Volume 16, Number 7
November 1997
In this issue:
PUC Issues Library/School Discount Rule
In response to pressure from librarians and educators across the state, the Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has adopted a rule that permits schools and libraries to apply for both federal and state discounts for telecommunications services. The PUC originally proposed a rule that would have prohibited the so-called “stacking” of discounts, but a strong letter-writing campaign directed to the agency from librarians and educators persuaded the agency to revise the rule eliminating the prohibitive language.
“We asked to hear about this part of the rule and did we ever hear,” commented PUC chairman Pat Wood III in remarks delivered at the Commission’s October 1 meeting. “We need to make sure our schools and libraries have access to the best rates they can get,” Wood went on to comment.
In adopting the rule without the prohibition, the PUC has opted to remain mute on whether schools and libraries should have both discounts. It is now up to libraries and schools to apply for the rates, and PUC staff believe there are sufficient ambiguities in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule establishing the federal discounts that the FCC will have to make individual judgments in some or all of those cases in which libraries and schools apply for both discounts.
Phone companies have opposed the aggregation of both discounts in the view that, if the discount plans are aggregated, the demand for high-capacity services could increase dramatically, which, in turn, will force the telecom providers to pay for infrastructure development, a cost that is not recoverable from the Universal Service Fund.
The federal discounts--known popularly as the education rate, or E-rate--were established by the Federal Communications Commission in their Universal Service Order of May 7, 1997. The FCC order mandates that state utility commissions adopt intrastate discount schedules that match the FCC’s interstate rates before libraries and schools in that state can access the E-rate. The adoption of the PUC rule satisfies that requirement.
State and federal discounts-- What’s the difference?
The E-rate is established by the FCC and covers a wide variety of costs associated with providing telecommunications services in schools and libraries including installation, maintenance, cabling, and some hardware and software costs. The rule is intentionally flexible to allow schools and libraries to choose from an array of possible services ranging from basic telephone services to high-speed Internet and wireless communications services.
The amount of the discount will range from a low of 20 percent to a high of 90 percent and will be determined according to economic disadvantage and rural isolation.
State discounts have been available since the passage of House Bill 2128 during the 1995 legislative session. The state discounts are a flat 25 percent off phone services offered by a local exchange carrier, such as installation, monthly charges, and some limited toll calls in the local area. Libraries and schools applying for this discount must provide an affidavit that the services being discounted are used to provide educational and library services.
How do you apply for the E-Rate?
Before they can apply for the discounts, libraries and schools must submit technology plans. In Texas, public library plans will be reviewed by the Texas State Library and school plans will be reviewed by the Texas Education Agency. The technology plan is an assessment of available telecommunications equipment and services in the school or library and a statement of what is needed to achieve the plan. This document will provide the basis for the next step, actually applying for the services. Schools and libraries will submit applications that are sufficiently detailed that they can be used by service providers in preparing bids for the required services. The specifics of the applications will be posted to a federal web site so that providers can prepare bids. This web site has not yet been established. Schools and libraries will have to apply each year for renewal of the discount. Once approved, schools and libraries will pay only the portion of their bill remaining after the discount.
Application forms have been developed by the FCC and, at the time of writing, are available in draft form on the FCC’s web page.
What’s the next step?
Libraries and schools that are not now using the state discount for T-1 lines should first act to secure the 25 percent state discounts. Then, those interested in applying for the federal discounts should begin preparing their technology plans. For more information on this phase, schools should contact Robert Young at the Texas Education Agency (512-463-9088). Public libraries should contact Kathleen Krause at the Texas State Library (512-463-5476).
Web sites with information on the E-rate
Interested in the E-rate? You’ll find a wealth of information on the
web. If you have Internet access, these sites will help you get
started.
Library Development Division E-rate page with lots of information
on eligibility and many links to other sites.
http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/LD/USF/index.html
FCC’s LearnNet project with information on the discounts and
how to apply.
http://www.fcc.gov/learnnet/
National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA), the designated administrator
of the Universal Service Fund.
http://www.neca.org/
FCC’s Universal Service Homepage.
http://www.fcc.gov/ccb/universal_service/
State Telecom Discounts: Myth vs.
Reality
by Christine Peterson
The following article is reprinted from Library Developments, the newsletter of the Library Development Division of the Texas State Library
With the advent of funding from the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund and discounts from the FCC’s Universal Service Fund, Texas libraries have been looking more closely at the 25 percent discount on telecommunication services provided by HB 2128. Questions concerning the implementation of this discount have arisen. We hope the following will help dispel some of the myths.
