Political Quotes

“the FCC is on the verge of halting the collection of money for a new program to help wire schools and libraries to the internet thru the e-rate provisions of the universal service fund. Let me begin with a few facts: 1. The Universal Service Fund is older than Social Security. Yes Mr. Speaker it is older than our most venerated entitlement program. 2. The 1996 Telecommunications Act extended the generations old Universal Service program to include schools and libraries. This is a matter of law. 3. Long distance phone rates are at their lowest point ever. 4. Access charge reductions to phone companies--part of the ``deal'' that resulted in the 1996 Telecom Act--have totalled 2.4 billion over the last 11 months--well above the $2 billion estimated demand for discounts in the Schools and Libraries Corporation. 5. The Schools & Libraries Corporations has 14 employees, smaller than the vast majority of Congressional staffs. Now: through all the myths, propaganda, and nonsense that is being spread about the E-rate and Schools and Libraries Corporation--myths these facts are meant to dispel, one central fact is being neglected: Connecting schools and libraries to the Internet will benefit our children. It will benefit the children of my district and children across this nation. That is why were are here: period.”