January 9, 2006 |
2006-R-0036 | |
CONNECTICUT EDUCATION NETWORK AND E-RATE | ||
| ||
By: Judith Lohman, Chief Analyst |
You asked for (1) the status of the Connecticut Education Network's wiring project and (2) a copy of the section of the 1996 federal Telecommunications Act that established the Universal Service Fund (also known as “e-rate”) that helps pay for discounted telecommunications service for schools and libraries with the funding language highlighted.
CONNECTICUT EDUCATION NETWORK STATUS
The Connecticut Education Network (CEN) provides schools, libraries, and higher education institutions with high-speed Internet access, among other things. According to Rob Vietzke, CEN's co-program manager and network architect, connections were available in all K-12 school districts at the start of the 2005-06 school year.
A complete list of CEN connection sites appears in Table 1 below. The abbreviation “CTC SO” means community-technical college system office. According to Vietzke, the CTCs are currently steering all traffic through their system offices. A blank means the connection is not active for various local reasons not attributable to CEN. MAN means “municipal area network.” This applies to certain libraries that are part of networks set-up by municipalities so CEN does not have to build a separate connection. CEN will be issuing a full report on its status later this month, before the start of the 2006 legislative session.
E-RATE
E-rate is the common name for the Universal Service Fund for Schools and Libraries, established by § 254 of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 (copy attached). By law, all interstate telecommunications carriers pay contributions into the Universal Fund. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) directs payment from this central fund to support the schools and libraries program, as well as three other universal service programs.
Telecommunications companies required to contribute to the fund may recover the contributions directly from customers through a line-item charge on telephone bills. The FCC does not require this surcharge. Each company makes a business decision about whether and how to assess customers to recover its Universal Service Fund costs.
According to Rob Vietzke, CEN has received $5.5 million per year from the E-rate program in each of the last two years and expects about the same contribution for 2006. The E-rate program provides 55% of the total cost of CEN's K-12 school program.
TABLE 1: CONNECTICUT EDUCATION NETWORK
Sites with Optical Connectivity
(1/1/06)
Site |
Town |
Status |
Andover Elementary School |
Andover |
Active |
Ansonia - Emmett Obrien VT |
Ansonia |
Active |
Ansonia High School |
Ansonia |
Active |
Ashford |
Ashford |
Active |
Avon High School |
Avon |
Active |
Barkhamsted |
Barkhamsted |
School Under Construction |
Beacon Falls - Woodland Regional High |
Beacon Falls |
Active |
Berlin Town Hall |
Berlin |
Active |
Bethany - Amity Regional JR/SR High |
Bethany |
School Under Construction |
Bethany Community School |
Bethany |
Active |
Bethel High School |
Bethel |
Active |
Bethlehem Elementary School |
Bethlehem |
|
Bloomfield Board of Ed |
Bloomfield |
Active |
Bolton High School |
Bolton |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
Bozrah - Fields Memorial School |
Bozrah |
Active |
Branford High School |
Branford |
Active |
Bridgeport -Bullard Havens VT |
Bridgeport |
Active |
Bridgeport Public Schools - Sheridan Middle School |
Bridgeport |
Active |
Housatonic Community College |
Bridgeport |
CTC SO |
St. Vincent's College |
Bridgeport |
|
State Police Troop G - CEN Hub Site |
Bridgeport |
Active |
University of Bridgeport |
Bridgeport |
Active |
Bridgewater Burnham School |
Bridgewater |
Active |
Bristol Board of Education |
Bristol |
Active |
Bristol Central High School |
Bristol |
Active |
Bristol Eastern High School |
Bristol |
Active |
Bristol Vo Tech |
Bristol |
|
Brookfield High School |
Brookfield |
Active |
Brooklyn Middle School |
Brooklyn |
Active |
Burlington - Louis Mills High School |
Burlington |
Active |
Canaan- Region One High School |
Canaan |
Active |
Lee H Kellogg School |
