NII PRINCIPLES AND ACTIONS A Checklist of the Clinton Administration's Progress September 1993-1994 PRINCIPLES ACTIONS Promote private + The Administration has worked with Congress sector to reform our 60 year-old communications law investment. to remove legal and regulatory impediments to competition while still safeguarding the public interest. Passage is expected for a bill that will make better services, at lower prices, available to all Americans while ensuring a leadership role for the U.S. in the worldwide information revolu- tion. + The Administration has laid the basis for the first time in 30 years for growth that is led by investment in an environment with- out inflation. Nearly 4 million private sector jobs have been created at a rate that is ahead of President Clinton's goal of 8 million jobs in four years, and profits and business investment are up. + New tax incentives to spur private sector R&D and new business formation went into effect, a product of the Administration's work with Congress. The three-year extension of the R&D credit and a targeted capital gains reduction for investments in small businesses are accelerating the development and deployment of new NII products and ser- vices. + The Department of Agriculture's Rural Elec- trification Administration loaned $225 mil- lion for rural telecommunications plant and services, stimulating private investments more than four times that amount. Extend the univer- + To tackle the challenging policy issues of sal service concept ensuring universal service, the Commerce to assure that in- Department and the Federal Communications formation resources Commission teamed up in hearings across the are available to all country that involved an unprecedented at affordable pric- cross-section of society addressing this es. issue. The Administration now will develop recommendations and then work with Congress and the FCC to get action. + Rural schools and health care providers were awarded $10 million in grants by the Agri- culture Department's to connect them to the NII. The awards leveraged $15 million in additional private investments. + More than 1,200 colleges and universities were connected to the Internet by the Na- tional Science Foundation. NSF also helped about an equal number of schools, libraries and public health facilities to link up to the Internet. Promote technologi- + The High-Performance Computing and Commu- cal innovation and nications Program continued to advance the new applications. development of the technology base that is critically needed for the NII, including high performance computing systems, high- -speed and high-bandwidth communications networks, and computationally intensive applications software. + More than 1000 proposals to promote local public access to the advantages of a modern, interactive information infrastructure were received by the Commerce Department's Na- tional Telecommunications and Information Administration. Responding to a new Adminis- tration initiative, the proposals for match- ing grants from state and local governments, health care providers, schools, libraries, universities, public safety services and other non-profit organizations would help them access new telecommunications technolo- gies. Totalling $26 million, the competitive awards will be announced in October, select- ed from the 1,088 requests for a total of $556 million in assistance funds. + To better coordinate current and planned NII technology applicationsrelated projects, the IITF Committee on Applications and Technolo- gy assembled the first ever inventory of projects, contacts, and resources within the Federal government. The inventory already is being used by agencies and the private sec- tor to eliminate duplication and to estab- lish links with other organizations. In addition, the Committee has issued two re- ports that have encouraged public dialogue on how the government and the private sector can advance critical NII aplications. Promote seamless, + The roles of the private and public sectors interactive, user-- in thorny NII- related standards issues have driven operation of been reviewed and clarified through a series the NII. of panels and workshops. Although more greater coordination and communications is still needed, the progress made to date results from the first serious attempt to deal with NII standards matters on a compre- hensive basis. + Federal agencies were given greater flexi- bility in choosing NII-related standards, and encouraged to use domestic and inter- national voluntary standards in regulatory and procurement activities. The Office of Management and Budget issued the new guid- ance. + To ensure that all states will have the same minimum standard service requirements for the transmission of video images and high-- speed data, the Agriculture Department's Rural Electrification Administration devel- oped and now is finalizing guidelines for the development of state-wide telecommunica- tions modernization plans. + Unnecessary regulatory restrictions that hinder the development of interactive ser- vices and applications would be removed by telecommunications reform legislation pro- moted by the Administration and expected to receive approval by Congress. Ensure information + The privacy of individuals would be protect- security and network ed while still allowing reasonable flow of reliability. information by revisions proposed to the 21-year old fair information practice code. The IITF Privacy Working Group recommended the changes after public hearings on privacy issues arising from the collection, use and storage of records in an electronic environ- ment. + Encryption technology and federal policies were reviewed and actions were taken to address NII users' security, national secu- rity, and law enforcement needs. Actions in- cluded issuance of a voluntary standard that government agencies and the private sector can use to provide strong encryption protec- tion for voice, fax, and data communications over telephone lines. Improvements and al- ternatives to key escrow technologies were sought in workshops with industry, and ex- port control procedures for encryption prod- ucts were proposed for streamlining. + A common framework was developed for NII-related national security and emergency preparedness requirements across industry as a result of the efforts by the IITF's Reli- ability and Vulnerability Working Group to link up with private sector groups. + Federal agencies, businesses, and individu- als will be able to verify the integrity of electronic data and the identify of the signer as a result of a new voluntary Digi- tal Signature Standard announced by the Com- merce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology. Numerous NII ap- plications, particularly electronic com- merce, will benefit from digital signature technology. Improve management + To ensure that consumers have access to of the radio fre- information resources at any time, from any quency spectrum. place, the Administration moved to free up the radio spectrum for use in new wireless communications services. The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration took initial steps needed to advance this goal and trans- fer at least 200 megahertz of spectrum from Federal to non-Federal users. + The Administration supported competitive bidding for spectrum distribution, Congress authorized the practice, and the FCC suc- cessfully used this authority to auction spectrum for narrowband personal communi- cations services and interactive video data services. More than $800 million was gener- ated for the U.S. Treasury. Protect intellectual + To ensure that the NII increases access to property rights. information while protecting intellectual property rights, an IITF working group rec- ommended ways that existing copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade secrets should be amended. Public hearings are ensuring full public participation from owners and users of intellectual property. + Additional sessions have been planned to develop voluntary guidelines for fair uses of copyrighted works by and in public li- braries and educational institutions, and to develop curricula to teach the principles of intellectual property law to students and the public. Coordinate with + Extensive efforts were made to work with other levels of state and local officials to realize NII government and with goals. The Commerce Department's National other nations. Telecommunications and Information Adminis- tration cosponsored a conference on NII matters for local, state, and Federal commu- nications policymakers. Teams of teachers and administrators from around the country were brought together with private sector and Federal representatives in a session sponsored by the Department of Education. + Electronic benefits transfer (EBT) was made a high priority by the Department of Health and Human Services, which worked hand-in-- hand with 30 state projects exploring or carrying out EBT. HHS also made significant progress on a project that will permit states to compare their hospital care use and cost experiences with other states. + Hundreds of public housing authorities were connected to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Bulletin Board System, which provides up-to-date information on, and connections with, HUD projects and man- agers. + Recognizing the huge market and tremendous impact on global productivity, Vice Presi- dent Gore announced an action plan for deal- ing with the Global Information Infrastruc- ture (GII), based on: encouraging private investment, promoting competition, creating a flexible regulatory framework, providing open access to the network, and ensuring universal service. The Vice President made several specific proposals that were agreed to at the ITU World Telecommunication Devel- opment Conference in Argentina. The result- ing action plan reflects work to be done over the next four years. + President Clinton proposed and the other G-7 nations accepted the first-ever ministerial meeting on information infrastructure to be held by the G-7 nations. + Major progress was made in opening overseas markets for products and services that are part of the growing GII. The Commerce and State Departments participated in high-level policy discussions with a variety of govern- ments on NII matters. Commerce Secretary Brown led successful trade missions to Rus- sia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and China to promote U.S. technology and encourage market openings, and to advance the GII initiative. Provide access to + Vast amounts of government information was government infor- made available to public access through mation and improve electronic networks by Federal agencies' government procure- initiatives. In the past year, the Admin- ment. istration dramatically upgraded the infra- structure and tools, and trained personnel, to promote electronic information dissemina- tion. Notable advances include major expan- sion of government information available through FedWorld, an initiative of the Commerce Department's National Technical Information Service. In 1994, the White House and almost every Cabinet-level gov- ernment agency has services accessible via Mosaic and the World Wide Web, making gov- ernment information and the agencies them- selves more open to the public than ever before. + Government agencies also made tremendous volumes of information available through CD-ROMs and via new toll-free 800 telephone numbers. + The Administration issued drastically new policies which stress making government information available on timely and equita- ble terms, and which promote of diversity of information sources and media. Examples include a new Office of Management and Bud- get directive requiring Federal agencies to price information products at the cost of dissemination, and to avoid practices that would restrict public access. + Major progress was made on a new Government Information Locator Service to help the public locate and access information. Most Federal agencies have implemented internal e-mail, and the General Services Administra- tion received approval for launching a governmentwide system. + The Administration supported pending legis- lation that would expand Federal agencies' abilities to use simplified procedures for contracts where procurements are made using TABLE OF CONTENTS The National Information Infrastructure Progress Report, September 1993-1994 Checklist of the Clinton Administration's Progress INTRODUCTION PRINCIPLES FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION APPENDICES NII Activities and Projects of the Federal Government Information Infrastructure Task Force Advisory Council on the NII List of Acronyms List of Publications Testimony and Speeches INTRODUCTION The promise of the Information Age has begun to unfold. New informa- tion technologies are fostering American ingenuity. Advanced informa- tion services are allowing American businesses to be more competitive. Increased access to information is improving Americans' quality of life. Access to communications networks is changing the way we provide for our families, educate our children, receive medical care, and interact with each other. It is transforming the way American businesses and entrepreneurs manage their companies and compete worldwide. It is empowering us in a variety of ways: o Entrepreneurs are starting small businesses providing services made possible by the new information technologies. o Employees are telecommuting from their homes. o Businesses are using computers and information technology to increase productivity and profits. o Students in rural areas are taking courses offered by profes- sors at universities hundreds of miles away via interactive video conferencing. o Doctors are treating patients in counties far away from their hospitals by using telemedicine. o Citizens are sending electronic messages to government offi- cials and are receiving government documents electronically. o Disabled Americans are using networks to communicate with others, both on the job and at home. The Clinton Administration's National Information Infrastructure (NII) initiative seeks to ensure that all Americans can take advantage of the opportunities brought by advanced information technologies and services. Through the NII, we can achieve a broad range of economic and social goals. The NII will spur economic growth and create jobs for Americans. The telecommunications and information industries account for almost $1 out of every $10 spent in the United States. Telecommunications and information businesses support jobs for more than 4.6 million Ameri- cans. The Council of Economic Advisors has concluded that the Administration's legislative proposals for telecommunications reform, when enacted, may add more than $100 billion to our Gross Domestic Product over the next decade and add 500,000 new jobs by the end of 1996. Entrepreneurs are using advanced information technologies to create and market new products and services. For example, hundreds of compa- nies now offer services related to the Internet or use the Internet to reach customers. The market potential for new communications and information products is tremendous. Today, nearly one in every three households has a personal computer. More than 19 million people own a cellular phone. The NII is helping to prepare our children for the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century. The NII connects classroom learning with the outside world. Students are taking virtual field trips that allow them to visit the Louvre in Paris or explore the ocean floor. Computers and network access in the schools help prepare students for today's job market, which demands a labor force that is well-informed and computer literate. Recent studies show that in all job categories, from clerks to professionals, people who know how to work with com- puters earn more than those who do not. The NII will reduce health care costs while increasing the quality of care, especially in underserved areas. Experts have concluded that nationwide use of information technologies could reduce health care costs by $36 billion every year. Pilot efforts in Georgia, Texas, West Virginia, and other states demonstrated that telemedicine can effec- tively bring specialists' services to rural areas. The NII is fostering a more open, responsive, and participatory democracy at all levels of government. Access to government informa- tion has increased as many documents are now available to the public on the Internet and computer bulletin board systems. Citizens can send electronic mail messages to public officials, including President Clinton and Vice President Gore. Access to information will employ, educate, and empower Americans. The NII can bring these benefits to the traditionally underserved, includ- ing the poor, minorities, rural residents, and disabled individuals. But there are obstacles that must be overcome before the NII can fulfill these promises. Competitive pressures could lead infrastruc- ture builders to bypass rural and low-income communities, thereby widening the gap between America's rich and poor. People must have confidence in the NII. We must guarantee privacy and protection of intellectual property. The emergence of new technologies and networks has changed how people and businesses exchange informa- tion and entertainment products and services and how copyrighted works are created, reproduced, distributed, displayed, adapted, and sold. It is important that technical standards do not become barriers to using the NII. Open and