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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 1999

News Release

NEA President Lauds Expanded Funding for E-Rate

FCC vote will "send millions of Americans soaring into the information age"

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Bob Chase, president of the more than 2.4-million member National Education Association (NEA), hailed today's vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to expand funding for the E-Rate program by $900 million -- to an annual maximum of $2.25 billion.

"Today's vote by the FCC will send millions of Americans soaring into the information age," Chase said. "This additional funding is a direct response to the enormous demand for the E-Rate program, and it puts all students and adult learners on an equal footing.

"Success in the next millenium will be more and more dependent on access to information," Chase said. "That's why a fully funded E-Rate program is so important. Now, all Americans, regardless of age, income level, or geographic location, will have the opportunity to learn anything in the world. As an educator, I can't imagine anything more exciting."

The E-Rate offers schools and libraries discounts of 20-90% on telephone service, internet access, and internal connections. Over its first 18 months, the E-Rate received 30,000 applications from schools and libraries, which qualified for $1.9 billion in discounts. In its second year, the program received an additional 32,000 applications.