By editorial@silicon.com, 24 November 1998 17:24
NEWS The US government is to give Internet connection subsidies worth $1.3bn to 40,000 public schools and 7,000 libraries. The 'e-rate' programme, announced by US vice president, Al Gore, is designed to give poor and rural schools high-speed Internet access, internal wiring and telecommunications services. The project falls under the 1996 Telecommunications Act, dedicated to providing all children with the same IT and information opportunities regardless of location. Of the 30,000 schools and libraries that have applied to the fund so far, 3,000 applications have been accepted. In total, a discount of $73m has been granted. The wiring of the schools and libraries is being backed by the Federal Communication Commission's universal service fund. Money for the fund comes from long-distance carriers which pay local phone companies for local network access and consumers. Grants from the $425m Technology Literacy Challenge Fund are also to begin being distributed. The money will allow states and communities to buy computers, educational software and training for teachers. The e-rate subsidies will be distributed over the next two months.
In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.
Log in or create your silicon.com account below