interoperable technical standards are needed to promote national and international networks, encourage innovative applications, and reduce consumer concerns and confusion. Until the White House released The National Information Infrastruc- ture: Agenda for Action last September, the government's role in the NII was not well defined. It was unclear how the government should help our citizens and companies overcome the barriers and take greater advantage of the NII's potential. The Clinton Administration report was the first comprehensive statement defining the government's role and principles in promoting the emerging NII. That report said: Private sector firms are already developing and deploying that infrastructure today. Nevertheless, there remain essential roles for government in this process. Carefully crafted govern- ment action will complement and enhance the efforts of the private sector and assure the growth of an information infra- structure available to all Americans at reasonable cost. The report identified the following nine principles and goals for government action: (1) Promote private sector investment. (2) Extend the universal service concept to ensure that informa- tion resources are available to all at affordable prices. (3) Act as a catalyst to promote technological innovation and new applications. (4) Promote seamless, interactive, user-driven operation of the NII. (5) Ensure information security and network reliability. (6) Improve management of the radio frequency spectrum. (7) Protect intellectual property rights. (8) Coordinate with other levels of government and with other nations. (9) Provide access to government information and improve government procurement. To ensure that government actions would meet the public's needs, the report asserted that the Administration will work in close partner- ship with business, labor, academia, the public, Congress, and state and local governments. That partnership has become a way of doing business for the dozens of Federal agencies that are involved in setting priorities, establishing policies, and implementing programs related to the NII. Building on that partnership, the Clinton Administration is taking a three-phase approach in its effort to help develop the NII and put it to full use: o Creating a vision, establishing a framework, and setting an initial agenda for action; o Gathering information, gaining more complete public participa- tion, and working towards consensus to assure that government actions match the goals, interests, and capabilities of our citizens, companies, and government agencies at all levels; and o Moving aggressively and efficiently to turn policies and principles into concrete actions that propel the NII forward to benefit our economy and our quality of life. The Agenda for Action report with its declaration of principles, goals, and actions was the first step. It set forth a vision for what the NII could be and how the government could help, rather than hinder, the private sector in turning that vision into reality. It also declared specific actions the government should and more import- antly, would take. With an accompanying Executive Order, the report established a frame- work for the government and private sector to interact and plan their activities: the intergovernmental Information Infrastructure Task Force (IITF) and the Advisory Council on the NII. Secretary of Com- merce Ronald H. Brown chairs the IITF, which includes high-level representatives of the Federal agencies that play a role in developing and applying information and telecommunications technologies, includ- ing independent agencies and commissions such as the Federal Commu- nications Commission and the Library of Congress. (A description of the IITF's committees and working groups and their activities can be found in Appendix B.) The Advisory Council on the NII broadly repre- sents the key constituencies impacted by the NII, including business, labor, academia, public interest groups, and state and local govern- ments. (A description of the Advisory Council on the NII and a list of members can be found in Appendix C.) The statement of principles, goals, and actions, and the task force and advisory council framework equipped the Clinton Administration to succeed in the second phase of the NII initiative: to gather informa- tion and assure that the government's efforts match the goals, interests, and capabilities of our citizens, companies, and government agencies at all levels. During the past year, the Clinton Administra- tion has conducted an extraordinary effort to collect information directly from the public, interest groups, and state and local govern- ments. Much of the work has been done through the structure of the IITF. The result has been a heightened public awareness of the NII, an ongoing dialogue with the private sector and public interest communi- ty, and improved communications and coordination within the Federal government. The stage is now set for the third phase of the Admin- istration's approach to the NII: moving aggressively and efficiently to take concrete actions that move the NII forward to benefit our economy and enhance our quality of life. This report summarizes the Clinton Administration's efforts to fulfill the principles and goals set forth last September. It documents the progress made to date in meeting the three-phase NII initiative. It also summarizes actions by Federal independent agencies that have been consistent with these goals. It is organized in a way that makes the Federal agencies in the public-private NII partnership fully accountable to the commitments made in the Agenda for Action. PRINCIPLES FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION The Administration has made significant progress in reaching the commitments it set forth in the Agenda for Action. A summary of the Administration's commitments and progress for each of the NII princi- ples for government action follows. (1) Promote Private Sector Investment As the private sector builds the NII, the Administration seeks to accelerate its construction and channel development to maximize its potential for improving our economic, social, and political well-be- ing. One of the most effective ways to promote private sector invest- ment in the NII is to foster competition in communications and infor- mation markets. To realize this goal, the Administration identified two specific commitments and has made the following progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Passage of communications reform legislation. o Administration's Progress: The Administration worked with Con- gress on historic communications reform legislation, which ad- vances the basic principles set forth by the Administration early this year. The legislation is now pending. Under the direction of Vice President Gore and Secretary Brown, the Administration has worked with Congress to reform our 60 year old communications law to help remove legal and regulatory impediments to competition while still safeguarding the public interest. The success of competition in the long-distance and phone equipment markets clearly identifies competition as a great way to spur innova- tion, increase the diversity and availability of products, and lower prices to consumers. That is why the Administration is strongly backing Congressional legislation that will allow cable and telephone companies into each others' businesses, enable local telephone compa- nies to compete for long-distance customers over time, and allow Bell companies to enter into manufacturing. The Council of Economic Advis- ers recently concluded that in the Administration's legislative proposals could add more than $100 billion to our Gross Domestic Product over the next ten years and add 500,000 jobs by the end of 1996. On June 28, 1994, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed two bills, constituting a telecommunications reform package. The House approved H.R. 3636, the National Communications Competition and Information Infrastructure Act of 1994 (the Markey-Fields bill), deal- ing with local competition issues, by a vote of 423 to 4. The House also approved H.R. 3626, the Antitrust and Communications Act of 1994 (the Brooks-Dingell bill), focusing on the Modified Final Judgment restrictions on certain Bell Operating Company activities, by a vote of 423 to 5. The Administration had strongly endorsed prompt passage of both bills. On August 11, S. 1822, the Communications Act of 1994 (the Hollings bill), which addresses local competition and long distance issues, was reported out of the Senate Commerce Committee, a measure also supported by the Administration. Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown, Commerce Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information Larry Irving, and Assistant Attor- ney General for Antitrust Anne Bingaman testified before Congressional committees on the telecommunications reform legislation. The IITF's Legislative Drafting Task Force provided a white paper and various amendments to Congressional members and staff throughout the process. Very shortly, Congress is expected to move ahead and participation of the Administration and pass a bill that will make better communications and information services at lower prices avail able to all Americans while ensuring a leadership role for the U.S. in the worldwide inform- ation revolution. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Revision of tax policies. o Administration's Progress: The Administration fought for and won important tax incentives for the NII. Understanding the importance of private sector investment, the Clinton Administration has worked diligently to create and sustain a business environment that fosters innovation and promotes forward-looking private investments in new products, equipment, and businesses. Last summer, the Administration obtained Congressional approval and signed into law tax incentives to spur private sector research and devel- opment as well as new business formation. The Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1993 includes a three-year extension of the re- search and development credit and a targeted capital gains reduction for investments in small businesses. These tax incentives accelerate the development and deployment of new NII products and services and bring the Administration's vision of an advanced NII closer to reali- ty. In 1992, private research and development expenditures related to the NII approached $5 billion. Other Administration Progress: o The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stimulated private in- vestment by leveraging Federal loans and grants. USDA's NII ef- forts have been targeted to benefit rural communities, busi- nesses, educators, health care providers, and residents. The development and implementation of the NII in rural communities is critical to their ability to survive, prosper, and compete. USDA's Rural Electrification Administration (REA) has been financing the construction of telecommunications infrastructure in rural America for over 45 years. Private investments in rural telecommunications are leveraged with REA loans. On aver- age, for every dollar borrowed from REA and invested in tele- communications plant, borrowers also invest $4.50 of their own funds. In FY 1994, REA loaned an estimated $225 million, and rural telecommunications companies invested an estimated $1.1 billion. REA's financing of advanced telecommunications net- works has also enabled rural telephone companies to provide new services, economic opportunities, and health and educational benefits to rural America. o The Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) awarded funds under the Technology Reinvestment Program, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, to encourage early deployment of private sector resources within the NII. o The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded the NFSNET program in Internet hardware, software and connectivity, promoting the emergence of a vigorous and highly-competitive private-sector networking industry. Total investment for this effort was $39.3 million in FY 1994. (2) Extend the Universal Service Concept With the advent of advanced information technologies that play such an important role in educating our children and training our workforce, the Administration is concerned that the traditional concept of uni- versal service may leave many Americans in lower income and rural communities bereft of needed access to communications and information networks and unprepared for today's job market. The Administration recognizes the importance of preserving and enhancing universal ser- vice to avoid creating a society of information haves and have nots. To realize this goal, the Administration identified a specific commitment and has made the following progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Develop a new concept of univer- sal service. o Administration's Progress: The Administration held public hearings across the country to receive input on whether and how to expand the concept of universal service and how to ensure open access. The Administration is working with NII stake- holders to fulfill the President's pledge to connect every school, clinic, hospital, and library to the NII by the year 2000. The Administration's commitment to redefining the concept of universal service poses challenging policy questions, such as: How fast must we have true universal service? Does universal mean 100 percent, 93 percent, 80 percent of all U.S. homes? What services should be universal? Does a service have to be in your home or in your hand to be accessible? Is it acceptable for those with resources, such as businesses or prosperous school systems, to pioneer new ideas, or should we set up the system so everyone moves ahead at a comparable speed? Who pays for universal service? These questions were the focus of public hearings on universal service held by the Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), as directed by the Agenda for Action. More than 1,100 persons attended and 230 witnesses testified at the hearings. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary David J. Barram, Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information Larry Irving, and Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Andrew F. Barrett presided as Hearing Board members at all five hearings. They were joined on the Hearing Board by state regulatory commissioners from each of the host states. NTIA's first two hearings, held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Decem- ber 16, 1993, and in South Central Los Angeles, California, on Febru- ary 16, 1994, focused on extending the universal service policy to reflect changes in telecommunications and information technology and markets. The third and fourth hearings, held in Durham, North Caroli- na, on April 27, 1994, and in Silicon Valley, California, on May 13, 1994, examined open access to the telecommunications network and related public policies that information providers need to meet customer demand in an evolving information marketplace. The fifth and final hearing, held in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 12, 1994, examined both universal service and open access issues to gain insight into applying these concepts into the next century. Teachers, students, doctors, librarians, senior citizens, disabled persons, labor representatives, consumer advocates, state and local government officials, and industry representatives testified at the hearings. Efforts were made throughout the hearings to address univer- sal service and open access issues as they apply to both rural and non-rural areas. At four of the hearings, over forty different organizations presented technology demonstrations. The demonstrations provided local communi- ties with the opportunity to experience first-hand the applications and technologies that will be part of the NII and to learn what dif- ferent communities are doing to develop an NII accessible to all Amer- icans. Summaries of each of the hearings are available on the on-line NTIA computer bulletin board and in a report entitled, The NII Field Hearings on Universal Service and Open Access: America Speaks Out (September 1994). To supplement the field hearings and public outreach efforts, NTIA issued a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on universal service and open access issues on September 14, 1994. In addition, this fall NTIA will hold a virtual conference on universal service issues to be conducted solely through the telecommunications network. Based on the knowledge gained from all of these activities, the Administration will develop recommendations regarding universal service and open access that fit the challenges and opportunities of the Information Age. The Administration will then work with Congress and the FCC in an effort to implement those recommendations, in accor- dance with the telecommunications reform legislation or other govern- ing provisions. (3) Promote Technical Innovation And New Applications The Administration has promoted NII-related research and technology development through a variety of initiatives, including the High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Program, grant prog- rams, and public-private partnerships. Government research and funding programs have focused on the development of applications of the NII in fields such as education, health care, provision of government servic- es, manufacturing, and community development. In addition, the Ad- ministration has