Canaan |
|
Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School |
Canterbury |
|
Canton Senior High School |
Canton |
Active |
Chaplin Elementary School |
Chaplin |
Active |
Chaplin Parish Hill High School |
Chaplin |
Active |
Cheshire Town Hall |
Cheshire |
Active |
Chester Elementary School |
Chester |
Active |
The Morgan School - Clinton |
Clinton |
Active |
Colchester |
Colchester |
Active |
Colebrook |
Colebrook |
Active |
Columbia - Long River Middle School |
Columbia |
Active |
Columbia - Saxton B. Little Library |
Columbia |
Active |
Cornwall Consolidated School |
Cornwall |
Active |
Coventry High School |
Coventry |
Active |
Cromwell Middle School |
Cromwell |
Active |
Danbury - Henry Abbott VT |
Danbury |
Active |
Danbury Board of Education |
Danbury |
Active |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
Danbury High School |
Danbury |
Active |
Western Connecticut State Univ - CEN H |
Danbury |
Active |
Darien Board of Education |
Darien |
Active |
Deep River - John Winthrop Jr. High |
Deep River |
Active |
Deep River Elementary School |
Deep River |
Active |
Derby High School |
Derby |
Active |
Durham - Cochinchaug Regional High |
Durham |
Active |
East Granby |
East Granby |
Active |
East Haddam |
East Haddam |
Active |
East Hampton High School |
East Hampton |
Active |
Department of Information Technology |
East Hartford |
Active |
East Hartford Board of Education |
East Hartford |
Active |
East Hartford High School |
East Hartford |
Active |
East Hartford Two Rivers Magnet School |
East Hartford |
Active |
Goodwin College |
East Hartford |
|
East Haven High School |
East Haven |
Active |
East Lyme High School |
East Lyme |
Active |
East Windsor Jr/Sr High |
East Windsor |
Active |
Eastford |
Eastford |
Active |
Easton Hellen Keller Middle School |
Easton |
Active |
Ellington Middle School |
Ellington |
Active |
Asnuntuck Community College - CEN Hub |
Enfield |
CTC SO |
Enfield Fermi High School |
Enfield |
Active |
Essex Elementary School |
Essex |
Active |
Fairfield Board of Education |
Fairfield |
Active |
Fairfield University |
Fairfield |
Active |
Sacred Heart University |
Fairfield |
Active |
Farmington High School |
Farmington |
|
Farmington Public Library |
Farmington |
|
Tunxis Community College |
Farmington |
|
UConn Health Center |
Farmington |
Active |
Franklin Elementary School |
Franklin |
Active |
Glastonbury High School |
Glastonbury |
Active |
Goshen Center School |
Goshen |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
Granby Board of Education |
Granby |
Active |
Greenwich Board of Education |
Greenwich |
|
Griswold Senior High |
Griswold |
Active |
Groton - UConn Avery Point |
Groton |
Active |
Groton Board of Education |
Groton |
Active |
Grasso Vo Tech School |
Groton |
Active |
Mystic Aquarium |
Groton |
Active |
Guilford |
Guilford |
Active |
Haddam Killingworth High |
Haddam |
Active |
ACES RESC |
Hamden |
Active |
Eli Whitney Vo Tech School |
Hamden |
Active |
Hamden High School |
Hamden |
Active |
Quinnipiac College |
Hamden |
Active |
Southern Connecticut State Univ - CEN HHamden |
Active | |
Hampton Elementary School |
Hampton |
|
AI Prince Votech |
Hartford |
Active |
Capitol Community College |
Hartford |
CTC SO |
Connecticut Public Affairs Network - CTN Hartford |
Active | |
Connecticut Public Broadcasting - CPTV Hartford |
Active | |
Hartford - CREC Data Center |
Hartford |
Active |
Hartford - CREC Middle Magnet School Hartford |
Active | |
Hartford Board of Education |
Hartford |
Active |
Hartford Public Library |
Hartford |
Active |
Legislative Office Building |
Hartford |
Active |
Rensellaer Hartford |
Hartford |
Active |
Trinity College |
Hartford |
Active |
UConn Law School |
Hartford |
Active |
UConn School of Business Constitution PHartford |
Active | |
Hartland |
Hartland |
Active |
Harwinton Consolidated School |
Harwinton |
Active |
Hebron - RHAM High School |
Hebron |
Active |
Kent |
Kent |
Active |
Killingly High School |
Killingly |
Active |
Killingworth Elementary |
Killingworth |
Active |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
Lebanon |
Lebanon |
Active |
Ledyard |
Ledyard |
Active |