Myth: All the telephone companies understand this
discount.
Reality: Most of the local telephone company representatives do not
work with libraries or educational institutions very much. They may not be
aware, or may not remember, how this discount works. It might be up to you
to provide them with the mandatory affidavit and the legal citations: House
Bill 2128 §3.605
(ftp://198.213.41.251/download/leg/hb2128.txt);
Public Utilities Commission Substantive Rule 23.93
(http://www.puc.state.tx.us/23-93.htm).
Myth: Implementation of the discount means just a phone call to my
local telephone business office.
Reality: No. An affidavit from you stating that the line or service
will be used over 50 percent of the time for information sharing programs
must be submitted to the telephone company. Sometimes you can get this affidavit
from the phone company; if not, contact your system office or the Texas State
Library (512-463-5476 or 512-463-6627). Southwestern Bell affidavits are
submitted to the local business office; GTE affidavits are to be sent to:
ATTN: Eppie Bullard, GTE Branch Contact Center, 8550 Esters Road, Irving,
TX 75063.
Myth: I have to use an affidavit from my local phone
company.
Reality: Although it is easier if they have one, it is not necessary.
According to PUC Substantive Rule 23.93, the sworn affidavit shall:
When requesting the service(s) to be discounted, you must be specific: give specific telephone numbers for lines covered and services used such as call waiting and ISDN. The affidavit must be signed by the administrative head of the library, or a designee. You can obtain affidavits for Southwestern Bell, GTE, and a generic one for use with any phone company from your system office or the Texas State Library.
Myth: The discount applies to my entire telephone
system.
Reality: Not necessarily. The discount applies to a telephone line
or telecommunications service if the line is used over 50 percent of the
time for information sharing programs. This definition of “information
sharing program” comes directly from the PUC Substantive Rule 23.93:
“Instruction, learning, and training that is transmitted from one site
to one or more sites by telecommunications services that are used by a library
predominantly for such instruction, learning, or training, including video,
data, voice, and electronic information.”
Note that administration of the library does not fall under the definition of information sharing program. Also note that you cannot use this discount in addition to other HB 2128 discounts: HB 2128 §3.359.
Myth: The discount applies only to telephone services.
Reality: The discount applies to all tariffed telecommunications services.
The way one Public Utilities Commission staff member has defined “tariffed
telecommunications services” is anything that appears on your phone
bill, except long distance charges. This includes services such as installation
charges, ISDN, and call waiting.
Myth: The discount starts being applied to the bill when the telephone
utility finishes their paperwork.
Reality: The discount should begin when the utility has received your
affidavit. After you sign the affidavit, send it with a Return Receipt request
to the local telephone business office. The discount should begin on the
date the affidavit was received by the business office, which will be noted
on your Return Receipt. Although the discount may not show on your next bill,
the discount should be retroactive to the date on the Return Receipt.
Myth: Once the discount is in place, I don’t have to worry about
it anymore.
Reality: You should keep checking the telephone bills. Sometimes the
phone company upgrades their software, converts their database to a different
format, or inadvertently keys information into the wrong record. The sooner
you catch these problems, the easier they are to correct. Each time you request
a new service, a new affidavit has to be signed and sent.
Myth: Local telephone company representatives prefer not to give me
this discount because their commission is based on the discounted rate, not
the pre-discounted rate.
Reality: Not necessarily. This depends upon the telephone company,
but many are giving the representatives their commission on the pre-discounted
rate. If you think this might be the reason you are having a difficult time
obtaining the discount, you might ask.
Myth: If I can’t get my local phone company to give me this discount,
then there is nothing else I can do.
There are many people who can help you get this discount. Many of those names
and contacts are provided below.
Christine Peterson is automation consultant for the Library Development Division, Texas State Library.
Contacts Who Can Help You Get the State Telecom Discount
Sometimes it’s just a matter of knowing whom to call. The following people can help you get the 25 percent discount on telecommunications services.
Schools can call their Education Service Center. Public libraries can call system staff as well as:
Janice Ervin, in particular, would like to know if you are having problems. She has the ability to talk directly to the local phone companies and explain what the law requires them to provide. In order to act on the problem, she will need:
You can fax this information to her (512-936-7428) or, if Janice is not available, contact her boss, John Costello.