reached out to gain public input on NII applications. A clear understanding of what existing and desired NII applications can offer Americans is essential, as the ultimate worth of the infra- structure will be gauged not by the complexity of its engineering and hardware, but by how people benefit from it. To realize this goal, the Administration identified three commitments and has made the following progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Continue the High Performance Computing and Communications Program. o Administration's Progress: The High Performance Computing and Communications Program has developed technologies to meet the demands of the NII and applications that foster the use of the NII. The High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Program, established by the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991, is a multi-agency Federal research and development program whose goals are to: extend U.S. technological leadership in HPCC; provide wide dissemination and application of the technologies to speed innovation and improve the national economic competitiveness, national security, education, health care, and the global environment; and provide key enabling technologies for the NII and demonstrate select NII applications. More than a dozen high performance computing research centers with more than 100 state-of-the-art supercomputers are in operation nation- wide. The HPCC Program also has established more than half a dozen gigabit testbeds that are conducting research in high capacity net- works. The capabilities being developed under the HPCC Program provide advanced technology to support the NII, including high performance computing systems, high-speed and high-bandwidth communications net- works, and computationally intensive applications software. The NII places additional demands on HPCC research and development the tech- nologies developed for HPCC researchers and educators must be scaled up to serve millions of NII users. The HPCC Program is developing new ways to gain access to the NII, in order to serve the larger number of NII users with their greater diversity of interests and skills. These access points include broad- cast, cellular, cable television, fiber optic, and satellite. The Pro- gram is conducting research and development in NII services, including technologies to make the NII easier to use and maintain, the capa- bility to store large volumes of data from which large numbers of users can get information, and tools and environments needed to build advanced user interfaces. The Program also is developing technologies to protect information security, enhance privacy and confidentiality, protect intellectual property rights, and authenticate information sources. Human/computer interfaces, improved database interfaces, image processing and computer vision, and virtual reality and tele- presence are among the technologies that the HPCC Program is develop- ing. An example of a successful HPCC application is Mosaic, an easy-to-use Internet access tool. It was developed with Federal support at the Na- tional Center for Supercomputer Applications in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Mosaic allows users to browse, retrieve, and display hun- dreds of thousand of multimedia objects (text, images, sounds, movies) in thousands of databases from the World-Wide Web (WWW), an informa- tion retrieval system on the Internet. A number of businesses are already using Mosaic and WWW to publish magazines, deliver goods and services, provide technical support to customers, and conduct other forms of business electronically. For example, Mosaic and WWW are part of the recently announced $12 million CommerceNet project, a public- and private- sector-backed initiative exploring ways to conduct commerce over the Internet and other networks. The HPCC Program also is prototyping solutions to applications prob- lems using HPCC technologies. Some of these digital libraries and electronic commerce, for example will become NII services as they mature. Other applications that the Program will demonstrate include crisis and emergency management, education and lifelong learning, energy management, environmental monitoring and waste minimization, health care, manufacturing processes and products, and public access to government information. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Implement the NII pilot projects program. o Administration's Progress: In October, the Administration will announce this year's recipients of the NII grant program (TIIAP) to support NII applications by public institutions. The Commerce Department's NTIA is implementing an important new pro- gram to promote local public access to the advantages of a modern, interactive information infrastructure and foster wide-spread applica- tion of NII technologies. For 1994, Congress appropriated $26 million for the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) to fund NII planning grants and demonstration pro- jects. Proposed by the Administration, TIIAP is a highly competitive, merit-based program that will provide matching grants to state and local governments, health care providers, school districts, libraries, universities, public safety services, and other non-profit entities to help them access new telecommunications technologies. This program will do more than merely provide connections to networks, communication systems, computers, and data bases. It will enable school-age children to reach the outside world from communities so isolated that the nearest paved road is more than ten to twenty miles away. TIIAP will enable individuals in rural America to gain access to routine medical diagnostics and simple care without having to travel for hours to interact with a primary care provider. In short, this program strives to ensure that as our nation enters the Information Age, no one gets left behind. In the program's first year, both the public and private sectors have showed overwhelming support for the TIIAP. NTIA received 1,088 appli- cations from the 50 states and the District of Columbia requesting a total of $556 million in assistance funds. Applications for telecom- munications projects were received from a broad cross-section of public and social service organizations including schools, libraries, rural health care providers, economic development agencies, and state and local governments. The Administration will announce the grant awards in October 1994. Al- though there is only limited funding available, NTIA has leveraged the TIIAP money by requiring matching funds and by supporting pilot projects that can serve as models for other organizations. Congress appropriated more than $60 million for TIIAP in 1995. Other Administration Progress: o USDA's Distance Learning and Medical Link Grant Program has been a resounding success and has begun to make a difference in rural communities. It not only brings educational opportunities and health care resources to many rural Americans but also helps stimulate rural economic development. In FY 1994, USDA through the REA made $10 million in grants to rural schools and health care providers to connect them to the NII. These grants were leveraged with an estimated $15 million of private invest- ments. o NSF connected more than 1,200 U.S. colleges and universities, and facilitated the connection of over a thousand high schools, libraries, medical schools, and public health facilities to the Internet through the NFSNET program. NSF also provided five-- year grants ranging from $800,000 to $1.5 million for computer and information science and engineering departments in minority institutions (usually African American or Hispanic) to provide network access, and aided research, education and outreach ac- tivities in science and engineering. Total investment in FY 1994 is $2.2 million for this program. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Inventory NII Applications Pro- jects. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has undertaken an extensive inventory of current and planned government ac- tivities. The NII Applications Inventory is an ongoing project to catalog numerous programs at different Federal agencies. Over 225 projects of 20 agencies are currently listed in the inventory, which is organized by the IITF's Committee on Applications and Technology. Projects are grouped into nine application categories: education, electronic com- merce, environment, government services, health, libraries, manu- facturing, telecommuting, and miscellaneous NII applications. Project descriptions, Federal agency contact points, levels of resource com- mitment, and key private sector collaborators are noted for each program in the inventory. The inventory has brought forth cooperation and discussion often for the first time between and among public and private entities. Individual companies have also drawn from the in- ventory to establish links with other private sector entities and Federal agencies having common NII interests. The inventory is accessible electronically via Gopher, World Wide Web, and FTP. The discussion generated by the application inventory at all levels typifies the coordination and collaboration that the Adminis- tration wishes to foster in the development of the NII. Other Administration Progress: o The IITF's Committee on Applications and Technology drafted What It Takes To Make It Happen: Key Issues for Applications of the National Information Infrastructure. This paper ad- dresses topics critical to the development of the NII. o The Committee on Applications and Technology also published two reports that help define a vision for the NII in numerous application areas. In Putting the Information Infrastructure to Work, released for public comment in May 1994, government ex- perts in the fields of education, electronic commerce, envi- ronmental monitoring, government services, health care, librar- ies, and manufacturing each authored papers on their areas of expertise. Each paper describes a national vision for the NII, summarizes current private and public sector activities, and provides short- and long-term objectives. The National Informa- tion Infrastructure: Reaching Society's Goals, released for public comment in September 1994, addresses NII applications which support public safety, transportation, arts and humani- ties, telecommuting, emergency management, electric power supply and demand, people with disabilities, and public empow- erment with environmental information. o USDA's Soil Conservation Service is developing digital spatial databases to better deal with environmental issues and con- cerns. Development of and access to digital spatial databases are an integral part of the National Spatial Data Infrastruc- ture (NSDI). These databases are a necessary component of geo- graphic information systems and are fundamental tools for accurate mapping and land use planning. Access to these data- bases by the public is crucial for efficient land use planning and dealing with ever increasing environmental concerns. o The Department of Education has awarded ten grants to projects that use electronic networks to link teachers to their col- leagues, to experts, and to other resources for professional development. Awardees include an American Indian Nation, a state university research foundation, two regional educational laboratories, and a private agency, as well as rural and urban schools and school districts. Project activities include the use of the NII for teacher mentoring, curriculum development, and teacher preparation. o The Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) awarded a contract to develop an integrated Medicare claims processing and claims management information system that uses open systems architectures and distributed processing. This system will improve HCFA's support of electronic data interchange, and facilitate better claims coordination between Medicare, Medicaid, and other payers. This initiative will enable HCFA to save a projected $200 million per year in claims processing costs, meet significant projected growth in Medicare claims volume, more quickly implement legis- latively-mandated benefits and payments changes, and cope with increasing fraud and abuse. It will provide service to a base of 60 million customers. o HHS' National Library of Medicine has awarded twelve grants to test health care applications including: computerized pre- scriptions; rural telemedicine; linking hospitals with primary care facilities; and linking computerized patient records with computerized medical images. (4) Promote Seamless, Interactive, User-driven Operation As a network of networks, the NII must allow information that travels over it to reach disparate networks easily and accurately. Interoper- ability and openness of the NII rely on a standards development process that is driven by the private sector and supported by appro- priate government policies. To realize this goal, the Administration identified two commitments and has made the following progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Review and clarify the standards process to speed NII applications. o Administration's Progress: The Administration focused on identifying standards needed for interoperability and openness of the NII; clarifying the government's role in supporting an industry driven process of standards development; and assisting organizations to understand and adopt new technologies. As the agency designated by the Agenda for Action to coordinate the review and clarification of the standards process, the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has undertaken two activities: a review of the requirements for an open systems network, and an ongoing assessment of the Federal government's role in the standards process. In October 1993, NIST established the Federal Internetworking Require- ments Panel to study and recommend policies on the use of networking standards by the Federal government. Based on feedback from industry, individual users, and international organizations on its draft report, the Panel submitted its final recommendations for public comment in May 1994. The Panel concluded that no single networking protocol suite meets the full range of government requirements for data internet- working. The Panel recommended that Federal government agencies select standards based on their interoperability needs, existing infrastruc- ture, costs, marketplace products, and the degree to which the proto- col has been adopted as a standard. As follow-up, NIST has proposed changes to the Federal Information Processing Standard that will remove the requirement specifying use of the Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile (GOSIP) protocols when agencies acquire net- working and communication products. NIST currently is soliciting public comments on these proposed changes and will issue a final version in early 1995. To examine broader issues related to the Federal government's role in the standards process, NIST helped to organize a workshop on standards development and the information infrastructure in June 1994. Co-spon- sored by the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, the workshop provided a forum for experts in information policy, intellectual property, economics of standards and networks, and consortia standards. Participants focused on the role of government in the standards process and identified options to further the develop- ment of needed standards for the NII. The IITF's Committee on Applications and Technologies participated in an initial meeting in July 1994 with American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to address issues directly related to the standards needed for the emerging NII. As the national approving body for the U.S. voluntary standards system, ANSI will play a critical role in generating industry support for NII-related standards development. This corroboration between the Administration and ANSI's Information Infrastructure Standards Panel will continue with a plenary meeting in September 1994, where the objective is to develop an action plan for developing standards for the NII which will address the issues associ- ated with proposed and/or required architectures, user and content provider requirements, cross-industry cooperation and optimal roles for the Federal Government. Other Administration Progress: o The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revised Circular A-119 in October 1993 to encourage agencies to use domestic and international voluntary standards in regulatory and procurement activities. A-119 provides the basis for partnerships with NIST and other agencies to reduce regulatory burden and promote interoperability of the NII. Thus, agencies now have greater flexibility in choosing standards. o USDA's REA is finalizing guidelines that will support minimum standards for the NII. REA's guidelines for the development of state-wide telecommunications modernization plans will result in all state plans having the same minimum standard service re- quirements for the transmission of video images and high speed data. o The Department of Energy provided a networking interoperability testbed for electronic commerce, health, and finance through the Open Systems Laboratory. o The Technology Policy Working Group of the IITF Committee on Applications and Technology is addressing cross-cutting issues related to interoperability and scalability of new telecommuni- cations and information services. The Group is drafting a re- port entitled, Open Systems Environment Framework for NII Services and Standards, to be released in the fall of 1994. