    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [November 17, 1999]
    [Pages 2104-2105]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Federal Communications Commission's E-Rate
    November 17, 1999

        Today the Federal Communications Commission announced that the ``E-
    rate'' will help connect over one million classrooms to the Internet.
    This is a giant step toward the goal that Vice

    [[Page 2105]]

    President Gore and I set to connect every classroom and library to the
    Internet by the year 2000.
        Children all over the United States are now able to log on to the
    Library of Congress, get on-line mentoring from a scientist halfway
    around the world, and acquire the skills they need to succeed in the
    high-tech economy of the 21st century, because of the E-rate. Parents
    also benefit by now being able to communicate more frequently with
    teachers and follow the academic performance of their children. Combined
    with investments that my administration is making in multimedia
    computers, teacher training, and high-quality educational software, the
    E-rate is putting the future at the fingertips of our children. It is
    also helping to bridge the digital divide by providing the deepest
    discounts to the schools and libraries that need it most.