This discount has the ability to save money for each library in the state of Texas on an on-going basis. In conjunction with the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund and the FCC’s Universal Service program, it may even give you the ability to divert money from telecommunications support to other needed library services or staff.
UT and Tech Libraries Launch New Projects
The University of Texas and Texas Tech University, two of the state’s largest university libraries, announced new projects to enhance their services and collections.
The University of Texas announced the establishment of the Knowledge Management Center (KMC) designed to “expand access and application of digital library services” as a major component of the UT System’s Information Technology Initiative. The KMC, under the direction of Susan K. Phillips, formally establishes the existing collaborative endeavors of the UT libraries and builds upon digital library and electronic information projects of the last few years.
Also in October, The University of Texas at Austin announced that a special $1 million appropriation would be spent to strengthen the library collections and information resources. The funds would be used for a variety of collection development purposes including the purchase of resources in electronic format, physical collections, and improvements that expedite interlibrary services and electronic document delivery. Suggestions from each UT System library will be solicited to identify electronic information that can be centrally managed and made accessible to any component institution.
Patrons at Texas Tech University may now access a library skills tutorial available on-line and through an interactive CD-ROM. The tutorial, which features color graphics, photos, and text about how to use library resources, may be accessed from any location with a modem. The tutorial is aimed at familiarizing new patrons with available holdings and ways to conduct basic research.
The online tutorial was developed by Texas Tech Assistant Librarian Margaret McCasland. Ms. McCasland developed the tutorial with finanacial support from a “Texas Tech. . .Fund 2005” grant.
Libraries to Receive Breast Cancer
Video
First Lady Laura Bush joins effort
Public libraries in Texas will receive a breast cancer education video tape developed by M. D. Anderson Cancer Center through a grant from the Texas State Agency Council, secured by the Governor’s Commission for Women.
M. D. Anderson mailed the videos to 504 Texas libraries during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Libraries will receive both Spanish and English versions of the video called “What I Would Do. . .Breast Cancer Treatment Options.” The video was produced by the Surgical Breast Cancer Section of the Department of Oncology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. It is designed for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and features breast cancer survivors who offer personal insight and treatment options.
Texas First Lady Laura Bush praised M. D. Anderson and the State Agency Council for making the videotape available. “Governor Bush and I are thrilled that the State Agency Council made this generous contribution,” said Mrs. Bush. “This collaborative effort is good medicine for Texas and we hope it saves lives.” The information on the video is also available on CD-ROM, and both the CD and video can be purchased through M. D. Anderson.
Librarians Host Receptions for
Lawmakers
Series of events for legislators held across Texas
During September and October, Texas school, public, and academic librarians have held a series of highly successful receptions honoring Texas legislators who were supportive of library causes in the last legislative session.
The events were organized to present to the lawmakers a series of resolutions passed by the Texas Library Association at the annual conference in Fort Worth and at Annual Assembly in Austin in July.
The first of these receptions was held on September 8 at the Richardson Public Library to honor Rep. Tony Goolsby, the sponsor of a bill to help public libraries recover long overdue library materials. The Richardson event was organized by Director Julianne Lovelace and attended by several city officials, area librarians, and Rhoda Goldberg, chair of the TLA Legislative Committee, who presented the resolution to Mr. Goolsby.
Representative Bob Hunter received a resolution for his many efforts on behalf of libraries at a reception held at the Texas Council of State University Librarians meeting in Austin, September 25. In presenting the award, Past TLA President S. Joe McCord cited Dr. Hunter’s sponsorship of the TexShare bill and numerous other measures for Texas libraries.
Susan Mann, director of the Hillsboro City Library, organized an elegant reception for Senator David Sibley on September 30. A standing room only crowd watched as Ms. Mann presented the resolution, assisted by the mayor of Hillsboro. Senator Sibley spoke of the need for Internet and other information projects in the rural areas of the state.
Perhaps the most elaborate and well-attended ceremony was held in Laredo for Rep. Henry Cuellar. Organized by school librarian Nellie Trust, over 100 people turned out for the October 2 event which was held at the International Bank of Commerce. In addition to the presentation of the TLA resolution by Mark Smith, TLA director of communications, several of the area schools and libraries also presented Mr. Cuellar with tokens of their appreciation for his support of libraries and education. Representative Cuellar chairs the Education Committee of the House Appropriations Committee. In remarks after receiving the award, Mr. Cuellar commented that he intended to return to Austin and fight hard once again for libraries and that he intended to “get it all this time,” including funds for school library materials which Mr. Cuellar proposed, but which was not funded in the last session. The Cuellar reception was covered on two local TV stations, the Spanish language network Univision, and in the local newspaper, the Laredo Morning Times.