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Review and reform government regulations that impede development of interactive services and applications. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has worked with Congress on telecommunications reform legislation that will promote the development of interactive services and appli- cations. The Administration's efforts to review and reform government regula- tions that impede development of interactive services and applications have been part of its telecommunications reform legislative proposals. The Administration is supporting Congressional provisions that would remove existing regulatory restrictions no longer needed due to increased or anticipated competition. (5) Ensure Information Security And Network Reliability The development of the NII demands that information that travels over it is secure. As more information is generated and stored electroni- cally, and as more individuals have the capability to access it, the protection of the privacy of information about ourselves is increas- ingly important. In addition, commercial and government operations today depend on the reliability and integrity of information and information systems. To realize these goals, the Administration identified three commitments and has made the following progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Review privacy concerns of the NII. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has proposed revisions to the 1973 Code of Fair Information Practices. The 1973 Code of Fair Information Practices established principles for using automated personal data systems. New information technolo- gies and services compel an update of these principles. The IITF's Privacy Working Group held two public hearings on Privacy and the NII in January 1994, one in Sacramento, California, and the other in Washington, D.C. A broad cross-section of NII stakeholders addressed privacy issues arising from the collection, use, and storage of records in an electronic environment. The Privacy Working Group then issued for public comment proposed revisions to the 1973 Code of Fair Information Practices, entitled Principles for Providing and Using Personal Information. These revisions will form the basis for actions, policies, and legislation to protect the privacy of individuals while allowing for the reasonable flow of information in the Information Age. The Principles will apply to government as well as the private sector and will be independent of technology. The Administration has received substantial public comment. The following Principles are among those suggested by the Privacy Working Group: o Information collectors should tell an individual why they are collecting the information, what it is expected to be used for, what steps will be taken to protect its confidentiality and in- tegrity, the consequences of providing or withholding infor- mation, and any rights of redress. o Information users should assess the impact on privacy of current or planned activities before obtaining or using person- al information; obtain and keep only information that could reasonably be expected to support current or planned activi- ties; and assure that information is accurate, timely, com- plete, and relevant. o Information users should use appropriate managerial and techni- cal controls to protect the confidentiality and integrity of personal information. o Information users should educate themselves, their employees, and the public about how personal information is obtained, sent, stored, and protected, and how these activities affect others. o Individuals should obtain information about planned primary and secondary uses of the information and any efforts to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the information. o Individuals should be given means to obtain their information, provided an opportunity to correct inaccurate information that could harm them, and have a means of redress if harmed by an improper use of their information. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Review encryption technology and policy. o Administration's Progress: The Administration reviewed encryp- tion technology and policies, took specific actions, and is continuing to work with industry to address NII users' secu- rity, national security, and law enforcement needs. In February 1994, the White House established the Working Group on Encryption and Telecommunications, which includes high-level Federal agency representation. Through the IITF's Security Issues Forum, the group has been working with industry and public-interest groups to explore the possibility of developing new encryption technologies and to review and refine Administration policies regarding encryption. Specific actions included the announcement in February 1994 of the voluntary Escrowed Encryption Standard, which specifies a voluntary technology that government agencies or the private sector can use to provide strong encryption protection for sensitive but unclassified voice, fax, and data communications over telephone lines. This stan- dard addresses the needs of the private sector for top-notch communi- cations security while also meeting the needs of law enforcement to conduct lawfully authorized electronic surveillance. The Commerce Department's NIST also held two workshops with industry and other government agencies to examine improvements and alternatives to key escrow encryption technology. In addition, the State Department proposed streamlined export licens- ing procedures for encryption products in order to help American companies sell their products overseas. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Work with industry to increase network reliability. o Administration's Progress: The Administration is working with industry to protect users from catastrophic failure of the net- work as well as to develop emergency responses. The IITF's Reliability and Vulnerability Working Group has focused its efforts on ensuring that the NII will provide a high quality of service to meet essential, public, private, and commercial needs, as well as national security and emergency preparedness requirements. To that end, the working group has identified industry groups that pro- vide appropriate mechanisms for forging consensus among government and industry regarding the implementation and operation of the NII. The working group has been in contact with two such groups: the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) and the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). Working group members were briefed on the overall mission of ATIS, as well as the activities of ATIS's Network Reliability Steering Commit- tee (NRSC), including the NRSC's ongoing procedures for monitoring network reliability and the current state of the networks. The working group's coordination with NSTAC has been through NSTAC's NII Task Force. One result of the collaboration between the two groups has been the development of a common framework for national security and emergency preparedness requirements across industry. Other Administration Progress: o In February 1994, the IITF's Information Policy Committee sponsored a meeting on Security and the NII, which addressed the legal framework, user rights and responsibilities, and technical measures required to develop and maintain security on the NII. o The cross-cutting NII Security Issues Forum was formed to coordinate the IITF's security efforts, defined as confidenti- ality, integrity, and availability. o In May 1994, the Commerce Department's NIST announced the approval of a Digital Signature Standard (DSS), which will allow Federal agencies, businesses, and private individuals to verify the integrity of electronic data, such as files or electronic mail messages, and the identity of the signer. The DSS provides a mathematical process for generating and veri- fying electronic signatures in applications requiring a digital rather than written signature. It applies to all Federal departments, agencies, and their contractors for the protection of unclassified information when digital signatures are required. Numerous NII applications, particularly electronic commerce and business-quality messaging (such as the Defense Message System endorsed by the OMB chartered, interagency E-Mail Task Force), will benefit from digital signature technology. o The Department of Energy is developing and deploying security techniques in combination with the Electronic Data Interchange and other business-oriented solutions in cooperation with the banking industry and the Department of Treasury. o The Department of Defense (DOD) in conjunction with the Nation- al Security Agency have developed the MOSAIC Security Program, a program designed to protect unclassified but sensitive information. DOD is working with both DOD and civil agencies for evaluation and fielding of these devices to provide au- thentication, integrity, and confidentiality. (6) Improve Management Of The Radio Frequency Spectrum One goal of the NII is the ability to access information resources at any time, from anywhere. Consumers have shown that they value elec- tronic products that they can carry with them. To provide this capa- bility, wireless links will be an essential element of the NII. Wire- less services utilize an important natural resource the radio frequen- cy spectrum and an adequate amount of spectrum must be allocated to these services. To realize this goal, the Administration identified two commitments and has made the following progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Streamline allocation and use of spectrum. o Administration's Progress: The Administration is freeing up radio spectrum for use in new wireless communications services and has begun implementation of the NTIA Spectrum Planning Program. The Administration is promoting new wireless technologies, products, and services for the NII by transferring at least 200 megahertz of spectrum allocated for Federal government uses to non-Federal users. Congress approved this action as part of the Omnibus Budget and Rec- onciliation Act of 1993. The Commerce Department's NTIA completed a preliminary report identifying candidate frequency bands and received comments on the report from both the public and the FCC. NTIA will release a final report in February 1995. Proper planning of the spectrum allocations will help assure adequate spectrum for the ongoing development of NII wireless services. NTIA has an active program in strategic spectrum planning and is in the fi- nal stages of defining a ten year projection of spectrum requirements for Federal needs. NTIA then will determine the availability of spec- trum to satisfy these requirements. Congress has directed that NTIA meet biannually with the FCC to discuss spectrum planning and other key radio issues. An important issue for success of wireless services in the NII is efficient use of the spectrum. NTIA and the Federal agencies, realiz- ing the growth in wireless needs for Federal users, have decided on a plan for a phased transition of halving the frequency channel widths for Federal government land mobile equipments. Over time, this will effectively double the spectrum efficiency of Federal land mobile operations. State and local law enforcement agencies are working with the Federal government in this effort. The Department of Defense established the Defense Wireless Users Group to develop policy for non-tactical wireless systems. To reduce spec- trum usage in congested areas, the Services are combining their Land Mobile Radio (LMR) requirements and installing trunking systems. Fu- ture plans call for integrating all Defense agencies into a common wide-area LMR system. As spectrum is a finite resource, methods and criteria are being developed to share spectrum among Federal government and industry users. An important aspect to the success of this effort is the development of industry receiver standards. The FCC currently regu- lates transmitters, but not commercial receivers. Such standards would facilitate sharing and assist in meeting the needs of all spec- trum users. The Federal agencies have formed the Federal Wireless Policy Committee (FWPC) to advise NTIA on policy matters. Already, the FWPC has ap- proved, and through NTIA, has sent to the FCC and various wireless standards groups an identification of current and future functional requirements for Federal wireless services. In addition, the Federal Wireless Users Forum co-sponsored by NSC and NIST held a workshop session defining the possible role of wireless technologies in the NII. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Promote market principles in spectrum distribution. o Administration's Progress: The Administration proposed and Con- gress approved competitive bidding for spectrum distribution. Congress passed legislation authorizing the FCC to use competi- tive bidding, and the FCC successfully used this authority to auction spectrum for narrowband personal communications servic- es and interactive video data services, generating more than $800 million for the U.S. Treasury. As proposed by the Administration, the Omnibus Budget and Reconcilia- tion Act of 1993 provided the authority for the FCC to distribute spectrum via a competitive bidding process. The FCC has successfully used this authority to auction spectrum for personal communications services (PCS). Industry experts believe that the PCS industry, a new family of wireless services, could create as many as 300,000 jobs in the next 10-15 years. The Administration will continue to encourage the FCC to use competitive bidding as the mechanism to distribute newly available spectrum. (7) Protect Intellectual Property Rights The NII has great potential to increase access to information and entertainment resources that will be delivered quickly and economical- ly anywhere in the country. However, the potential of the NII will not be realized if the content is not protected effectively. Our intel- lectual property regime must (1) recognize the legitimate rights and commercial expectations of persons and entities whose works are used in the NII environment, whether at their insistence or without their permission, and (2) ensure that users have access to the broadest feasible variety of works on terms and conditions that, in the lan- guage of the Constitution, promote the progress of science and the useful arts. Further, there must be adequate and effective protection for enter- tainment and information products delivered via the Global Information Infrastructure (GII). An appropriate intellectual property rights re- gime to protect the content transmitted over the GII is essential if the full benefits of the GII are to be enjoyed. For these reasons, the Administration identified two commitments, on which it has made the following progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Examine the adequacy of copyright laws. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has recommended ways that existing copyright, patent, trademark, and trade secret laws should be amended to protect intellectual property that travels over information networks. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Explore ways to identify and reimburse copyright owners. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has recommended ways to identify and reimburse copyright owners. The IITF's Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights has fulfilled these commitments by issuing a draft of its report, Intellectual Property and the National Information Infrastructure, following public hearings and public comment on the intellectual property implications of the NII. The Working Group issued the draft report to solicit addi- tional public comment prior to issuing a final report. The draft provides an exhaustive analysis of existing copyright law and its application in the NII environment, and makes recommendations for modest changes in the law to provide the necessary protection of rights in copyrighted works and the appropriate limitations on those rights. The draft also considers patent, trademark, and trade secret law issues in the NII environment. The Intellectual Property Working Group has planned three additional public hearings on the draft report to receive additional input from owners and users of intellectual property. Hearings will be held on September 14, 1994 in Chicago, September 16 in Los Angeles and Sep- tember 22 and 23 in Washington, D.C. The IITF is continuing to evaluate how the emergence of integrated information technology will change how people and businesses deal in information and entertainment products and services, and how copy- righted works are created, reproduced, distributed, displayed, performed, adapted, licensed, used, and sold. The IITF also is study- ing the application of traditional concepts of fair use in an on-line, digital environment. The IITF continues to study how the changes needed to adapt the domestic intellectual property laws can be incor- porated into existing or anticipated international intellectual property treaties. Future plans of the Intellectual Property Working Group include sponsoring a conference to bring together copyright owner and user in- terests to develop voluntary guidelines for fair uses of copyrighted works by and in public libraries and educational institutions; conven- ing a conference on intellectual property education to develop curric- ula that may be used in schools and libraries to teach the principles of intellectual property law to students and the general public; and monitoring developments in the World Intellectual Property Organiza- tion concerning changes to international intellectual property trea- ties to ensure that developments take into consideration the needs for protection of intellectual property in the GII environment. (8) Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government And Other Bodies Domestic: Many of the Administration's NII efforts are being mirrored by the states and local governments. Improved coordination among different levels of government will bring greater benefits to NII users. The Ad- ministration identified the following commitment and has made the fol- lowing progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Seek ways to improve coordination with state and local officials. