While cleaning out my basement, I came across several rotary phones and old typewriters, one of which is a manual Underwood typewriter with a two foot long carriage return that was too heavy for me to carry upstairs. It might turn out to be a good thing that I did not toss these items (or EBay them) what with the Governor defunding Internet access for certain state departments, including the Connecticut Education Network, the "fiber optic network designed to serve public schools and libraries in Connecticut." She might just need these things -- one can never be too frugal. I find it unfathomable that on the one hand, we watch daily as the only news out of Iran on their election concerns is via Twitter because the Iranian government has cut off usage of cell phones, disallowed Internet access and is not allowing reporters to report from the streets. We watch daily to catch a glimpse of news from Iranian Twitter users for an update, as we comment how unfortunate it is that information is being censored.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch in Connecticut, our Governor has decided that the cost of Internet access for Connecticut's schools and libraries (among some other departments) is too costly -- even though some of these programs are matched through federal funding. She is also proposing similar kinds of cuts on other telecommunications that include cell phone usage. And this in the Constitution State! It is as if a parent who finds it difficult to buy shoes for their children decides the best alternative is to cut off their feet. While this example is extreme, so is the Governor's decision. It lacks leadership and so much more.
Connecticut needs leadership at its the helm.
Here are the facts about Governor Rell's proposed budget cuts on the Internet that appears on a post in the Face Book Group, CT2010: A Democratic Governor for Connecticut by Jonathan Pelto. Read the post and then join the group. Let's bring leadership back to the Governor's office in our state.
In a move worthy of Ray Bradbury’s book Fahrenheit 451, in which all critical thought through reading is outlawed, Governor Jodi Rell’s budget proposal seeks to quash any thought that Connecticut’s future is linked to our ability to compete in the information and internet age.
Some of you may have read about Rell’s proposal in a recent Bill Cibes Op. Ed. in The Hartford Courant, but if you haven’t, here are the basic facts.
Rell’s proposed budget cuts would shut off the Connecticut Education Network (The “fiber optic network designed to serve public schools and libraries in Connecticut”).
Rell wants to cut $3 million in funding for the network to eliminate "software licenses, Internet services and local/long distance telecommunications."
This cut would eliminate the state Internet connection from kindergarten through 12th-grade schools and all libraries in the state, and eliminate service lines to schools and libraries in the state’s non-urban districts.
Of course schools and libraries could purchase access for themselves, but it would further drive a wedge between the state’s wealthiest districts and those that are having trouble already making ends meet.
Amazingly Rell’s actions would also cost Connecticut over $1 million in federal "E-rate" funds, which help pay for these important programs, and [would] prevent [Connecticut] from accessing the new grants for broadband expansion under the federal stimulus bill.
Unwilling to stop there, Rell also calls for cutting the $2 million State Library’s digital content program that provides information for schools and libraries across the state. Rell also eliminates the funding ($675,000) for the statewide library database program which allows people to access library materials. Both of these successful programs receive 50 percent federal reimbursement, so the actual savings are minimal but the costs are high as library are forced to either eliminate the services completely or pay for higher costs as they week to purchase these services on their own.
And the list goes on ... the Governor proposes to eliminate funding for Connecticard payments, which support the inter-library loan program between the 195 participating libraries in the state. She cuts in half the funds to purchase legal books and journals ... and cuts ALL grants to the state’s public libraries at a time they are already facing cuts at the local level.
Oh, and as Bill Cibes noted in his op ed. – “just to make sure that Connecticut is totally ill-prepared for its economic future — all funding in the state Department of Education "to purchase replacement textbooks for the technical high schools" is cut for the next two fiscal years.”
Cibes ended by noting that Noah Webster would be so proud!
The fact is, so would the government of Fahrenheit 451.
Val McCall
State Chair
Organizing for Connecticut
Visit Organizing for Connecticut
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