Lisbon Center School |
Lisbon |
Active |
Litchfield - RESC / Ed Connection |
Litchfield |
Active |
Litchfield High/Intermediate School |
Litchfield |
Active |
Litchfield Hub Site - Troop L Public SafetyLitchfield |
Active | |
Warmogo RHS Regional High |
Litchfield |
|
Lyme |
Lyme |
|
Lyme Academy of the Arts |
Lyme |
|
Madison |
Madison |
|
Manchester - Howell Cheney VT |
Manchester |
Active |
Manchester Board of Education |
Manchester |
Active |
Manchester Community College |
Manchester |
CTC SO |
Mansfield - UConn Babbidge Hub Site Mansfield |
Active | |
Mansfield - UConn Chemistry Hub Site) Mansfield |
Active | |
Mansfield EO Smith Region 19 High SchoMansfield |
||
Mansfield Public Schools (Town Hall) |
Mansfield |
Active |
UConn Depot Campus |
Mansfield |
Active |
Marlborough |
Marlborough |
Active |
Department of Public Safety HQ - CEN Hub |
Meriden |
Active |
HC Wilcox Vo Tech |
Meriden |
Active |
Meriden Town Hall |
Meriden |
Active |
Middlebury Bibliomation Library Center |
Middlebury |
|
Middlebury Board of Education |
Middlebury |
Active |
Middlefield Memorial School |
Middlefield |
Active |
Middlesex Community College |
Middletown |
CTC SO |
Libraries Online |
Middletown |
Active |
Wesleyan University |
Middletown |
Active |
Middletown High School |
Middletown |
Active |
Middletown - Vinal Vo Tech |
Middletown |
Active |
Platt Vo Tech |
Milford |
Active |
Milford Board of Education |
Milford |
Active |
Monroe Board of Education |
Monroe |
Active |
Montville High School |
Montville |
Active |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
James Morris School |
Morris |
|
Naugatuck High School |
Naugatuck |
Active |
Central Connecticut State Univ - CEN Hub |
New Britain |
Active |
Charter Oak State College |
New Britain |
Active |
Goodwin Vo Tech |
New Britain |
Active |
Slade Middle School |
New Britain |
Active |
New Canaan Town Hall |
New Canaan |
Active |
New Fairfield High School |
New Fairfield |
Active |
New Hartford Antolini High |
New Hartford |
Active |
Albertus Magnus College |
New Haven |
Active |
New Haven Board of Education |
New Haven |
Active |
Yale University |
New Haven |
Active |
Connecticut College |
New London |
Active |
Mitchell College |
New London |
|
New London Board of Education |
New London |
|
UConn Avery Point |
New London |
Active |
US Coast Guard Academy |
New London |
Active |
New Milford Board of Education |
New Milford |
Active |
Newington Town Hall |
Newington |
Active |
Newtown High School |
Newtown |
Active |
Botelle Elementary School |
Norfolk |
Active |
North Branford High School |
North Branford |
Active |
North Canaan Elementary School |
North Canaan |
Active |
Gateway North Haven |
North Haven |
CTC SO |
North Haven High School |
North Haven |
School Under Construction |
Wheeler High School - North Stonington |
North Stonington |
Active |
Norwalk Board of Education |
Norwalk |
Active |
Norwalk Community College |
Norwalk |
CTC SO |
Three Rivers Community College |
Norwich |
CTC SO |
Norwich Board of Education |
Norwich |
Active |
Norwich Free Academy |
Norwich |
|
Norwich VT |
Norwich |
Active |
LEARN - RESC |
Old Lyme |
Active |
Old Lyme High School |
Old Lyme |
Active |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
Old Saybrook |
Old Saybrook |
Active |
Amity Regional Jr. High |
Orange |
School Under Construction |
Orange - Mary Tracy School |
Orange |
Active |
Oxford - Great Oak School |
Oxford |
Active |
Plainfield - Danielson VT |
Plainfield |
Active |
Plainfield Early Childhood Center / Board Plainfield |
Plainfield |
Active |
Plainville High School |
Plainville |
Active |
Plymouth Terryville High School |
Plymouth |
|
Pomfret Community School |
Pomfret |
Active |
Portland |
Portland |
Active |
Preston |
Preston |
|
Prospect |
Prospect |
Active |
Putnam |
Putnam |
Active |
Redding Joel Barlow High School |
Redding |
Active |
Ridgefield |
Ridgefield |
Active |
Rocky Hill High School |
Rocky Hill |
Active |
Booth Free School |
Roxbury |
Active |
Salem School |
Salem |
Active |
Salisbury Central Schools |
Salisbury |
Active |
Scotland Elementary Schools |
Scotland |
Active |
Seymour High School |
Seymour |
School Under Construction |