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has worked exten- sively with state and local officials to realize NII goals. On November 19, 1993, the Commerce Department's NTIA co-sponsored with the Annenberg Washington Program, a planning conference for local, state, and Federal communications policymakers. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary Larry Irving opened the day-long conference by stressing the important role that state and local governments play in ensuring that every American has access to basic communications services. The conference panels focused on infrastructure issues and universal service. Over ninety Federal, state and local regulators, and interested members of the public participated in the conference. The event achieved its goal of opening a dialogue between the Adminis- tration and state and local governments. NTIA will host a follow-up conference in the winter. The Department of Education hosted a conference on educational tech- nology, entitled Connecting Education to the Information Superhigh- way, May 8-10, 1994. The conference brought teams of teachers and administrators from almost every state together with private sector representatives (hardware and network service providers), and repre- sentatives from more than a dozen Federal agencies. The Department of Education also is providing grants to the states to establish technol- ogy planning panels to improve education as part of Goals 2000. HHS' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is actively involved with over thirty state projects in pursuing electronic benefits transfer (EBT) technology. Eight states have implemented EBT, serving 350,000 cases annually. Maryland has implemented EBT state- wide; the other states have implemented EBT in one or more counties. Four states are implementing EBT, but are not operational. Twenty states are planning for EBT and eight are actively investigating the requirements for such a program. ACF continues to explore ways in which EBT can be offered as an efficient and affordable alternative for service delivery in its programs. HHS' Public Health Service made significant progress on the Hospital Cost and Utilization Project-3, which will create databases to permit states to compare their experience with the use and cost of hospital care with other states. This project has strong support from the states, and will be available for planning research in 1996. HUD has connected hundreds of public housing authorities to the HUD Bulletin Board System, which allows the housing authorities to receive HUD Headquarters notices, and to engage in e-mail dialogue with HUD Field Offices. More than 350 housing authorities were connected in the first sixty days of operation beginning in April 1994. The Departments of Justice and Treasury have begun working on estab- lishing a wireless telecommunications network that will enable Feder- al, state, and local law enforcement officials to contact agents in the field and monitor their whereabouts or condition. On April 20, 1994, Secretary of Treasury Lloyd Bentsen and Attorney General Janet Reno signed an agreement establishing the Federal Law Enforcement Wireless Users Group. This group will develop this network. The National Communications System, together with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) are conducting training sessions with state and local governments for disaster and emergency preparedness telecommunications contingencies. International: When the Administration issued the Agenda for Action, it recognized that the NII is developing in the context of evolving global networks. The international dimension of telecommunications capabilities and customer demand requires constructive dialogue and coordination between the United States and other governments, many of which are pursuing similar national information infrastructure initiatives. The IITF established an International Telecommunications Working Group to develop recommendations regarding the key policy issues related to the interconnection of the U.S. NII with foreign networks. Initially, the Working Group focused on issues broadly related to market access, the development of international standards to ensure interoperability, and U.S. and foreign policies regarding the international delivery of telecommunications services. In March, 1994, Vice President Gore advanced the concept of a Global Information Infrastructure (GII) in a speech to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) World Telecommunication Development Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vice President Gore outlined an action plan for the GII based on the same five fundamental principles that underlay the Administration's domestic legislative agenda: o encourage private investment o promote competition o create a flexible regulatory framework o provide open access to the network o ensure universal service These principles were incorporated in the Buenos Aires Declaration at the conclusion of the Conference. Vice President Gore's proposal for the creation of a Global Digital Library, which would involve the interconnection of schools and libraries in every country with the Internet, also was incorporated into the Buenos Aires Action Plan. The Action Plan reflects what the ITU development sector and its members will undertake over the next four years. Secretary Brown has already taken concrete steps to developing the GII. At the end of June, Secretary Brown led a trade mission to Latin America. The Secretary signed an MOU with the Chilean government, establishing cooperative joint ventures in the telecommunications and information fields. The MOU with Chile will foster telecommunications- related trade between our two countries. It will also encourage the development of Internet and other electronic networks among libraries, schools, hospitals, and health clinics in the United States and Chile. In July 1994 in Naples, Italy, the Heads of State of the seven major industrial nations and the President of the European Commission agreed to President Clinton's proposal to hold a Ministerial meeting in Brus- sels early next year to address GII issues. The meeting will focus on how the G7 can work together to promote innovation and the spread of new technologies through the development of an open, competitive, and integrated worldwide information infrastructure. The GII will be composed of local, national, and regional networks. As a network of networks, the GII will facilitate the global sharing of information, interconnection, and communication creating a global information marketplace. As a cooperative effort among countries, the GII will afford economic and social benefits to all participants, ranging from job creation, economic growth, and infrastructure im- provements, to advanced services at lower prices for consumers. The Administration believes that it is in the interest of all nations. The more all countries link their networks and develop their informa- tion infrastructure, the more we all will reap in terms of economic, educational, health care, and environmental benefits. According to recent reports, the current $33 billion market for telecommunications outside the United States is projected to nearly double to $64 billion by 1998. The GII will have a tremendous impact on global productivity. On July 27-28, 1994, the IITF's International Telecommunications Working Group held a public hearing on the international aspects of the NII in the context of an emerging Global Information Infrastruc- ture. The hearing explored issues such as access to and interoper- ability of networks, standards, investment, and evolving international regulations. The Working Group is using testimony from the hearing to develop policy recommendations for the Administration as it advances the goals and objectives of the GII. Specifically, the Administration plans to issue a GII: Agenda for Cooperation in the fall of 1994. Concurrently, the Administration is considering options for pursuing further international dialogue and cooperation on the GII in both bilateral and multilateral venues. Advancing the GII concept provides sharper focus for the policy objectives of opening up overseas mar- kets, eliminating barriers caused by incompatible standards, and ex- amining international and U.S. regulations. To realize these goals, the Administration identified three commitments and has made the following progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Open up overseas markets. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has opened over- seas markets as a result of bilateral policy discussions, trade missions, multilateral conferences, and the North American Free Trade Agreement. Our ability to compete in the international marketplace is central to achieving our NII and GII goals and meeting our economic objectives - improving the U.S. standard of living and enhancing economic opportu- nity for all Americans. Given the speed with which the world is changing, we need to keep track of not only our traditional industrial competitors but also of an up-and-coming group of emerging nations that are becoming powerful players in the world economy in many sectors. Conservative estimates suggest that some 60 percent of the growth in world trade (excluding trade within the European Union) will be with developing countries over the next two decades. Of this growth, most will be in ten mar- kets: the Chinese Economic Area (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), Mexico, South Korea, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina, India, South Africa, Turkey, and Poland. In fact, by the year 2010, these emerging markets are likely to double their share of world GDP. Yet many of these markets have minimal information infrastructures and consequently will generate very high demand for the know-how, technol- ogy, and investment that will link their citizens together and their nations more closely to the rest of the world. For example, China, the largest of the ten economies, has less than one phone line for every hundred people. In our own hemisphere, Argentina has under twelve lines per one hundred people and Brazil has under seven. Information markets will be growing as well in South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, Poland, India and South Africa, the other emerging markets. U.S. export potential is obvious. Other information sectors face enormous export opportunities as well. For example, employment in the U.S. software industry has been in- creasing steadily since 1988, reflecting the fact that the global market for packaged software grew by 25 percent in just the past two years. Here, the United States is, by far, the world's market leader. We have made tremendous progress in the first year and a half of the Clinton Administration in opening world markets for our goods and services. o The North American Free Trade Agreement has begun to take eco- nomic hold. U.S. exports to Mexico shot up 16 percent in the first quarter of this year, reversing a weak performance last year. Mexico and Canada alone accounted for over half the growth of global U.S. exports in the first quarter of 1994. o An Uruguay Round agreement was finally reached with other mem- bers of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and is be- fore Congress. The agreement will provide substantial benefits to Americans for many years to come. Indeed, export growth has been a major factor in U.S. job growth since 1986. o Last September, President Clinton unveiled the National Export Strategy, the Administration's comprehensive plan to dramati- cally upgrade and coordinate U.S. Government export promotion and trade finance programs. This aggressive new export strategy was developed by the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), an interagency task force of 19 Federal agencies chaired by Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown. The plan recommends a streamlining of programs to boost U.S. exports a more effective approach that will match the efforts of our major competitors. Already, the TPCC's implementation of this plan has yielded reduced export obstacles, aggressive govern- ment advocacy, improved export financing, reduced export obsta- cles, and upgraded service at our domestic and overseas offic- es. These coordinated efforts are helping win important over- seas sales and enhance the international competitiveness of American exporters. Building upon these substantial accomplish- ments, ambitious new interagency initiatives are being devel- oped by the TPCC for the next year. Of special note is the President's and Secretary Brown's advocacy on behalf of U.S. businesses in numerous foreign government procurements, including an estimated $4 billion Saudi Arabia contract to AT&T for telecommunications network modernization. Also, the Department of Com- merce, the Export-Import Bank, and the Small Business Administration have opened the first of four Export Assistance Centers in Baltimore, Miami, Chicago, and Long Beach with eleven additional centers planned as part of a nationwide network that will provide the support that smaller businesses need to compete effectively in export markets. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Eliminate barriers caused by in- compatible standards. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has participated in international meetings in an effort to promote compatible standards. The Federal government has participated in a variety of efforts to reduce barriers to interoperability and to the adoption of new tech- nologies that are caused by incompatible technical standards. Federal agency progress includes: o Participation in the International Telecommunication Union fo- rum, including the World Radio Conference (WRC) and Radio Assembly and the Radiocommunication Sector (RS) and Telecom- munications Sector (TS) Study Groups. The RS and TS each approved many recommendations of the study groups that provide for a worldwide integrated system of networks to carry tele- phone, data, telex, and television signals. Undersea cables, satellites, microwave relay, and mobile radio systems are integral components of such networks. For example, initial rec- ommendations have been approved for future public land mobile telecommunications systems. In addition, an ad hoc group of experts completed work intended to simplify the radio regu- latory regime and improve the process for coordinating radio frequencies. o Participation in meetings of Commission on Inter-American Tele- communications (CITEL). CITEL is focusing on regional preparations for upcoming ITU conferences, on harmonization of the use of the frequency spectrum in the Americas, and on per- sonal communications systems (PCS). o Participation in discussions with the Conference of European Postal & Telecommunication Administration (CEPT), focusing on U.S. regulatory plans for PCS and federal spectrum planning ef- forts. o Support for Australia's efforts to develop an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Telecommunications Information Sharing Project, designed to familiarize developing APEC econo- mies with and encourage the adoption of ITU recommendations. The network will put APEC officials in contact with experts on particular standards. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Examine international and U.S. trade regulations. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has examined the use of both international and domestic trade regulations to promote NII and GII objectives. Through the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), the annual telecommunications trade agreements review, and the ITU Council, the Administration has focused on the use of international and U.S. trade regulations to promote the NII and the GII. In December 1994, more than 112 nations concluded a General Agreement on Trade in Services. For the first time, nations agreed to a set of trading rules for enhanced telecommunications and information servic- es. These rules must still be adopted by the U.S. Congress before their implementation. In addition, in July 1994, several nations began negotiations to improve competitive access to basic telecommunications and information services. These negotiations will conclude in April 1996. Using the Trade Act, the Federal government resolved a violation of a cellular telephony agreement with Japan in March 1994. This resolution allowed U.S. cellular telephone systems comparable market access with Japanese systems. In addition, following U.S.