The enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 contains a number of provisions that clearly affect community college and university use of telecommunications and information services. The Telecommunications Act expands the concept of universal service, or the idea that all Americans should have access to basic telephone service; requires telecommunications carriers to provide special and affordable rates for educational institutions (defined as K through 12, but possibly extended to colleges), non-profit libraries, and rural health providers; and authorizes federal departments and agencies to provide financial assistance to a new private non-profit corporation for educational technology. The most controversial provision, the Communications Decency Act (CDA), has ignited a debate over freedom of speech with respect to provisions intended to protect minors from accessing obscene or indecent material through the Internet or other telecommunications devices. Activities proscribed by the CDA include knowingly making available to minors material that is "offensive to contemporary community standards" and permitting a telecommunications facility under one's control to be used for that purpose. The CDA also creates new federal crimes for these violations. Although the act does contain some defenses to liability for service providers, it significantly affects community colleges with its risk of institutional and personal liability for violations in such areas as minor students accessing indecent material through a college computer or a faculty member exercising academic freedom. (TGI)