Please read below and contact your rep today. E-rate funding is important to many types of libraries in Michigan and this amendment could be harmful. From: Emily Sheketoff [mailto:esheketoff@alawash.org] Sent: Monday, July 14, 2014 6:01 PM To: alacro-l@ala.org Subject: [alacro-l] Libraries Need Your Help Please call your U.S. Representative today and encourage him or her not to support any amendment that would thwart the FCC's ability to increase funds to the Federal E-rate program. Rumors are circulating around Capitol Hill this week of a possible amendment to the House Financial Services Appropriations bill that would limit the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) ability to increase funds to the Federal E-rate program. We expect this amendment to be voted on the House floor sometime within the next 48 to 72 hours. If such an amendment were to pass and become law, it would be very damaging to the E-rate program. The E-rate program is part of the Universal Service Fund, which is overseen by the FCC. Through this program, libraries and schools receive discounts on telecommunications services including high capacity broadband. Many libraries count on these funds to provide internet services to their users.