Universal access: what have we learned from the E-rate?

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandated discounts for high-speed connectivity for schools, libraries and rural health care centers. Innovative although somewhat complex mechanisms were developed to implement this mandate. More than 5 years after the E-rate was implemented, this article considers what has been learned. The article reviews some of the innovative features of the E-rate, its implementation and examines possible reasons for disparity in take-up of the subsidies, even among states with significantly disadvantaged and/or rural populations. It then analyzes lessons learned from E-rate implementation in Alaska, and considers possible implications for other countries considering mechanisms to subsidize community or institutional Internet access. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.