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IP: Teachers back e-rate taxes; Reno on Microsoft
From: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Fri, 08 May 1998 15:40:31 -0400
http://cgi.pathfinder.com/netly/opinion/0%2c1042%2c1975%2c00.html time.com / The Netly News May 8, 1998 * * * It's never fun watching special interest groups fight over money. This time it's the National Education Association that's fighting to keep billions of dollars in new "e-rate" taxes. The 1996 Telecommunications Act requires telecommunications firms to pay taxes (aka "universal service fund fees") to hook up schools and libraries to the Internet. This means higher phone bills, which has telcos such as Southwest Bell, BellSouth and GTE crying foul. Pony up, says NEA president Bob Chase. "Schools and libraries are eager to connect students, teachers and citizens to the future. But we're troubled by indications that telecommunications companies may be undermining the e-rate." * * * Every Thursday, when Janet Reno holds her weekly press conference, she spends more time evading questions than answering them. Yesterday, for instance, when asked repeatedly about whether Windows 98 was covered by a December 1997 court order, she demurred: "I would not comment. That is pending." Nor did she say what economic impact an antitrust action might have. Reno wouldn't even talk about state governments launching an antitrust suit, except to say she's "enjoyed" collaborating with them. "We have had what I think is an excellent working relationship with the state attorneys general," she said. "And from the outset, there have been a number of state attorneys general who have been very interested in antitrust enforcement." No kidding. * * *
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