Sharon |
Sharon |
Active |
Shelton High School |
Shelton |
Active |
Sherman School |
Sherman |
Active |
Simsbury High School |
Simsbury |
Active |
Somers Middle School |
Somers |
Active |
South Windsor High School |
South Windsor |
|
Southbury High School |
Southbury |
|
State Police Troop A - CEN Hub |
Southbury |
Active |
Southington |
Southington |
Active |
Sprague - Sayles School |
Sprague |
Active |
Stafford |
Stafford |
Active |
J.M. Wright Vo Tech |
Stamford |
Active |
Stamford Board of Ed |
Stamford |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
Stamford Public Libraries |
Stamford |
Active |
UConn Stamford - CEN Hub Site |
Stamford |
Active |
Sterling Memorial School |
Sterling |
Active |
Stonington High School |
Stonington |
Active |
Sikorsky Vo Tech |
Stratford |
Active |
Stratford Board of Education |
Stratford |
Active |
Suffield Town Hall |
Suffield |
|
Thomaston High School |
Thomaston |
|
Thompson |
Thompson |
Active |
Tolland High |
Tolland |
Active |
Torrington High School |
Torrington |
Active |
Wolcott VT Torrington |
Torrington |
Active |
Trumbull - CES |
Trumbull |
Active |
Trumbull Board of Ed |
Trumbull |
Active |
Union |
Union |
Active |
Rockville High School / Vernon |
Vernon |
Active |
Voluntown |
Voluntown |
Active |
Sheehan High School / Wallingford |
Wallingford |
Active |
Warren |
Warren |
Active |
Shepaug Valley High |
Washington |
Active |
Naugatuck Valley Community College |
Waterbury |
CTC SO |
Rowland Government Center - CEN Hub |
Waterbury |
Active |
UConn Waterbury |
Waterbury |
Active |
JF Kaynor Vo Tech |
Waterbury |
Active |
Waterbury Board of Education |
Waterbury |
Active |
Waterford - Friendship School |
Waterford |
Active |
Waterford Board of Education |
Waterford |
Active |
Watertown High School |
Watertown |
Active |
American School for the Deaf |
West Hartford |
Active |
UConn Hartford |
West Hartford |
Active |
University of Hartford |
West Hartford |
Active |
West Hartford Board of Education |
West Hartford |
Active |
Conard High School |
West Hartford |
Active |
Hall High School |
West Hartford |
Active |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
University of New Haven |
West Haven |
Active |
West Haven High School |
West Haven |
Active |
Westbrook High School |
Westbrook |
Active |
Weston Town Hall |
Weston |
Active |
Westport High School |
Westport |
Active |
Westport Town Hall |
Westport |
Active |
Wethersfield High School |
Wethersfield |
Active |
District 19 |
Willington |
Active |
Wilton High School |
Wilton |
Active |
Eastern Connecticut State University |
Windham |
Active |
Kramer School / Board of Education |
Windham |
Active |
Windham - Windham VT |
Windham |
Active |
Eastconn RESC |
Windham |
|
Windsor Library Connection |
Windsor |
|
Windsor High School |
Windsor |
Active |
Windsor Locks High School |
Windsor Locks |
Active |
Gilbert School |
Winsted |
|
North Western Regional High Winsted |
Winsted |
Active |
Wolcott High School |
Wolcott |
Active |
Amity Regional High |
Woodbridge |
Active |
Beecher Road School |
Woodbridge |
Active |
Nonewaug High School |
Woodbury |
Active |
Woodstock |
Woodstock |
Active |
Woodstock Academy |
Woodstock |
Active |
Pearson Middle School |
Winchester |
Ordered 10/05 |
Redding Middle School |
Redding |
Ordered 10/05 |
Bridgeport Public Library |
Bridgeport |
Ordered 12/05 |
Danbury Public Library |
Danbury |
Ordered 12/05 |
Welles Turner Memorial Library |
Glastonbury |
Ordered 12/05 |
Meriden Public Library |
Meriden |
Ordered 12/05 |
New Haven Free Library |
New Haven |
Ordered 12/05 |
Norwalk Public Library |
Norwalk |
Ordered 12/05 |
Stratford Library |
Stratford |
Ordered 12/05 |
Wallingford Public Library |
Wallingford |
Ordered 12/05 |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
Silas Bronson Library |
Waterbury |
Ordered 12/05 |
Willimantic Public Library |
Windham |
Ordered 12/05 |
Common Ground High |
New Haven |
Ordered 12/05 |
Stamford Academy |
Stamford |
Ordered 12/05 |
The Bridge Academy |
Bridgeport |
Ordered 12/05 |
Burnham Library |
Bridgewater |
Active |
Deep River Library |
Deep River |
Active |
East Haddam / Moodus - Library |
