Barbara Cole

Name: Barbara Cole
E-mail: bwc@stlib.state.pa.us
Organization: Ofc.of Commonwealth Libraries/Dept. of Ed.
City and State: Harrisburg, PA
Date: Oct. 17 - 09:02 AM
Submitted from: w28-217.stlib.state.pa.us <164.156.106.28>

1a. Has the seminar made it more likely that your school district or library will participate in the Universal Service discount program?

No

1b. At what level is your organization applying for the Universal Service discount?

Individual

2a. What long-term service contracts does your library or school districts currently have in effect?

Internet access

Telephone service

2b. When will these contracts expire?

3a. Has your school or library decided upon an estimated date for the completion and submission of the E-rate application?

No

3b. If yes, please indicate your estimated application date.

4. Please list any additional comments you have for the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

My thanks to the PUC and, in particular, Debra Kriete, for working with the FCC as they develop their rules for the Universal Service program. We still need to find out from the FCC exactly what types of libraries beyond public libraries are eligible in Pennsylvania. I am particularly interested in knowing if state institution libraries, county law libraries, historical society libraries, medical libraries connected with nonprofit hospitals, and other special libraries are eligible. I am also waiting to hear what the rules will be for State Libraries. We've been told by ALA that state libraries will be eligible, but, obviously, we won't be reviewing our own technology plans. Who will review our plan? How will our discounts work since we get our telecommunications through the state and its contracts?