Providing Telecommunications Discounts To K-12 Schools and Libraries

SURCHARGES

Surcharges, such as the Universal Connectivity Charge, are authorized by and under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and are used by long distance companies to recover the costs of funding universal service.  The FCC has directed long distance companies to explain the charge to their customers.  The Universal Connectivity charge is a percent surcharge (usually between 4%-6%) on a customer's interstate and international billings.

THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND

Upon passing the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress required that a discount program be established for telecommunications services for schools and libraries. Further, Congress required that this discount be funded from long distance services contributing to a universal service fund.

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• FCC Notice - Common Carrier Bureau Seeks Comment on Universal Service Support Distribution Options for Schools, Libraries, and Rural Health Care Providers
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Other Sources of Information:

The Department of Public Service has no responsibility for the following sites, nor does their inclusion represent an endorsement. We provide the links as a public service.

Government Links

• LEARNET -FCC Homepage
• Advanced Telecommunications in US Private Schools, K-12 Fall 1995
• FCC Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Universal Service (FAQS)
• Federal Laws On-Line
• OMB Circulars Indexed by Major Category
• Investigators Guide to Sources of Information
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
• Study of School-to-Work Initiatives - October 1996
• US Department of Education
• US House of Representatives Internet Law Library

Non-Profits & Foundations

• Access Excellence Fellows Collection
• American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
• Ann E. Casey Foundation
• AT&T Foundation
• Benton Foundation
• Carnegie Corporation of New York
• CAUSE Association for Managing and Using Information Resources in Higher Education
• Education & Library Networks Coalition (EdLiNC)
• The Ford Foundation
• The Gates Library Foundation
• The Global Schoolhouse
• International Society for Technology in Education
• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
• NYSERNET