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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  September  8,  2004  Meribeth  McCarrick  at  (202)  418-  0654 
 “UNLEASHING  THE  EDUCATIONAL  POWER  OF  BROADBAND” 
 FCC  TO  HOST  SYMPOSIUM  ON  USING  BROADBAND  FOR  LIFELONG  LEARNING 
 WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  6,  2004 
 Washington  D.  C.  –  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  will  host  a  Symposium  “Unleashing  the  Educational  Power  of  Broadband,”  on  Wednesday,  October  6,  2004,  at  FCC 
 Headquarters,  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.,  Washington,  D.  C.  The  event  is  part  of  ongoing  Commission  efforts  intended  to  spur  the  deployment  of  broadband  services  across  America, 
 including  to  schools  and  libraries. 
 "Broadband  is  an  essential  tool  to  prepare  today's  young  people  for  tomorrow's  workforce  and  to  facilitate  lifelong  learning  for  students  of  all  ages,”  said  FCC  Chairman  Michael  Powell. 
 “This  Symposium  presents  a  unique  opportunity  to  hear  how  broadband  can  promote  learning  from  experts  in  the  schools  and  libraries  community." 


 To  present  this  full  day  symposium,  the  FCC  is  partnering  with  the  Institute  of  Museum  and  Library  Services  (IMLS),  an  independent  federal  grant-  making  agency  dedicated  to  creating 
 and  sustaining  a  nation  of  learners  by  helping  museums  and  libraries  serve  their  communities,  and  the  Universal  Service  Administrative  Company  (USAC),  the  independent  not-  for-  profit 
 corporation  that  administers  the  Universal  Service  Fund. 
 “At  IMLS  we  believe  that  learning  is  a  community-  wide  and  lifelong  endeavor,”  said  IMLS  Director  Dr.  Robert  Martin.  “Broadband  offers  new  ways  for  museums  and  libraries  - 
 with  their  massive  holdings,  carefully  curated  exhibitions  and  experiences,  trained  and  knowledgeable  professionals,  and  educational  programs  to  contribute  to  effective  learning  at 
 home,  at  school  and  in  the  workplace.” 
 "Bringing  broadband  access  to  schools  and  libraries  across  the  country  has  been  at  the  heart  of  USAC's  mission,"  said  USAC  CEO  Lisa  Zaina.  "We  are  delighted  to  be  a  part  of  this 
 important  symposium  to  demonstrate  how  USAC  can  be  an  active  partner  in  helping  schools  and  libraries  integrate  this  technology  into  the  learning  experience." 


 The  symposium  will  explore  ways  to  use  broadband  to  facilitate  learning  in  schools,  libraries,  and  the  home.  Among  the  presenters  will  be  participants  in  the  Schools  and  Libraries 
 Universal  Service  program,  also  called  the  “e-  rate,”  which  was  established  as  part  of  the 
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