April 4, 2000

Chairman William F. Kennard
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St. SW
Washington DC 20554

Dear Chairman Kennard:

The Education and Libraries Networks Coalition (EdLiNC) concurs with the reply comments filed by the American Library Association in the Inquiry Concerning Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications Capability to All Americans in a Reasonable and Timely Fashion, and Possible Steps to Accelerate Such Deployment Pursuant to Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (CC Docket No. 98-146).

EdLiNC includes over 25 national organizations representing public schools, private schools, libraries and rural community groups. EdLiNC was formed to ensure that our nation's school children and communities have affordable access to the information resources of the 21st Century through their schools and libraries.

We would like to emphasize one point raised by the American Library Association regarding the definition of advanced telecommunications capability. We feel that it would be premature to redefine advanced telecommunications capabilities at this point. We were seriously concerned that some commenters suggested that advanced telecommunication capabilities include anything above POTS-only and that a new definition need not include both upstream and downstream high-speed access. This proposed revision of the definition would result in a retreat or unnecessary delay in deploying advanced technology to all Americans by setting a lower level than that set in the FCC's First Report. Further, the definition fails to take into account many of the advanced and interactive educational services presently provided in many schools and libraries.

We are a long way from reaching the goal of deployment of advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans as required under section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Universal Service program for schools and libraries has assisted millions of school children, parents and life-long learners in accessing telecommunications capabilities and Internet connectivity. Sections 254 and 706 must work in concert so that when advanced telecommunications and information services become widely available in an area, it is the E-Rate program that will assist schools and libraries to access these continually evolving services.

EdLiNC appreciates the Commission's consideration of our comments in this matter.

Respectfully,

American Association of School Administrators
American Federation of Teachers
American Library Association
Association of Educational Service Agencies
Consortium for School Networking
Council of Chief State School Officers
International Society for Telecommunications in Education
International Telecomputing Consortium
National Association of Independent Schools
National Education Association
National Rural Education Association



For further information or to reach EdLiNC representatives, please contact Claudette Tennant, EdLiNC Chair, 202-628-8410