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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Vice President
For Immediate Release
April 22, 1998
STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE
ON E-RATE APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES
I am pleased to announce today that America's schools and
libraries have submitted over 30,000 applications for the E-Rate,
which will give discounts to educational institutions for telecommunications and technology.
America is sharply divided between those with access to computers
and the Internet and those without it. Research shows that while
27 percent of classrooms are now connected to the Internet, only
13 percent of classrooms in schools with a high percentage of minority
students are connected to the Internet.
With the new E-rate program, low-income schools can get up to a
90 percent discount to hook their classrooms up to the Internet.
I applaud the enthusiasm and energy of the tens of thousands of
educators, administrators, school boards, and librarians who have
worked so hard to get their applications in and ensure that all of our
children have access to the tools and information they need to learn,
grow, and prosper in the 21st century.
We must bridge the digital divide between the information haves
and the have nots to ensure that all Americans can take advantage of
the Internet and put Information Age tools in the hands of all of our
children.
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