John Deats, director of the Midland College library, presented the TLA resolution of appreciation to Sen. Teel Bivins at a Texas Association of Community Colleges luncheon in Midland October 6. Senator Bivins was honored for his sponsorship of the TexShare bill in the Senate. Having already delivered his remarks, Senator Bivins made a point of returning to the podium to make a strong statement about the importance of libraries and of the TexShare project.
Rep. Dianne White Delisi was honored at the Temple Public Library on October 14 in a ceremony organized by Director Judy Duer and the Bell County Librarians. Representative Delisi sponsored a rider appropriating $1 million in additional funds for the TexShare library consortium. In her remarks, Representative Delisi said, “Something tells me that the world would be a better place if it was made up of librarians.”
Plans are underway at the Houston Public Library to host a reception for Rep. Sylvester Turner and Sen. Rodney Ellis.
Automation and Technology RT Stipends Available
The Automation and Technology Round Table will make available two stipends of $400 each for library employees, both support and professional, who are involved in library automation and technology services to attend the Spring 1998 TLA conference. Recipients will gain insight into the Automation and Technology Round Table by volunteering during the conference.
Applicants must be involved in library automation and technology activities; agree to apply part of the stipend to membership in TLA, if not already a member; agree to become a member of the Automation and Technology Round Table, if not already a member; agree to attend and be recognized at A&TRT’s annual business meeting at the Spring conference; agree to work four hours as a volunteer during the Spring conference at A&TRT sponsored activities; and agree to submit a report and evaluation on the TLA Conference telling whether it fulfilled your expectations and what you learned that you will be able to use in your library.
To receive a stipend application, contact the TLA office or Kathy Edwards at 315 Arborcrest Dr., Richardson, TX 75080, 972-680-3230. Completed applications can be sent to Kathy Edwards and must be postmarked no later than December 15, 1997.
Win Two Tickets to the Final
Four
Proceeds to benefit the Elizabeth Crabb Fund
Picture yourself at the NCAA Final Four championship in San Antonio in March. The excitement! The great plays! Legends in the making! You think it couldn’t happen? You think the tickets are all gone? Think again. TLA has secured four highly valuable courtside ducats to this most sought after of collegiate sporting events.
And they could be yours for only $10. That’s right--ten bucks. That’s how much a raffle ticket costs, but time is running out. December 1 is the deadline to purchase a $10 chance to win two tickets to the NCAA Final Four Basketball Tournament. You can buy as many chances as you want and we hope you’ll buy several because even if you don’t win the tickets, you will do a good deed. Proceeds from the raffle go to the Elizabeth Crabb fund to support legislative activities.
Remember, the tickets are good for three games: two on Saturday, March 28, 1998, and the championship game on Monday, March 30. The street value of these tickets will be hundreds of dollars. But time is running out, so clip or photocopy the form below and send it in to the TLA office today. (Cost of the raffle ticket is not tax deductible.)
Call for Nominations--
Fifth Annual TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute
The Texas Library Association Leadership Development Committee has finalized plans for the fifth leadership development institute to be held May 31-June 4, 1998, at Harambe Oaks Ranch near Wimberley, Texas. Facilitators will be nationally recognized presenters Maureen Sullivan and Jack Siggins. This program provides leadership training for Texas Library Association members by offering an annual leadership development institute for librarians and laypersons involved in library service. Graduates of the four previous institutes are already assuming new responsibilities in their jobs and within the Texas Library Association.
A total of 24 participants and six mentors will be chosen to attend. Members interested in becoming TALL Texans should complete the nomination form included in this issue of TLACast. You may nominate yourself or you may nominate a colleague, friend, or employee. Nomination forms should be received at the TLA Office by December 2, 1997.
For more information on what the TALL Texans institute is like and the benefits of participation, read the article written by participants in this year’s institute in the current (Fall 1997) issue of the Texas Library Journal.
TLA has a new general information e-mail address. General mail for TLA should now be addressed to tla@txla.org. Mail directed to info@txla.org may not reach the TLA staff.
