US/ND-3: Welcome to Week Three of the On-line Seminar

Welcome to Week Three of the On-line Seminar

Bob Carlitz (bob@info-ren.pitt.edu)
Mon, 9 Sep 1996 11:38:22 -0400 (EDT) 

If you have a bookmark for
	http://www.info-ren.org/projects/universal-service/this-week.html
you may already have seen the material which sets up the structure
of the seminar for the upcoming week.  A few highlights are as
follows:
	* In order to facilitate the active participation of a larger
fraction of the people registered for the seminar, we have put
together an on-line survey which deals with questions which were
at the heart of last week's discussion, namely those having to 
do with the SCOPE of Universal Service subsidies.  You can access
the survey through the "this-week" page or directly at
	http://www.info-ren.org/projects/universal-service/survey.html
Please write to
	info@info-ren.pitt.edu
if you have any problems with the survey or other aspects of the 
Universal Service/Network Democracy Web site.

The "this-week" page contains a summary of points raised in last
week's discussion which you might want to consult before completing
the survey.  Please try to complete the survey in the next two
days, after which a summary of results will be posted.

At the end of last week we were able to announce the possibility 
of college credit for participants in the seminar.  Please write
to info@info-ren.pitt.edu if you are interested in this option.

The current week's discussion will focus on the following question:
    Allocation: Who Gets the Subsidies and Under What Conditions?
As indicated in this week's notes, this question covers a number
of issues, such as
	* Should there be cash grants or vouchers?
	* Should there be an "E-rate" for schools and libraries?
	* Should there be a requirement for state-approved
		technology plans?
	* How should one define a bona fide request for services?
	* Should Universal Service subsidies apply to groups
		which provide materials and services to schools
		and libraries as well as to the schools and 
		libraries themselves?

The assignments for this week are as follows:
	* Continue to develop summaries of material submitted
		to the FCC
	* Participate in the on-line discussion
	* Complete the on-line survey mentioned above

We are nearing the half-way point in the current seminar, so if
you have not yet spoken up, you should make a concerted effort
to do so.  You direct participation in the on-line discussion
is invited, and your participation in the on-line survey is
strongly urged and would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks,
Bob Carlitz
Moderator