Alcee Hastings: “Mr. Speaker, the Internet Equity and Education Act may very well be a step in the right direction. It was introduced and…”

“Mr. Speaker, the Internet Equity and Education Act may very well be a step in the right direction. It was introduced and passed out of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on a bipartisan basis. I salute the original sponsor of this bill, my good friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson), who previously served with distinction as chairman of the Georgia Board of Education and obviously has a great deal of experience in educational matters. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to calculate how large an impact the Internet will have on every facet of our lives. In particular, the ability of one to educate herself or himself without ever stepping foot on a college campus is undoubtedly one of the most profound, positive changes to be wrought by the proliferation of computers and web-based university instruction. Congress, as can be our custom sometimes, is a little bit behind the curve when it comes to technological advances and their impact on our society. I am thrilled that we are slowly beginning to understand these impacts and contemplating laws which help to harness the great potential of the Internet.”