US/ND-1: Definition of "Education"
Definition of "Education"
Bill Cosh (bcosh@wasb.org)
Wed, 28 Aug 1996 20:39:43 -0700
I just got e-mail access, and signing up for the Universal Service on
line seminar was the first thing I've done. I hope this message works
ok.
While going through the messages that I received today, I noticed the
comments from Jan Bolluyt and Link Shadley. Excellent points. I just
wanted to pass on to participants that the issues you both raised are
things that Wisconsin's Universal Service Fund Advisory Council is
struggling with as they revise the first set of Universal Service Rules.
Currently, Wisconsin's Public Service Commission has chosen to define
education institution very narrowly. There is also significant debate
over how to approach the goal of "Universal Service."
Providing access to schools in some cases may take away the critical
mass needed in a local community to make it profitable for a local
telephone company to provide Internet access. In Wisconsin we currently
have 92 phone companies. Under Wisconsin's Telecommunication's law their
monopolies are protected for 5 years unless they choose to deregulate.
If they deregulate they need to specify at that point in time what they
intend to do for all of the schools, libraries and health care
facilities in their service area.
So far, Wisconsin's experience has not been good. Each phone company
that has deregulated has promised the school's in its area a different
level of service and discount.
Combine this with the very weak Universal Service Fund rules that we
have and schools are really struggling.
Bill Cosh
Wisconsin Association of School Boards
bcosh@wasb.org