East Haddam |
Active |
Rathburn Free Memorial |
East Haddam |
Active |
Groton Public Library |
Groton |
Active |
Brainerd Memorial Library |
Haddam |
Active |
Harwinton Public Library |
Harwinton |
Active |
Killingworth Public Library |
Killingworth |
Active |
New Fairfield Public Library |
New Fairfield |
Active |
Wheeler Library |
North Stonington |
Active |
Stonington Public Library |
Stonington |
Active |
Woodstock Library |
Woodstock |
Available-MAN |
Shelton |
Shelton |
Available-MAN |
West Hartford |
West Hartford |
Available-MAN |
Richmond Memorial Library |
Marlborough |
Ordered 12/05 |
Monroe Public Library |
Monroe |
Ordered 12/05 |
Cornwall Free Library |
Cornwall |
Ordered 12/05 |
Howard Whittemore Library |
Naugatuck |
Ordered 12/05 |
Thomaston Public Library |
Thomaston |
Ordered 12/05 |
Preston Public Library |
Preston |
Ordered 12/05 |
Putnam Public Library |
Putnam |
Ordered 12/05 |
New London Public Library |
New London |
Ordered 12/05 |
Oliver Wolcott Library |
Wolcott |
Ordered 12/05 |
Gunn Memorial Library |
Washington |
Ordered 12/05 |
Scotland Public Library |
Scotland |
Ordered 12/05 |
Sharon Hotchkiss Library |
Sharon |
Ordered 12/05 |
East Hampton Public Library |
East Hampton |
Ordered 12/05 |
Cheshire Public Library |
Cheshire |
Ordered 12/05 |
Burlington Public Library |
Burlington |
Ordered 12/05 |
Table 1: Continued
Site |
Town |
Status |
Roxbury Minor Memorial Library |
Roxbury |
Ordered 12/05 |
Scoville Memorial Library |
Salisbury |
Ordered 12/05 |
Wolcott Public Library |
Wolcott |
Ordered 12/05 |
Oxford Public Library |
Oxford |
Ordered 12/05 |
Stafford Library |
Stafford |
Ordered 12/05 |
Morris Public Library |
Morris |
Ordered 12/05 |
Weston Public Library |
Weston |
Ordered 12/05 |
Public School District Sites - Serving K-12 |
201 |
|
Public Library Sites |
53 |
|
Vocational Technical School Sites |
19 |
|
Network Hub Sites for CEN Backbone |
7 |
|
Higher Education Campuses and Facilities |
46 |
|
TOTAL |
326 |
Source: Connecticut Education Network
FEDERAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996
SEC. 254. UNIVERSAL SERVICE.
(a) PROCEDURES TO REVIEW UNIVERSAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS-
`(1) FEDERAL-STATE JOINT BOARD ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE- Within
one month after the date of enactment of the Telecommunications
Act of 1996, the Commission shall institute and refer to a
Federal-State Joint Board under section 410(c) a proceeding to
recommend changes to any of its regulations in order to
implement sections 214(e) and this section, including the
definition of the services that are supported by Federal
universal service support mechanisms and a specific timetable
for completion of such recommendations. In addition to the
members of the Joint Board required under section 410(c), one
member of such Joint Board shall be a State-appointed utility
consumer advocate nominated by a national organization of State
utility consumer advocates. The Joint Board shall, after notice
and opportunity for public comment, make its recommendations to
the Commission 9 months after the date of enactment of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996.
`(2) COMMISSION ACTION- The Commission shall initiate a
single proceeding to implement the recommendations from the
Joint Board required by paragraph (1) and shall complete such
proceeding within 15 months after the date of enactment of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996. The rules established by such
proceeding shall include a definition of the services that are
supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms and a
specific timetable for implementation. Thereafter, the
Commission shall complete any proceeding to implement
subsequent recommendations from any Joint Board on universal
service within one year after receiving such recommendations.
`(b) UNIVERSAL SERVICE PRINCIPLES- The Joint Board and the
Commission shall base policies for the preservation and advancement
of universal service on the following principles:
`(1) QUALITY AND RATES- Quality services should be available
at just, reasonable, and affordable rates.
