State Schools, Libraries to Get $14.7 Million in Internet Aid

California schools and public libraries will receive nearly $14.7 million--the most in the nation--as part of a federal program’s second round of funding for Internet connections, program administrators said Monday.

The Schools & Libraries Corp. said 240 California schools will receive financial help. The funding totals nearly $76 million for 3,300 applicants nationwide.

The program has handed out a total of $149 million to schools and libraries across the U.S. In California, a total of $24.6 million has been set aside for 478 schools.

Among the largest local recipients are the Lawndale Elementary School District, $1,456,509; Vine Street Elementary School in Los Angeles, $268,912; Fullerton Joint Union High School District in Orange County, with $127,670; Harrison School in Los Angeles, with $102,934; Fenton Avenue Charter School in Lake View Terrace, with $101,127; Fullerton Elementary School District, with $19,870; and Napa Street Elementary in Northridge, with $44,865.

More than 25% of the funds will go to the poorest schools and libraries in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The program was delayed--and eventually scaled back from its original goal of handing out up to $2.25 billion--because of pressure from Congress and long-distance telephone companies that are footing most of the program’s bill. The FCC authorized up to $1.275 billion to pay for cheap Internet hookups this year.

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Associated Press was used in compiling this report.