Texas Law To Ease School Access to Telecommunications Services

By Peter West

Schools in Texas will be able to gain access to the global Internet computer network and other telecommunications services at preferential rates under a new law that takes effect next month. September.

The law gives the state's telephone, cable-television, and cellular-communications companies greater freedom from government regulation. In exchange, they must contribute a total of $150 million each year to a fund that will be used to wire public and private schools, libraries, and other public-benefit institutions for telecommunications access.

The measure, signed into law earlier this summer by Gov. George W. Bush, also requires the phone companies to provide service to schools at fixed percentages above the actual cost...