Rapid technological advances and the ability to connect with anyplace in the world through the Internet, are breaking down the traditional classroom walls. Congress may be helping this along by passing a law that mandates universal access to the Internet in schools and libraries by the end of the century. To comply with the act, the Federal Communications Commission recently proposed a big discount for all schools and libraries to access the Internet. Local governments must fund the hardware, its maintenance, teacher training and any additional Internet services. Private telephone companies subsidize the discounts, but they warn that, ultimately, the individual consumer will pay the difference through higher rates.
Some critics question the value of classroom learning through the Internet.
Others argue that the Internet is a vast resource of information which should be available to all children. For the answer, stay tuned. I'm Joan Silvi for Internet On The Air. There was no interview recorded for this show. On The Air is made possible by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.