Electronic media accessibility has come a long way since the Telecommunications Act of 1996. In 2010, the Communication and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) mandated closed captioning many online videos and called for making video blind accessible through audio descriptions. The Department of Justice (DOJ) ruled Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)…

This article explores the historical relationships between libraries, policy, and politics in the United States. Far too often, policy and political discussions related to libraries have little historical context. While libraries have long viewed themselves as a pillar of democracy by supporting informed, educated, and engaged citizenry, political…

In its role helping the nation's schools connect to the Internet and other telecommunications services, the "E-rate" has been among the most consistent of federal programs. Funding for the "education rate" program has held at about $2.25 billion a year since it was created under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and it covers…

Professionals in the field of education emphasize post-secondary education as "the other transition" for students with disabilities. Although literature is accumulating about the integration and use of assistive technologies (AT) for students with disabilities in educational settings, greater emphasis has been placed on K-12 than…

E-Rate is a U.S. federal funding program for providing discounts for telecommunications, Internet access and internal networking costs for schools and libraries to ensure access equity across poor and rich, rural, urban and suburban areas, and highly served and underserved areas. This paper examines the impact of the E-Rate program on social…

"Technology Counts 2007" looks back, and ahead, after a decade of enormous upheaval in the educational technology landscape. This special issue of "Education Week" includes the following articles: (1) A Digital Decade; (2) Getting Up to Speed (Andrew Trotter); (3) E-Rate's Imprint Seen in Schools (Andrew Trotter); (4) Teaching…

This report's 13 chapters address disability statistics and research, major trends, statistics, civil rights, Education, health, and long-term services and supports, children and youth, employment and the workforce development system, welfare reform, housing, transportation, assistive technology and telecommunications, international affairs, and…

This report includes examples of how Universal Service Fund support is used by beneficiaries across the country. Included in this version are approximately 140 success stories of how the Universal Service Fund is helping to improve connectivity in the United States. This report is updated quarterly, as Universal Service Administrative Company…

Discusses the E-Rate, a program from the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that offers a discounted rate to schools and libraries wanting to connect to the Internet. Topics include changes in school district planning practices; the effects of politics, administrative priorities, and community concerns; and technology planning and integration. (LRW)

In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish the Universal Service program to provide financial support for communications services for all K-12 schools/libraries. A Washington telecommunications attorney discusses eligible services and the application process, and offers tips…

Universal service discounts for libraries and schools were promised by the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, but actually obtaining the discounts may prove difficult. This article examines obstacles to library qualification: eligibility requirements, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rulings, the application process, and…

The Universal Service Fund, or E-rate, is a landmark funding measure that will change forever the role of technology in K-12 education. The fund allows eligible schools and libraries to purchase networking equipment, telecommunication services, internal connections, and Internet access at substantial discounts. Accompanied by the 3Com E-rate…

August in the U.S. capital is typically quiet. Congress is in recess, and most bureaucrats choose this hot steamy month for their vacation. In a normal year, serious legislation is put off until September; in a close election year such as this one, it is put off until "after the elections." This year, with the exception of agency…

As one of the popular and promising instructional technologies, Internet is playing a more and more important role in educational field all over the world. Bringing Internet into classrooms is encouraged in many countries; however, their policy initiatives to achieve this vary. The present paper is an empirical and exploratory study, trying to…

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to include support for advanced telecommunications--such as the Internet and computer networking--for elementary and secondary schools, public libraries, and nonprofit rural health care providers among the Universal Service Fund (USF) mandates. In its plan, the…