Plan Advanced to Hook Schools to Internet

The nation’s schools should get discounts of up to 90% of the cost of bringing the Internet into classrooms, a panel of federal and state officials said. The plan would provide all elementary and secondary schools with access to the global computer network at a cut rate. Before becoming final, the plan must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission. Parts of the plan also may have to be approved by state telecommunications regulators. The recommendation carries out a provision of a telecommunications law enacted in February and is part of a larger proposal seeking to ensure that all Americans have access to some level of telecommunications service beyond basic local phone service. The Internet proposal falls short of a Clinton administration proposal to provide free access to schools.