Membership renewal forms have been sent to all TLA members. However, if you have not yet received yours, or if you have had a change of address since October 1, you can contact the office for a form or print the form from the TLA web page (http://www.txla.org. Click on “Services, Benefits & Membership”) and submit it with payment to the TLA office.
In the last issue, we announced the availability of the Acquisitions Round Table listserv. The full name is really Acquisitions and Collection Development Round Table listserv. Members of that round table can subscribe by sending mail to either Cynthia Clements at clc8610@dcccd.edu or to Mark Smith at marks@txla.org.
The Public Libraries Division has become the second TLA division (after TASL) with a web page. The site, which is part of the TLA web page, contains the PLD bylaws, contact information for officers, the unit newsletter, and a preview of PLD conference programs.
YART announces YA Reading Incentive Award
The Young Adult Round Table announces a call for nominations for the Young Adult Reading Incentive Award (YARI). The purpose of the YARI award is to honor a librarian who has shown exceptional ability in motivating young adults to read by developing and implementing a reading incentive program for young adults in grades 6-12. The award consists of an engraved plaque and a stipend of $500, donated by the Texwood Furniture Corporation, to be presented at the Texas Library Association annual conference.
Nominations must be received no later than March 1, 1998. For more information on the criteria for the award and to receive an application form, please contact Gracelyn Shea, Forest Meadow Jr. High, 9373 Whitehurst, Dallas, TX, 75243; 214-503-4716.
The 1998-99 Texas Bluebonnet Award master list will be available November 20, 1997. You can receive an copy of the list by e-mail or fax. To receive the list by e-mail, request it from Annette Nall at anall@tenet.edu. To receive a fax, either call 806-655-3959 or fax your request to 806-655-0433. Sometime after November 20, the list will be available on the TLA web page; and, as in the past, the new list will be mailed to registered schools in late December.
Encourage your students to continue to read Bluebonnet books so they can vote in January. Voting instructions will be mailed in late December.
Harlingen Director Appointed to TIF Advisory Committee
Ruben Rendon, director of the Harlingen Public Library, has been appointed
to the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board’s Libraries and
Telemedicine Advisory Committee. The committee advises the TIF Board on grant
proposals related to libraries. Mr. Rendon also serves on the Texas State
Library’s Library Services and Technology Act Advisory Board.
State Library to Provide CD-ROM of Agriculture Extension
Publications
Every Texas public library will receive a copy of a full text compact disk
of all publications of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service of Texas
A&M University from the Library Development Division of the Texas State
Library and Archives Commission.
The disk contains several hundred publications of the Extension Service and covers a wide variety of topics. The materials are provided in English and Spanish.
The disk is provided to Texas libraries through an arrangement among the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, the Texas State Library, and the Texas Library System.
Correction
In the last issue we incorrectly identified the new UT-Austin electronic
instruction librarian as Claudia Schaeffer. That should have been Clara
Schaeffer. Congratulations, Clara!
Names in the News
Patt Bowles, a librarian for 16 years at the Lewisville ISD, is now the educational Systems Specialist for Lone Star Communications, Inc., in Grand Prairie.
Betty Carter and Keith Swigger, both of the School of Library and Information Studies at Texas Woman’s University, have been appointed co-editors of the Journal of Youth Services in Libraries, the publication of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA).
Pat Hawthorne, formerly of the UT-San Antonio Health Sciences Library, is leaving Texas to take a position as the assistant head of reference/instruction librarian at the University of Miami at Coral Gables, Florida.
TLA President Barbara Immroth celebrates the birth of a new grandson, Aidan Banks Immroth, 16 days after his cousin, Caroline Isabella.
Gloria Meraz is the recipient of the National Student Minority Award from the Society of American Archivists at the SAA annual meeting in Chicago in August.
Steven Smiley has joined the Dallas Public Library staff as the automation services administrator.
Connie Todd has been appointed curator of special collections at the Albert B. Alkek Library at Southwest Texas State University.
TLACast welcomes your news and information. We give preference to TLA unit activities, but all information about Texas libraries will be considered on a space available basis. TLACast is an irregular publication with no set deadline. Materials will usually be considered on a first-come, first-published basis, though we will attempt to run all time-sensitive articles, such as announcements containing entry deadlines, as early as possible.
Send your press releases, articles, and announcements for TLACast to Mark Smith, 3355 Bee Cave Road, Suite 401, Austin, TX, 78746-6763; fax: 512-328-8852; marks@txla.org.