-Canadian bilateral discussions, Canada terminated the government-sanctioned supplier relationship between Bell Canada and Northern Telecom, thereby allow- ing U.S. firms to compete fairly in the Canadian telecommunications equipment market. During the May 1994 meeting of the ITU, the U.S. delegation played a key role in modifying the strategic plan of the ITU to safeguard the interests of the U.S. telecommunications companies. As originally written, the plan would have created a new international telecommuni- cations regulatory body for ITU members, which would have slowed de- velopment of the GII. For example, such a regulatory body might have slowed down deployment of low earth orbiting satellites to enable competing nations to reach a technological par with the United States. Other Administration Progress: o The International Telecommunications Working Group also began reviews of: 1) infrastructure developments in most major and emerging industrial economies; and 2) the available means of bilateral and multilateral financial assistance as a tool to encourage domestic development of information infrastructure. The latter review will also determine each relevant Federal agency's policies towards telecommunications development, and will provide a comprehensive overview of the agency's telecom- munications development activities. o NASA initiated Spacebridge to Moscow, a telemedicine demons- tration project for the purpose of conducting medical con- sultations with the Russian medical community. Spacebridge links two diverse medical cultures via a double hop satellite network. Fourteen clinical sessions focusing on a variety of medical disciplines were conducted during the year. Two of the clinical sessions were devoted to emergency medical care in the aftermath of the political turmoil that occurred in Moscow in October 1993. o USDA's REA, through the FCC and the Agency for International Development, provided seminars on telecommunications policy and financing to several foreign governments India, Pakistan, Po- land, and Hungary. o DOC's NOAA is coordinating the Global Observation Information Network (GOIN) with Japan's Science and Technology Agency. GOIN will provide for connectivity and interoperability among net- works containing global observation data in each country. (9) Provide Access To Government Information And Improve Government Procurement The Clinton Administration's commitment to making government more open and responsive to citizens has led to a number of significant achievements in providing access to government information. Today, there is more public information available to more people at lower cost than ever before, with tools that make this information easier to find and to use. And the government is becoming a smarter buyer of information technologies so it can take advantage of the efficiencies of investment in computing and communications systems. The Administra- tion identified five commitments and has made the following progress: o Agenda for Action Commitment: Improving the accessibility of government information. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has improved the public's access to government information by making information available electronically and providing tools to make navigating over networks easier. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Upgrade the infrastructure for the delivery of government information. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has upgraded infrastructure and trained personnel for the electronic dis- semination of information. The National Performance Review (NPR) Report and its accompanying report on Reengineering Through Information Technology (NPR IT), rec- ommended the establishment of a Government Information Technology Services (GITS) Working Group. That group, established formally under the IITF's Committee on Applications and Technology, has been empow- ered to facilitate the implementation of the NPR IT report and act as a focal point for improvements in the way government uses information technology and the NII to deliver information and services to its customers. To date, GITS has coordinated activities across the govern- ment to implement each of the recommendations in the NPR IT report. Champions have been identified, offices of primary responsibility have been established, and goals, action plans and critical success factors have been developed and approved for each NPR recommendation. GITS has also provided strong leadership in promoting the use of information technology throughout the federal government. In May 1994, GITS released a draft for public comment, A Vision for Government Information Technology Services and the NII, a two part report which summarizes the status of the use of information technol- ogy in the government from the perspective of the customer as learned through the NPR. The report presents a vision of where government ser- vices and the use of information should be in the future, describes how the working group is structured and positioned to meet its stated goals, and outlines specific actions that have been put in place to meet each NPR recommendation. The report's 13 major recommendations and 47 action items are being aggressively pursued, coordinated, and implemented under GITS. Specific accomplishments include: o Establishment of an interagency Electronic Benefits Task Force (EBT) to develop nationwide integrated electronics benefit transfer, and the initiation of a twelve state pilot project to test EBT concepts; o Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by Secretary Bentson and Attorney General Reno establishing the Federal Law Enforcement Users Group to develop a nationwide wireless tele- communications network for use by Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials; o Initiation of a twelve state demonstration project to promote intergovernmental tax filing, reporting and payments, and the establishment of a Harmonized Wage Code Working Group; o Creation of an interagency Customer Service Improvement Team (CSIT) and the implementation and expansion of a government services kiosk prototype in cooperation with the state of Colorado; o Established close relations with state and local government associations and worked closely with private sector groups to develop partnerships to plan and implement the advance the NPR recommendations and the use of the NII to provide better government information and services. In particular, GITS has been collaborating with all levels of Federal, State, and local government and private industry on Interchange 94 a symposium to establish and promote working partnerships to deliver new and/or improved service to citizens through prototypes of working intergovernmental open systems technologies. The Commerce Department's FedWorld provides information to Americans on everything from Federal jobs to President Clinton's weekly radio addresses to setting up a small business. FedWorld, operated by the National Technical Information Service, connects users to more than 135 government bulletin boards. As of August 1994, there were more than 90,000 registered users, who made approximately 3,000 contacts daily. Every public document delivered to the White House press corps is pub- lished electronically. The Clinton Administration has electronically published more than 3,000 original Federal documents and distributed more than 300,000 copies of its greatest hits, including the Nation- al Performance Review's report on Reinventing Government and the NII: Agenda for Action. Mosaic is one of the many tools that the government has helped develop to improve access to information. Mosaic provides an easy-to-use interface for navigating the Internet, providing Americans with quicker, easier access to on-line information. In the first year that Mosaic has been available for personal computers, more than one mil- lion copies have been downloaded. Commercial versions of Mosaic are now being licensed and are starting to appear in software products. Mosaic and a service on the Internet called the World Wide Web make it possible to incorporate photos, images, sounds, and video into docu- ments. Together they have unleashed an explosion of new information services in both the private and public sectors. Services that take advantage of these new capacities were pioneered in 1993 by the government's science agencies such as NIST, the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA. In 1994, almost every Cabinet-level government agency has services that are accessible via Mosaic and the World Wide Web, making government information and the agencies themselves more open to the public than ever before. For example, NOAA is providing a variety of real time and historical environmental data and information to the world via 36 information servers on the Internet. NOAA implemented 20 Mosaic servers on its major databases, providing simple, highly graphical, multimedia access to a broad range of geographic, atmospheric, and oceanographic infor- mation. The Department of Education's AskERIC project is a new on-line infor- mation service available free of charge to teachers, parents and students. AskERIC provides its users with customized information on a vast array of educational topics, delivered via the Internet and commercial services such as America On-line. Using state-of-the-art technology, AskERIC also provides a personal touch through trained specialists available to assist educators and parents in their search for information. AskERIC now answers 25,000 queries a month. More government information is available on CD-ROM than ever before. As an example of how this makes government information more accessible to more people, a major database of offshore seismic data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey had been maintained on over 600 magnetic tapes, which cost $80,000 for the complete set. Now they are on 39 CD-ROMS and cost $475, putting them within reach of every university geology department in the country. In addition, the number of CD-ROMs distributed to Federal Depository Libraries has doubled since 1992. Some popular new CD-ROM products have been the Federal budget from OMB, the Human Genome database from the National Institute of Health, and the U.S. Code disc from the Congress, which cost $1,800 in book form but just $30 as a CD-ROM. The Department of Energy is making the National Education Super- computer available for on-line use by students in K-12 and at selected community colleges, with the vast majority of schools dialing in through modems. It is also creating an information system that allows 26,000 participant companies in the textile industry to access infor- mation about trends in retail sales and/or supplier and customer demand to help them maintain proper inventories. The Department of Health and Human Services' National Library of Medicine has developed GRATEFUL MED software to provide easy, inexpen- sive access to the Library's vast collection of medical and health science information. Available databases include information on AIDS, cancer, bioethics, drugs, and poisons. GRATEFUL MED also sends out clinical alerts that provide important, lifesaving information to clinical medical practitioners immediately. The Department of Health and Human Services also is developing GrantsNet, an on-line resource for grants professionals and the public. It will provide easy Internet access to information about available grants. The Smithsonian Institution began experimenting with the electronic distribution of some of its photographs last summer. It now offers more than 300 photographs over the Internet and CompuServe. More than 70,000 images, or about 300 a day, have been distributed. USDA's Food and Nutrition Service is initiating an electronic benefits transfer project designed to automate the reporting requirements of its Food Stamp and Special Nutrition Program. By using the NII, State agency users will be available to enter data directly into FNS infor- mation systems rather than completing and mailing forms. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has encouraged business partners such as mortgage companies to use electronic data interchange for increased productivity and faster processing of finan- cial transactions. The HUD Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Program that facilitates computer-to-computer exchange of business documents between HUD and its business partners (mortgage lenders) became opera- tional on July 8, 1994. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has completed pilot testing with two mortgage lender/servicers and HUD is now developing a national implementation schedule for processing single family mortgage insurance claims as the premier EDI program initiative. Other FHA business transactions that will soon follow are: Mortgage Loan Default Reporting, Mortgage Record Changes or Termina- tions, and Mortgage Insurance Premium Collections. This is a major milestone in HUD's progress towards the use of EDI in all HUD program and administrative initiatives that require high volume, paper-based, frequently recurring submissions to the Department from private and/or public sector sources. Over the past year, the IITF's Government Information Working Group held a series of conferences that trained 300 Federal employees on how to disseminate information electronically. Computers are not, however, the only tools for improving information dissemination. The Federal Information Center, run by the General Services Administration (GSA), provides government information to the public via a toll-free 800 telephone number. The Center now has access to the Internet and the information provided by government agencies, making it easier for its information specialists to answer the 5,000-- 7,000 calls they receive every day. Their internal database of govern- ment information is being published on CD-ROM by the Government Printing Office (GPO) in an effort to make it more broadly available in the Federal depository libraries and other places people go to for public information. GSA also procured cost-effective 800 number service to carry 1 million calls monthly to Federal Aviation Adminis- tration locations nationwide, helping 600,000 private pilots file flight plans and obtain weather reports toll-free. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Enhance citizen access to govern- ment information. o Administration's Progress: The Administration has issued comprehensive information dissemination policies which stress making government information available on timely and equitable terms and which promote a diversity of information sources and media. Information dissemination policies have changed substantially under the Clinton Administration. The goal is to ensure that the benefits of electronic information management increased access and reduced cost are shared by both agencies and the public. The issuance in 1993 of a new OMB Circular A-130 was a watershed event in Federal information policy. Among other things, it directs Federal agencies to price their information products at the cost of dissemination and cautions them to avoid practices which would restrict public access to government information. Congress is presently considering amendments to the Paperwork Reduction Act that would codify the core principles of Circular A-130. As part of the NII initiative, the Administration is establishing a Government Information Locator Service (GILS) to help the public locate and access information. OMB is publishing a bulletin this year specifying Federal agency responsibilities and the implementation schedule. The Commerce Department's NIST has announced a Federal Information Processing Standard for the GILS profile a voluntary international standard with mandatory application for Federal agencies establishing locators for information. As other nations also adopt such standards, the foundation will exist for a Global Information Locator. GILS will identify public information resources throughout the Federal government, describe the information available in those resources, and provide assistance in obtaining the information. It will consist of a decentralized collection of agency-based information locators and associated information services. The Administration is also committed to improving access to government information through the Freedom of Information Act. The IITF has es- tablished a Legislative Working Group to address the issue of how to improve agency responses to information requests. The group is ex- pected to release a report in late 1994 that will provide the basis for legislative and policy action. The Commerce Department's Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) is a leader in the dissemination of federally-sponsored busi- ness, economic, and trade information. The National Trade Data Bank (NTDB), a monthly CD-ROM, contains 200,000 documents on international trade from over 20 federal agencies. The NTDB promotes exports by making trade information available to U.S. companies and citizens interested or involved in exporting. Approximately 1,500 editions of the NTDB are sold to the public every month. An additional 950 go to Depository Libraries. The National Economic, Social and Environmental Data Bank (NESE-DB) is a quarterly CD-ROM that provides a core set of valuable information about U.S. economic growth, education, health issues, criminal justice, and the environment. Over 1,000 discs are distributed each month. The Economic Bulletin Board (EBB) is an on- line subscription service that offers 4,000 up-to-the-minute economic and trade documents from across the U.S. Government. There are approx- imately 3,650 subscribers. ESA also supports the first business and economics node on the Inter- net. Users can currently access the node by using either FTP, Gopher or Mosaic. Over 3,000 connections are made, and over 8,000 files are downloaded each week. At this time, this new service contains only the NTDB. This is only the first installment in the building of the node. In the future, it will contain business and economic information from across the federal government. