Res. No. 761
Resolution supporting the goals and past achievements of the E-rate program; and further calling for a better-administered program with controlled funds to bring technology to classrooms, public libraries and rural health-care facilities.
By Council Members Brewer, Barron, Clarke, Fidler, Gerson, Jackson, James, Lopez, Nelson, Palma, Quinn, Recchia, Sanders, Seabrook and Stewart
Whereas, E-rate is a $2.25 billion per year Federal subsidy program, created by the 1996 Telecom Act as a way to finance telephone and Internet services for schools, public libraries and rural hospitals; and
Whereas, At a time when the nation’s public schools and libraries are facing severe budget deficits, E-rate provides substantial financial support of up to 90 percent of cost to bring affordable communications and Internet services to classrooms; and
Whereas, Schools and libraries in New York-one of the country’s most populous states-have, over the past five years, received $1.4 billion in financial support from the program, more than any other state except California, which received a similar amount; and
Whereas, Hearing-impaired students, who often miss out on some of the supplementary learning other students enjoy, are able to use the Internet access paid for by the E-rate program to communicate with each other and the hearing world; and
Whereas, E-mail services have enabled parents of these children, who are often also deaf, to communicate with teachers and administrators; and
Whereas, Infusing Internet and computer services into everyday school life, allows students with cognitive disabilities to become active and productive participants in society; and
Whereas, E-rate increases technology proficiency among educators and is vital to reaching the student achievement goals stated in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 that was passed with the support of President Bush; and
Whereas, Lawmakers have recently criticized the program as laden with fraud, waste and lack of proper administering of funds; and
Whereas, Beginning in August of 2004, public schools and libraries around the country stopped receiving any subsidies for E-rate causing significant financial hardships at the expense of students; and
Whereas, Low-income and minority children are more likely to have Internet access at school rather than at home, thus, getting rid of E-rate funds makes the “digital divide” - the gap between the technology haves and have-nots - more difficult to bridge; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York supports the goals and past achievements of the E-rate program; and, be it further
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls for a better-administered program with controlled funds to bring technology to classrooms, public libraries and rural health-care facilities.