`(2) ACCESS TO ADVANCED SERVICES- Access to advanced
telecommunications and information services should be provided
in all regions of the Nation.
`(3) ACCESS IN RURAL AND HIGH COST AREAS- Consumers in all
regions of the Nation, including low-income consumers and those
in rural, insular, and high cost areas, should have access to
telecommunications and information services, including
interexchange services and advanced telecommunications and
information services, that are reasonably comparable to those
services provided in urban areas and that are available at
rates that are reasonably comparable to rates charged for
similar services in urban areas.
`(4) EQUITABLE AND NONDISCRIMINATORY CONTRIBUTIONS- All
providers of telecommunications services should make an
equitable and nondiscriminatory contribution to the
preservation and advancement of universal service.
`(5) SPECIFIC AND PREDICTABLE SUPPORT MECHANISMS- There
should be specific, predictable and sufficient Federal and
State mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service.
`(6) ACCESS TO ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR
SCHOOLS, HEALTH CARE, AND LIBRARIES- Elementary and secondary
schools and classrooms, health care providers, and libraries
should have access to advanced telecommunications services as
described in subsection (h).
`(7) ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLES- Such other principles as the
Joint Board and the Commission determine are necessary and
appropriate for the protection of the public interest,
convenience, and necessity and are consistent with this Act.
`(c) DEFINITION-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Universal service is an evolving level of
telecommunications services that the Commission shall establish
periodically under this section, taking into account advances
in telecommunications and information technologies and
services. The Joint Board in recommending, and the Commission
in establishing, the definition of the services that are
supported by Federal universal service support mechanisms shall
consider the extent to which such telecommunications services--
`(A) are essential to education, public health, or public
safety;
`(B) have, through the operation of market choices by
customers, been subscribed to by a substantial majority of
residential customers;
`(C) are being deployed in public telecommunications
networks by telecommunications carriers; and
`(D) are consistent with the public interest,
convenience, and necessity.
`(2) ALTERATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS- The Joint Board may, from
time to time, recommend to the Commission modifications in the
definition of the services that are supported by Federal
universal service support mechanisms.
`(3) SPECIAL SERVICES- In addition to the services included
in the definition of universal service under paragraph (1), the
Commission may designate additional services for such support
mechanisms for schools, libraries, and health care providers
for the purposes of subsection (h).
`(d) TELECOMMUNICATIONS CARRIER CONTRIBUTION- Every
telecommunications carrier that provides interstate
telecommunications services shall contribute, on an equitable and
nondiscriminatory basis, to the specific, predictable, and
sufficient mechanisms established by the Commission to preserve and
advance universal service. The Commission may exempt a carrier or
class of carriers from this requirement if the carrier's
telecommunications activities are limited to such an extent that
the level of such carrier's contribution to the preservation and
advancement of universal service would be de minimis. Any other
provider of interstate telecommunications may be required to
contribute to the preservation and advancement of universal service
if the public interest so requires.
`(e) UNIVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT- After the date on which
Commission regulations implementing this section take effect, only
an eligible telecommunications carrier designated under section
214(e) shall be eligible to receive specific Federal universal
service support. A carrier that receives such support shall use
that support only for the provision, maintenance, and upgrading of
facilities and services for which the support is intended. Any
such support should be explicit and sufficient to achieve the
purposes of this section.
`(f) STATE AUTHORITY- A State may adopt regulations not
inconsistent with the Commission's rules to preserve and advance
universal service. Every telecommunications carrier that provides
intrastate telecommunications services shall contribute, on an
equitable and nondiscriminatory basis, in a manner determined by
the State to the preservation and advancement of universal service
in that State. A State may adopt regulations to provide for
additional definitions and standards to preserve and advance
universal service within that State only to the extent that such
regulations adopt additional specific, predictable, and sufficient
mechanisms to support such definitions or standards that do not
rely on or burden Federal universal service support mechanisms.
`(g) INTEREXCHANGE AND INTERSTATE SERVICES- Within 6 months after
the date of enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the
Commission shall adopt rules to require that the rates charged by
providers of interexchange telecommunications services to
subscribers in rural and high cost areas shall be no higher than
the rates charged by each such provider to its subscribers in urban
areas. Such rules shall also require that a provider of interstate
interexchange telecommunications services shall provide such
services to its subscribers in each State at rates no higher than
the rates charged to its subscribers in any other State.