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Strengthen interagency coordina- tion through the use of electronic mail. o Administration's Progress: The Administration is working to in- crease use of electronic mail throughout the Federal agencies. The Electronic Mail Task Force began four pilot projects, released a request for information to industry, and issued a final report with recommendations on how to make electronic mail usage more widespread. In August 1994, the General Services Administration (GSA) received ap- proval to launch a federal government-wide e-mail system. Most federal agencies have implemented internal e-mail. o Agenda for Action Commitment: Reforming the Federal procurement process to make government a leading-edge technology adopter. o Administration's Progress: The Administration is making pro- curement information available electronically. The Administration has made the development and implementation of Electronic Commerce throughout the federal government a top priority, with the President asserting personal leadership in this area by sign- ing an Executive Memorandum outlining Federal goals for Streamlining Procurement Through Electronic Commerce, dated October 26, 1993. That memorandum provides the following milestones: o by March 1994, define the architecture for the government-wide Electronic Commerce acquisition system and identify executive departments or agencies responsible for developing, imple- menting, operating, and maintaining the federal electronic sys- tem; o by September 1994, establish an initial Electronic Commerce capability to enable the federal government and private vendors to electronically exchange standardized requests for quota- tions, quotes, purchase orders, and notices of awards and begin government-wide implementation; o by July 1995, implement a full-scale federal Electronic Com- merce system that expands initial capabilities to include elec- tronic payments, document interchange, and supporting databas- es; and o by January 1997, complete government-wide implementation of Electronic Commerce for appropriate federal purchases, to the maximum extent possible. By creating and completing an initiative such as the President's Executive Memorandum, the government has signed strong leadership for the country's adoption of Electronic Commerce. The Executive Office of the President has established the Federal Electronic Commerce Acquisition Team to define the Electronic Commerce architecture called for in the President's Executive Memorandum. Representatives from over a dozen federal agencies and departments participate on this team, which is co-chaired by the General Services Administration and the Department of Defense. In addition, GSA's Information Resource Management Services (IRMS), is engaged in several government-wide Electronic Commerce initiatives which should have a major impact on the way the Federal government conducts business with the private sector. These activities include: o Support of the President's Electronic Commerce Executive Order by providing procurement, automated data processing, and tele- communications technical support and by serving as co-chair of the Federal Electronic Commerce Acquisition Team. o Redesign and implementation of an automated procurement system which will start with the preparation of a purchase requisition and include the electronic transmission of a purchase order, either using EDI, e-mail, or fax. Once the order is completed the vendor will electronically transmit its invoice, which will be electronically matched with the purchase order and receiving report. The payment to the vendor will then be made through EFT. o Establishment and maintenance of the ERMS Bulletin Board which contains Multiple Awards Contract information is undergoing enhancements to enable Federal agencies to directly place pur- chase orders. o Development and introduction of emerging technologies into the government-wide infrastructure through Master Contracts for products and services, and the development of critical multi- agency services. A number of specific initiatives are likely to support Electronic Commerce. These may include service ordering and billing, and X.435 prototype and operational system devel- opment, distributed directory services, registration services, and security certification services. APPENDIX A NII Activities and Projects of the Federal Government September 1993 - September 1994 The following summary highlights NII-related activities and projects occurring throughout the Federal Government DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) NII Goal: Promote Private Sector Investment o Made loans resulting in rural telecommunications companies investing an estimated $1.1 billion in FY 1994. USDA's Rural Electrification Administration (REA) has been financing the construction of telecommunications infrastructure in rural America for over 45 years. In FY 1994, REA provided an esti- mated $225 million in loan funds to rural telephone companies to provide new services, economic opportunities, and health and educational benefits to rural America. o Through the Rural Development Administration (RDA), made loans to rural community facilities for advanced telecommunications services. The RDA makes and guarantees loans to provide schools, libraries, and hospitals with advanced telecommunica- tions services. These services enable rural communities to participate in progressive educational and health care opportu- nities. o Developing a new Rural Business Telecommunications Partnership Loan Program. Expected to start in 1995, this program will leverage government loans with rural investment capital to fund locally-shared, end-user telecommunications facilities. The purpose of the program is to provide access to advanced tele- communications services and computer networks to improve rural job opportunities, to stimulate local economies, and to give rural businesses the opportunity to compete nationally and globally. o Through the Extension Service, funded NII projects designed to foster agricultural business development. The two-year old Agricultural Telecommunications Program provides rural schools and communities with capital to develop and make available distance learning programming involving agricultural research, training, and marketing information. Farmers and agricultural businesses have access to the programming through the use of advanced interactive telecommunications systems. NII Goal: Extend The Concept Of Universal Service o Provided funds for distance learning and medical link grant projects. REA's Distance Learning and Medical Link Grant Program has been a resounding success and has begun to make a difference in rural communities. It not only brings educational opportunities and health care resources to many rural Americans but also helps stimulate rural economic development. In FY 1994, REA made $10 million in grants to rural schools and health care providers to connect them to the NII. These grants were leveraged with an estimated $15 million of private invest- ments. o Through REA, continued to be a key component of the univer- sal service concept. REA, along with the Universal Service Fund and other cost support mechanisms, are the sources of capital which make universal service possible. REA's con- tinued financing in rural America will help extend the universal service concept to the NII of the future. REA is also developing guidelines for states and borrowers to develop telecommunications modernization plans to the Nation's public switched network and to ensure that rural areas have affordable access to the services and benefits of the NII. NII Goal: Improve Spectrum Management o Provided evaluations and technical expertise in the area of wireless telecommunications systems. REA, on an ongoing basis, assesses cellular market conditions and technologies, and works with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on issues concerning the allocation and use of radio frequency spectrum. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government o Through the Forest Service (FS), developing a law enforcement information system which will enable the collection of law enforcement and incident reports from its regional offices. This information will then be processed for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In addition, FS is developing a system to track the qualifications and availability of firefighters. o REA, through the FCC and the Agency for International Develop- ment, provided seminars on telecommunications policy and financing to the following foreign governments: India, Paki- stan, Poland, and Hungary. o REA established a special information sharing agreement with the FCC that allows both agencies to have quick access to vital statistics and analyses. o The Extension Service, in partnership with other USDA agencies (such as the National Agriculture Library and the Rural Devel- opment Administration) and state and local governments, are currently developing cooperative programs to bring information resources to rural communities. o The Extension Service chaired the Americans Communicating Electronically (ACE) association. ACE, which is made up of more than 70 Federal agencies, promotes use of Internet's public domain information retrieval programs (such as MOSAIC, GOPHER, and WAIS). ACE also provides technical expertise and evaluates applications involving electronic access to government informa- tion. o USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is coordinating re- search efforts with the National Center for Service Integration to survey and assess state-of-the-art electronic management information systems involving comprehensive family and children service programs. Once complete, the study will be made avail- able to related federal, state, and local agencies to use as a cost/benefit tool for purchasing and implementing new systems. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Made available vast quantities of data useful to rural America. While much of it is still only available in print, USDA agen- cies are making efforts to electronically disseminate informa- tion. USDA also collects significant amounts of data from rural America, much of which are automated but not readily available for public access. In 1994, USDA agencies were involved in numerous projects to improve electronic access. For example: o USDA's Extension Service is developing a customer-driven program designed to improve delivery of USDA programs to rural communities. The Info Share Program will establish one-stop shopping service centers in rural counties by combining and co-locating existing field offices. o The Extension Service has developed and expanded its national information network and now has 2,400 Internet connections across the nation. Using the NII, its county offices and headquarters can disseminate and access information, and communicate world-wide. Several other agencies, such as the Forest Service, Rural Development Administration, and Farmers Home Administration, are initiating efforts to make agency information available through the Internet. o The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has developed an initiative to improve productivity, quali- ty, and program delivery with a new information infra- structure which builds on USDA telecommunications infra- structure to reach all citizens. Agricultural statistics are fundamental to the operation of agribusiness, inter- national trade, and program understanding. o Development of and access to digital spatial databases are an integral part of the National Spatial Data Infra- structure (NSDI). These databases, to be developed as part of a Soil Conservation Service initiative, are a necessary component of geographic information systems and are fundamental tools for accurate mapping and land use planning. Access to these databases by the public is crucial for efficient land use planning and dealing with ever increasing environmental concerns. o FNS is initiating an electronic benefits transfer pro- ject designed to automate the reporting requirements of its Food Stamp and Special Nutrition Program. By using the NII, state agency users will be able to enter data directly into FNS information systems rather than com- pleting and mailing forms. o USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is initiating a pilot project for an electronic government procurement system. This system will be used by vendors and USDA personnel to provide and accept procurement information using computers and the NII. o The National Agricultural Library is developing a cen- tral electronic information center that will provide agricultural information via the Internet by directly linking users with information producers. o USDA's Rural Information Center, a joint project of the National Agricultural Library and the Extension Service, has been a very successful information dissemination and referral service and is expanding its efforts to provide its service electronically. o Created one stop service centers, which should become rural points of presence on the NII where USDA and other national information resources would be made available to any rural user. Various rural interest groups have also indicated the need to collaborate with the Extension Service to establish a comprehensive point of presence network on a partnership basis. As a means of devoting resources and emphasizing the importance of this concept, USDA is examining methods to (1) make each of its local, one-stop shopping service centers a point of presence for the public to access the NII and (2) cooperate with local groups in establishing other points of presence that could be located, for example, in schools, libraries, or community centers. In addition, USDA is studying how to make Info Share an integral component of rural development outreach, which can provide better access to information. This would include authorizing the public and private joint collection and maintenance of local data critical to the full understanding of land and environment, such as that necessary for use of geo- graphical information systems. o Established NII outreach initiatives. Rural America needs assistance in gaining access to and utilizing the NII. Several USDA programs such as the Extension Service, the Cooperative Services Program, and REA have a staff and field structure in place capable of providing expert assistance. In addition, the President's Americorps program will result in 20,000 volunteer members and 1,200 USDA Americorps employees helping local communities through partnership, information dissemination, and development projects. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY (CIA) NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information And Improve Government Procurement o Developing an Internet node on which unclassified publicly releasable information will be stored and made available to the public. o Participating in a joint government/industry program to permit employment seekers to make their resumes available to employers over the Internet. o Developing policies for exchange of electronic mail with other agencies in the intelligence community. