Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

April 13, 2000

STATEMENT BY THE VICE PRESIDENT ANNONCING FULL FUNDING FOR E-RATE PROGRAM

I know how important it is for all our children to be connected to the Internet. The E-rate program to wire schools and libraries has brought millions of children across this nation into the 21st Century.

Over the past five years we have increased by twenty times the number of classrooms connected to the Internet. The success of this program has greatly reduced the digital divide between the information haves and have-nots in our society. But, we still have a lot of work to do before every child in this nation is connected to the Internet.

That is why I am pleased to report that the Federal Communications Commission is committing an additional $2.25 billion to further connect our kids to the Information Age. The first wave of this funding gives $186 million to wire schools and libraries and enables us to connect our one-millionth classroom to the Internet. Technology is fueling the engine of our new economy. And by connecting all our children to the internet, we will put a whole new world of knowledge and information at their fingertips.

Sound from the Vice President is available on the White House Press Office

Radio Actuality Line at 202-456-7035.

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