Surplus federal computers not reaching rural towns
Advocates push for passage of a bill that would direct federal surplus property to communities in need.
Each year federal agencies donate, or sell at a discount, older computers that the government no longer needs. But red tape and a lack of information about the program have made it difficult for low-income families in rural towns to benefit from the practice, witnesses told a House panel this week.
Estelle Sanders, mayor of Roper, North Carolina -- population 625, and located in one of the poorest counties in the state -- described the frustration of navigating the process in her testimony before the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement.
"The process assumes that the bidder, in our case, the town, has someone who would know about internal components of a computer doing their bidding, which is highly unlikely," Sanders said. "Small, low-wealth communities cannot afford technology-savvy staff. Unfortunately, the bidder must assume all risks. Needless to say, small low-wealth communities cannot take the time, nor afford the trip, nor take the risk that the computers will require extensive upgrades."
In North Carolina, local officials must travel to the state capital in Raleigh, a two-to-three hour ride from most communities in the eastern portion of the state. Potential buyers are not allowed to open computer cases and are limited to reading a brief description of their internal components, she said.
Sanders and others said the process would be much improved through the passage of the Federal Electronic Equipment Donation Act of 2007 (H.R. 752). Sponsored by Rep. G. K. Butterfield, a Democrat from Sanders' district in North Carolina, the bill would direct federal agencies to donate their surplus electronic equipment to qualifying small towns, rural counties, schools, non-profit organizations and libraries. Federal law now dictates that schools and non-profits are given priority over communities.
The bill, which has been referred to the subcommittee for review, would supersede Executive Order 12999 . The order, signed by President Clinton in 1996, contains many of the same provisions as Butterfield's bill, but the new legislation puts towns, counties on libraries on equal footing with schools.
"The current system," Butterfield said, "is hurting the very people it is designed to help."
The General Services Administration, which administers the sale and transfer of surplus property, is studying the bill, but has not reached an opinion on its merits, said Becky Rhodes, the agency's deputy associate administrator in charge of the program.
GSA currently donates federal technology to educational facilities through the Computers for Learning Program. But critics said the program is outdated and should encourage the creation of regional technology centers for students without access to technology at home or school.
"It is estimated that the federal government replaces approximately 500,000 computers each year," said John Rosenthall, president of the Small Towns Alliance, a non-profit group. "With such a turnover, there should be no school in America with computerless computer labs."
Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Calif., the subcommittee's ranking member, suggested that GSA stop using its "closed box" system and allow potential bidders to fully inspect surplus computers. Legislators also encouraged the agency to better publicize the program in small towns that may not be aware of it.