Release Date: 2007-07-16
Original Link: http://presszoom.com/story_136834.html
Source: CST
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a provision championed by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to help rural schools, libraries and health care facilities. The provision was included as part of the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill and would exempt the universal service program funding for rural schools, libraries and health care facilities from the Antideficiency Act.
(PressZoom.com) - WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a provision championed by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to help rural schools, libraries and health care facilities. The provision was included as part of the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill and would exempt the universal service program funding for rural schools, libraries and health care facilities from the Antideficiency Act. This would allow schools and health clinics to get funding support for distance learning and telemedicine in a timely fashion. The bill also included language that would prohibit the use of funds by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to implement the primary line restriction proposed by the Federal State Board on Universal Service.
“This exemption will help rural schools, libraries and health care facilities in Alaska, and other places in America, that receive funding for distance learning and telemedicine,” said Senator Stevens.