on allocations for the E-rate, ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization), and other budgetary recommendations are all focal points. There have been some positive steps, but there are also reasons to be concerned.

E-rate

William Kennard, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), announced that the funding level for Year Three of the E-rate would be $2.25 billion, which is the full amount allowed by FCC rules. Librarians across the country were delighted with the announcement and the possibilities that it opened. According to John Carlo Bertot, co-author of the 1998 National Survey of Public Library Outlet Connectivity: Final Report (sponsored by the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy in cooperation with the US National Commission on Library and Information Science), an estimated 92.9 per cent of all public libraries have, at least, basic access to the Internet, an increase of 9.3 per cent over 1998. Those still in greatest need are the libraries in high-poverty, rural areas, and these libraries will be given priority in Year Three allocations.

In a press release announcing the full funding and highlighting the difference that the discounts can make, Kennard cited the example of the Detroit Public School District, where students learn in nineteeth century coal-heated buildings. The school district received close to $40 million in E-rate discounts, which made it possible for 175,000 students to have Internet access. Last year, discounts were given to over 53,000 urban schools and over 25,000 rural schools. Vice-President Al Gore noted that Year Three allocations will bring the number of connected classrooms to 1 million.

The 36,000 applications received for Year Three totaled $4.7 billion in discount requests, with nearly 60 per cent of requests coming from the neediest schools and libraries. Clearly, the available funds will not be sufficient to cover all requests. Of the requests received, more than 28,000 (almost 80 per cent) were submitted electronically through Universal Service Administrative Company's (USAC) Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) Web site.

Less than 5 per cent of the E-rate discounts were awarded to libraries, not because schools are shown preference in the allocation process, but because fewer libraries apply. Public libraries accounted for 18.06 per cent of the funded applications and 3.08 per cent of funding dollars. Actually, libraries are funded at a higher rate than schools, but only 50 per cent of eligible libraries apply. Of the eligible schools, 80 per cent apply. The American Library Association (ALA) E-rate Task Force is trying to encourage SLD to simplify the application process. One advantage that schools have over libraries is they often have dedicated personnel for this type of task.

Those who applied for Year Two will still have a chance to receive the discount. USAC SLD has announced that it would consider applications for Year Two (1 July 1999- 30 June 2000) that were received after the 6 April, 1999, deadline and but before 2 March 2000. However, before they award any funding for these late Year Two applicants, SLD will issue the last wave of funding commitments on the Year Three applications that were received within the Year Three window (10 November 1999-19 January 2000). The first wave of funding letters, awarding $186 million, was sent the week of 15 April and review of all applications should be finished by late May.

In addition, a special window to apply for Year Two E-rate discounts was opened, and applications were accepted from 2 March 2000, to 31 March 2000. There will be less than $250 million available to meet these additional funding requests for Year Two, and the funds will be awarded according to the following priorities:

• •

  requests at the 80-90 per cent discount level (i.e. from the most disadvantaged schools and libraries) where the applicant did not receive discounts for Year 1 or 2 or where discounts were only for basic telephone service;

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  funding requests at the 80-90 per cent discount level where the applicant received discounts for any eligible service in Years 1 or 2;

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  funding requests received between 2 March 2000, and 31 March 2000.

The E-rate immediately brings to mind the buzz word "digital divide." In announcing Year Three funding, Kennard said, "the E-Rate is a cornerstone of the Commission's efforts to bridge the Digital Divide." On 4 April, President Clinton announced a "National Call to Action" to address the digital divide. At this time, he urged both profit and non-profit organizations to help bring connectivity to communities around the country. The initiative has two goals:

1. 1.

   to provide Internet access through the schools to all students, which calls for continuing to wire classrooms; and

2. 2.

   to create digital opportunity for everyone through community centers and eventually through universal home Internet access.

The Commerce Department will award about $12.5 million in grants as well. This grant program, formerly known as the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program, is now called the Technology Opportunities Program (TOP).