[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY 
     OF WISCONSIN-MADISON FOR COMPLETING THEIR STUDY ON WOMEN AND 
                           TELECOMMUNICATIONS

                           HON. SCOTT L. KLUG

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 23, 1994

  Mr. KLUG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Department of 
Consumer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on the 
successful completion of their study on women and telecommunications.
  The time is rapidly approaching when we will have to make important 
decisions about the development of the information superhighway. We 
have been hearing for some time how advances in telecommunications 
technology will affect American jobs, health care, education and other 
aspects of society. The UW study, which appears below, affords us a 
glimpse into how widespread an impact America's Information Age is 
likely to have on women. I am delighted to be able to share this 
information with my colleagues.


                            survey findings

       The University of Wisconsin set out to survey women leaders 
     nationwide on the importance of telecommunications services 
     to their organizations, businesses and families, and to 
     determine their views on national telecommunications policy 
     issues being decided in Washington. The following is a 
     summary of our findings and a sense of the comments offered.
       Seventy-one percent of women surveyed said 
     telecommunications service are extremely important to them 
     today.
       Many women view basic telecommunications services, such as 
     telephone, FAX, and voice mail services, as critical to their 
     success and the success of their organizations. These 
     technologies provide flexibility and aid women in all aspects 
     of their personal and professional lives.
       Eighty-nine percent of women said telecommunications 
     services will be extremely important to them by the year 
     2000.
       Citing their increased reliance on the most basic telephone 
     enhancements such as modems and electronic mail, they look 
     forward to new equipment and information services they can 
     access that will make their organizations more productive in 
     the future.
       An overwhelming majority (ninety-four percent) said working 
     women will benefit from advanced telecommunications 
     technology.
       The vast majority agreed that women will gain substantially 
     from advanced telecommunications services such as 
     telecommuting and remote educational and health services, and 
     that these services will aid women struggling to balance 
     career and family responsibilities. ``Telecommuting will make 
     a world of difference for working mothers'' was the sentiment 
     echoed by most respondents.
       Sixty-two percent said increased competition among 
     telecommunications service providers will produce lower 
     prices and more choices for customers of long distance 
     service.
       Most respondents expressed frustration over the long 
     distance service market and their lack of confidence that 
     they had selected the least expensive service for their 
     needs. They felt that allowing local Bell Companies to 
     immediately compete with other long distance service 
     providers would produce lower costs and more choices for 
     consumers.
       Sixty-seven percent support increased competition for cable 
     service.
       An even greater number of respondents expressed support for 
     increased competition in the cable service market. Citing 
     high costs and lack of options, they favored allowing local 
     Bell Companies to compete with cable companies now.
       A large majority of respondents (sixty-nine percent) 
     believe that all telecommunications markets should be opened 
     to competition on a fair and reciprocal basis.
       Respondents agreed that if long distance and cable 
     companies are allowed to compete in providing local phone 
     service, local Bell Companies should be allowed to compete in 
     providing long distance and cable services.

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