By: Haley S.C.R. No. 40
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, Modern telephone systems play a vital role in our
1-2 public schools by serving as a traditional means of communication
1-3 and as a basic support for computer technology; and
1-4 WHEREAS, The many important services these systems provide
1-5 include essential communication links among teachers, parents,
1-6 school administrators, and school districts, as well as access to
1-7 educational data bases and bulletin boards, on-line library
1-8 catalogues, and electronic mail; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Currently, local school districts are required to
1-10 pay the business rate for telephone services, a significantly
1-11 higher rate than that charged to other users, severely limiting
1-12 access to these important communication services; and
1-13 WHEREAS, Unlike private industry, public school systems rely
1-14 in large part on local property taxes for funding and often face
1-15 funding shortfalls that can put access to important technology out
1-16 of reach, especially in poorer districts; and
1-17 WHEREAS, The higher rate also prevents teachers from having
1-18 phones in their classrooms at a time when having a telephone is
1-19 gaining recognition as an important safety precaution and
1-20 disciplinary tool in our nation's increasingly violent classrooms;
1-21 and
1-22 WHEREAS, Teachers with phones can call for assistance
1-23 immediately when there is a threat to classroom safety or to
1-24 impress upon an unruly student that disciplinary action is only a
2-1 phone call away; and
2-2 WHEREAS, Access to modern phone systems will become even more
2-3 important with the increasing availability of new fiber-optic
2-4 technology that will greatly expand the information-carrying
2-5 capacity of current communication systems and, in particular,
2-6 enhance the quality of distance learning--a program that allows
2-7 students in remote locations to take classes via their television;
2-8 and
2-9 WHEREAS, Distance learning is particularly important in our
2-10 state where many young people live in rural areas, often a great
2-11 distance from schools, and can help address the current teacher
2-12 shortage; and
2-13 WHEREAS, The educational potential inherent in increased use
2-14 of both traditional and innovative telephone service technology is
2-15 beginning to be realized in isolated instances by a few school
2-16 districts across the state, but fuller and more widespread
2-17 realization of this potential will continue to be impeded by the
2-18 existing cost factors; and
2-19 WHEREAS, The rate charged to our state's school districts for
2-20 local and long-distance telephone service and new services such as
2-21 fiber-optic systems should be studied in light of the many
2-22 important benefits modern telephone systems provide that can
2-23 improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of our schools; now,
2-24 therefore, be it
2-25 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas
2-26 hereby request the Public Utility Commission of Texas to study the
2-27 feasibility of establishing a differential rate structure for
3-1 telephone services to our state's school districts; and, be it
3-2 further
3-3 RESOLVED, That this study be undertaken in a timely fashion
3-4 so that schools can take prompt action based on the commission's
3-5 findings; and, be it further
3-6 RESOLVED, That if the commission determines that establishing
3-7 a differential rate structure for telephone services to school
3-8 districts is feasible and can be accomplished without legislation,
3-9 the differential rate structure be established as soon as possible;
3-10 and, be it further
3-11 RESOLVED, That the Public Utility Commission of Texas make a
3-12 full report of its findings and recommendations or actions to the
3-13 74th Legislature when it convenes in January, 1995.