`(h) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES FOR CERTAIN PROVIDERS-
`(1) IN GENERAL-
`(A) HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR RURAL AREAS- A
telecommunications carrier shall, upon receiving a bona
fide request, provide telecommunications services which are
necessary for the provision of health care services in a
State, including instruction relating to such services, to
any public or nonprofit health care provider that serves
persons who reside in rural areas in that State at rates
that are reasonably comparable to rates charged for similar
services in urban areas in that State. A telecommunications
carrier providing service under this paragraph shall be
entitled to have an amount equal to the difference, if any,
between the rates for services provided to health care
providers for rural areas in a State and the rates for
similar services provided to other customers in comparable
rural areas in that State treated as a service obligation
as a part of its obligation to participate in the
mechanisms to preserve and advance universal service.
`(B) EDUCATIONAL PROVIDERS AND LIBRARIES- All
telecommunications carriers serving a geographic area
shall, upon a bona fide request for any of its services
that are within the definition of universal service under
subsection (c)(3), provide such services to elementary
schools, secondary schools, and libraries for educational
purposes at rates less than the amounts charged for similar
services to other parties. The discount shall be an amount
that the Commission, with respect to interstate services,
and the States, with respect to intrastate services,
determine is appropriate and necessary to ensure affordable
access to and use of such services by such entities. A
telecommunications carrier providing service under this
paragraph shall--
`(i) have an amount equal to the amount of the
discount treated as an offset to its obligation to
contribute to the mechanisms to preserve and advance
universal service, or
`(ii) notwithstanding the provisions of subsection
(e) of this section, receive reimbursement utilizing
the support mechanisms to preserve and advance
universal service.
`(2) ADVANCED SERVICES- The Commission shall establish
competitively neutral rules--
`(A) to enhance, to the extent technically feasible and
economically reasonable, access to advanced
telecommunications and information services for all public
and nonprofit elementary and secondary school classrooms,
health care providers, and libraries; and
`(B) to define the circumstances under which a
telecommunications carrier may be required to connect its
network to such public institutional telecommunications
users.
`(3) TERMS AND CONDITIONS- Telecommunications services and
network capacity provided to a public institutional
telecommunications user under this subsection may not be sold,
resold, or otherwise transferred by such user in consideration
for money or any other thing of value.
`(4) ELIGIBILITY OF USERS- No entity listed in this
subsection shall be entitled to preferential rates or treatment
as required by this subsection, if such entity operates as a
for-profit business, is a school described in paragraph (5)(A)
with an endowment of more than $50,000,000, or is a library not
eligible for participation in State-based plans for funds under
title III of the Library Services and Construction Act (20
U.S.C. 335c et seq.).
`(5) DEFINITIONS- For purposes of this subsection:
`(A) ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS- The term
`elementary and secondary schools' means elementary schools
and secondary schools, as defined in paragraphs (14) and
(25), respectively, of section 14101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
`(B) HEALTH CARE PROVIDER- The term `health care
provider' means--
`(i) post-secondary educational institutions offering
health care instruction, teaching hospitals, and
medical schools;
`(ii) community health centers or health centers
providing health care to migrants;
`(iii) local health departments or agencies;
`(iv) community mental health centers;
`(v) not-for-profit hospitals;
`(vi) rural health clinics; and
`(vii) consortia of health care providers consisting
of one or more entities described in clauses (i)
through (vi).
`(C) PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS USER- The
term `public institutional telecommunications user' means
an elementary or secondary school, a library, or a health
care provider as those terms are defined in this paragraph.
`(i) CONSUMER PROTECTION- The Commission and the States should
ensure that universal service is available at rates that are just,
reasonable, and affordable.
`(j) LIFELINE ASSISTANCE- Nothing in this section shall affect
the collection, distribution, or administration of the Lifeline
Assistance Program provided for by the Commission under regulations
set forth in section 69.117 of title 47, Code of Federal
Regulations, and other related sections of such title.
`(k) SUBSIDY OF COMPETITIVE SERVICES PROHIBITED- A
telecommunications carrier may not use services that are not
competitive to subsidize services that are subject to competition.
The Commission, with respect to interstate services, and the
States, with respect to intrastate services, shall establish any
necessary cost allocation rules, accounting safeguards, and
guidelines to ensure that services included in the definition of
universal service bear no more than a reasonable share of the joint
and common costs of facilities used to provide those services.
JL:ts