Jim Wiljanen

Name: Jim Wiljanen

E-mail: wiljanen@mdenet.mde.state.mi.us

Organization: Michigan Department of Education

City and State: Lansing, MI

Area of Employment: government

How I heard about Network Democracy:

E-mail message forwarded by Greg Marks, Merit Network, Inc.

My experience in this area:

Though I am not an expert on telecommunications regulation, I did work for the Michigan Public Service Commission for four years prior to joining the Michigan Department of Education in August 1995. My role at the MPSC focused on distance learning and educational telecommunications. My current responsibilities are wide-ranging, but largely in the area of video and data networking involving schools and various collaborators (business, medicine, government). In both positions, I've had some exposure to the Michigan Telecommunications Act, which brought competition to the telecommunications industry in our state beginning in 1992.

What I hope to learn:

I would like to be more knowledgeable about federal telecommunications law and how it will affect education, so I can be responsive to schools in the state who need much the same information. Also, the degree that the Telecommunications Act of 1996 provides additional funding for education via the Universal Service provision is of specific interest.

Additional comments:

I'm looking forward to the seminar and hope that I can be as active as you expect of participants. Thank you for this opportunity.