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (DOC) NII Goal: Promote Private Sector Investment o The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has coordinated the Administration's efforts to work with Congress on reform of the Communications Act of 1934. The proposed telecommunications reform legislation would result in increased competition throughout the telecommunications and information industries and would spur private investment in the NII. o The Economics and Statistics Administration is working with other Federal agencies to electronically disseminate to the public available business and economic data, including the National Trade Data Bank and the Economic Bulletin Board. NII Goal: Extend The Universal Service Concept o NTIA held a series of five public hearings around the country to gather information on the best characteristics of an expand- ed concept of Universal Service, and on Open Access issues. NTIA gathered testimony from industry, consumers, state and local government, and academia in Albuquerque, NM (December 16, 1993), Los Angeles, CA (February 16, 1994), Durham, NC (April 27, 1994), Sunnyvale, CA (May 13, 1994), and Indianapolis, IN (July 12, 1994). NTIA will hold a virtual conference on universal service and open access issues to be held in Fall 1994, with participants attending via the Internet. o NTIA released a Notice of Inquiry in September 1994 to encour- age further public input on Universal Service and Open Access issues related preserving and enhancing these concepts. o Conducting an annual survey of the telecommunications facili- ties of schools, hospitals, and libraries in conjunction with the IITF's Universal Service Working Group. NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Appli- cations o In April 1994, the National Institute for Standards and Tech- nology's (NIST) Advanced Technology Program (ATP) announced focused programs on information infrastructure for health care, component-based software, and computer-integrated manufacturing for electronics, which will leverage industry investment in developing and building core NII technologies. Funding industry research through ATP yields benefits to the nation's economy by fostering powerful technologies. NIST will provide nearly $440 million over five years for these efforts, leveraging an equal investment by industry. o As part of its Systems Integration for Manufacturing Appli- cations activities, NIST has designed an Advanced Manufac- turing Systems and Networking Testbed that will enable collaborative R&D, demonstrations, interoperability test- ing, and transfer of manufacturing information and technol- ogies. NIST has established several Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) and new consortia with industry to foster the development and use of application protocols for the digital exchange of product specifica- tions over the NII. o To demonstrate and deploy electronic commerce applications, NIST has established an Electronic Commerce Integration Facili- ty. NIST also has formed CRADAs with several vendors interested in using the facility, contributed to the Administration's Electronic Commerce Acquisition Team with focus on architec- tures and interoperability, and produced a white paper on an architecture to meet the short- and long-term requirements of the government. R&D efforts include using security and authen- tication technologies, including digital signatures and encryp- tion technology, and using electronic mail and file transfer technologies for electronic data interchange. o In October 1994, NTIA will award $24 million in matching funds to help schools, libraries, rural health care providers, economic development agencies, and state and local governments access new telecommunications technologies. NTIA's Telecommuni- cations and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program received 1,088 applications from the 50 states and the District of Columbia requesting a total of $556 million in assistance funds for demonstration projects and planning projects for FY 1994. o Through NIST, launched a new Electronic Libraries and Digital Multimedia Applications pilot project. It includes the cre- ation, editorial review, production, and dissemination of scientific papers, documents and data in a working environment. NIST's library and scientific and engineering operating units are involved in the project. A CRADA has been established with an industrial partner, and other collaborations are being pursued with industry and within the library community. o Improved electronic access to reusable software by industry and the public through NIST's Guide to Available Mathematical Software (GAMS). GAMS provides indexing and retrieval systems over the Internet to help scientists navigate the thousands of software options available for solving mathematical and statis- tical problems. o The MultiKron chip developed by NIST enabled industry and others to evaluate massively parallel computer systems by providing precise measurements that do not interfere with the systems being measured. Using a high-speed communications testbed instrumented with the MultiKron chip, NIST researchers now are investigating the behavior and performance of communi- cations protocols suitable for multi-gigabit/second transmis- sion rates. o Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) began identification and evaluation of information resources on the Internet, in support of the patent examination of biotechnology and software-related applications. o PTO is planning to provide access to a comprehensive database containing over 1,600 patents pertaining to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Access via the Internet will include full-text search capabilities and image retrieval. NII Goal: Promote Seamless, Interactive, User-Driven Opera- tion o Released Framework for National Information Infrastructure Services, a technical report by NIST that addressed technologi- cal impediments to the NII requiring immediate resolution. The July 1994 report recognized three critical needs: key applica- tion enablers, core networking services, and common interfaces to and between bitways. The document was an initial effort to stimulate dialogue between industry, academia, and the govern- ment in order to reach consensus positions on these key techni- cal issues. o In June 1994, NIST sponsored a workshop on Standards Develop- ment and the Information Infrastructure that focused on the role of government in the standards process and addressed fundamental questions about procedural, economic, and policy issues needed to further the development of standards for the NII. The workshop was conducted by the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government and co-sponsored by the IITF Technology Policy Working Group. o The Federal Internetworking Requirements Panel was established by NIST in October 1993 to study the short- and long-term issues of internetworking and convergence of networking proto- cols and to recommend actions that the federal government can take. The panel issued its final report in May 1994. NIST is conducting a public review of the report and has invited comments from private and public sectors. o In May 1994, NIST co-sponsored with ARPA workshop on Advanced Digital Video in the NII. The workshop, held to highlight technical issues for industry and government decision makers with respect to advanced digital video in the NII, was attended by approximately 180 people from industry, government, and academia. Experts in information services, broadcasting, computing, consumer electronics, and government policy made presentations and led discussion of the issues. NIST published the report from the workshop in July 1994 and also made it available on-line. o Explored NII technical research issues by holding a forum called R&D for the NII: Technical Challenges and issuing a follow-up report. More than 300 industry, university and government technology experts met in working groups to address specific technology issues. The forum, held on February 28-March 1, was hosted by NIST in cooperation with seven private-sector organizations and the Technology Policy Working Group. o Co-sponsored by NIST, the Federal Wireless Users Forum met to educate Federal government users about wireless telecommunica- tions, identify the telecommunications needs of Federal govern- ment users, facilitate information exchange with other user organizations to ensure that government user needs are met, and support the interoperability of emerging wireless services. NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o In May 1994, NIST announced the approval of a Digital Signature Standard (DSS), which will allow federal agencies, businesses, and private individuals to verify the integrity of electronic data, such as files or electronic mail messages, and the signer's identity. The DSS, known as Federal Information Processing Standard 186, provides a mathematical process for generating and verifying electronic signatures in applications requiring a digital rather than written signature. It applies to all Federal departments, agencies, and their contractors for the protection of unclassified information when digital signa- tures are required. Numerous NII applications, particularly electronic commerce, will benefit from digital signature technology. o NIST announced in February 1994 the voluntary Escrowed Encryp- tion Standard, which specifies a technology that government agencies or the private sector can use to provide strong encryption protection for sensitive but unclassified voice, fax, and data communications over telephone lines. This stan- dard, Federal Information Processing Standard 185, addresses the needs of the private sector for top-notch communications security and of U.S. law enforcement to conduct lawfully authorized electronic surveillance. NIST also held two work- shops with industry and other government agencies to examine improvements and alternatives to key escrow encryption technol- ogy. o NIST established and supports the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), a coalition of government and private-sector computer security response groups, and operates a computer security clearinghouse. o NTIA released a Notice of Inquiry to encourage further public input on privacy issues related to telecommunications. NII Goal: Improve Spectrum Management o NTIA released a preliminary report in February 1994 reallocat- ing 200 MHz of radio spectrum from Federal government use to public use. Fifty MHz will be reallocated immediately, with the remaining 150 MHz to be reallocated gradually over 15 years. NTIA's reallocation is designed to serve the Administration and Congress' intent of providing more spectrum for emerging technologies and major new telecommunications industries, including wireless applications. o NTIA coordinated the Administration's proposal to authorize spectrum auctions in order to introduce market principles into spectrum management. Congress passed the legislation last year authorizing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to distribute spectrum through a competitive bidding process In July 1994, the FCC successfully used this authority to auction spectrum for narrowband personal communications services and interactive video data services, generating more than $800 million in government revenues. o Completed partial development of an Automated Federal Spectrum Management System to operate on a desktop personal computer. After testing, the system will be provided to spectrum managers at all levels of the Federal government. NII Goal: Protect Intellectual Property Rights o Bruce Lehman, head of the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), chaired the IITF's Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights, which issued a draft of its report, Intellectual Property and the National Information Infrastructure, following public hearings and public comment on the intellectual property implications of the NII. The Working Group issued the draft report to solicit additional public comment prior to issuing a final report. The draft provides an exhaustive analysis of existing copyright law and its application in the NII environ- ment, and makes recommendations for modest changes in the law to provide the necessary protection of rights in copyrighted works and the appropriate limitations on those rights. The draft also considers patent, trademark, and trade secret law issues raised by the NII. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government o On November 19, 1993, the Commerce Department's NTIA co-spon- sored with the Annenberg Washington Program, a planning confer- ence for local, state, and Federal communications policymakers. Assistant Secretary Larry Irving opened the day-long conference by stressing the important role that state and local govern- ments play in ensuring that every American has access to basic communications services. Representative Jack Fields spoke representing Congress, and Commissioner Andrew Barrett repre- sented the FCC. Members of National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and National Association of Telecommuni- cations Officers and Advisors also made remarks. The conference panels focused on infrastructure issues and universal service. Over ninety Federal, state and local regulators, and interested members of the public participated in the conference. The event achieved its goal of opening a dialogue between the Administra- tion and state and local governments. NTIA will host a follow- up conference in the winter NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Nations o As chair of the IITF's International Telecommunications Working Group, NTIA is coordinating the development of principles and goals for the Administration for the emerging Global Informa- tion Infrastructure (GII). NTIA and the IITF's International Telecommunications Working Group will set forth these princi- ples and goals in the GII: Agenda for Cooperation, which will be issued in Fall 1994. o As lead agency for The GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment), the Commerce Depart- ment's NOAA is actively involved in promoting the Global Information Infrastructure extension of the NII. GLOBE will depend on Internet connections to thousands of schools in countries around the world so that student observations of the environment can be relayed through the Internet to a NOAA central processing facility, which will produce global pictures of the environment based on student data and send them through the Internet to students and teachers worldwide. GLOBE is being used by the Vice President and other senior Administration officials in their discussions with leaders of other national governments on the kind of application that can be done when a country participates in the GII initiative. o Through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), coordinating the Global Observation Information Network (GOIN) with Japan's Science and Technology Agency. GOIN will provide for connectivity and interoperability among networks containing global observation data in each country. o PTO supported international development and cooperation by establishing electronic mail capabilities with the European Patent Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o NTIA created an IITF bulletin board in December 1993 to provide public access to IITF and other NII documents, including IITF schedules, committee reports and minutes of meetings. o NTIA created an Openness Program to provide information to the public and other Federal agencies about issues such as communi- cations law and technology, the NII Initiative, the IITF, the NII Advisory Council, spectrum management, and legislative reform. The IITF Bulletin Board is accessible through the Internet or direct dial modem. o Through 36 information servers on the Internet, NOAA is provid- ing a wide variety of real time and historical environmental data and information to the world. o NOAA implemented 20 Mosaic servers on its major databases, providing simple, highly graphical, multimedia access to a broad range of geographic, atmospheric, and oceanographic information. o Providing convenient, electronic access to recent NOAA satel- lite imagery via a prototype environmental satellite data distribution facility connected to the Internet. o Through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), operating and upgrading FedWorld to provide effective and comprehensive consumer access to government information, including final reports, unpublished documents, electronic bulletin board systems, and active databases. o In 1994, NTIS provided 40,000 registered FedWorld users with access to over 150 Federally operated on-line systems. o PTO maintained a publicly-accessible World Wide Web server on the Internet, providing access to intellectual property infor- mation such as transcripts of public hearings on software patent protection and the IITF Working Group draft report on Intellectual Property Rights. o PTO is planning to provide patent and trademark search capabil- ities to the public at PTO's network of 78 Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries located in 49 states and the District of Columbia. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) NII Goal: Promote Private Sector Investment o Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) awarded funds under the Technology Reinvestment Program, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, to encourage early deployment of private sector resources within the NII. NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o ARPA is investing, in conjunction with the National Science Foundation, in technologies for developing, deploying, and exploiting networks capable of bandwidths in excess of one gigabit/second. o ARPA held the High Performance Computing and Communications Symposium in March 1994 to aid in the dissemination of research results to the public. o ARPA funded development of multimedia conference control software for use with the Internet. o Developed a technology transfer process with the research community to ensure that technology that supports DOD's crisis management mission is developed with a dual-use spin-off perspective. o Established an interagency team with the General Services Administration to define the government-wide requirements for telecommunications services that will be the foundation of the post-FTS 2000 contract. o Fostered acceleration of the NII by promoting information technology through research and engineering, High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC), National Flat Panel Display, and dual-use initiatives and applications. NII Goal: Promote Seamless, Interactive, User-Driven Operation o Chaired the NIST chartered Federal Internetworking Requirements Panel (FIRP) which recommended improvements to NIST and OMB on the selection of networking standards for the Federal govern- ment. The FIRP recommended modification of the existing stan- dards mandate to emphasize the job to be done, the availability of an acceptable solution, the affordability of the acceptable solutions, and the maturity of the solution as an international standard. The FIRP continued to recommend the recognition of user affinity groups as a key element in the standardization process. o Worked with NIST in developing an architectural framework for distributed systems services for the NII. DOD's Techni- cal Architecture Framework for Information Management (TAFIM), the NIST Application Portability Profile (APP), and IEEE 1003.0 (POSIX Open Systems Environment) are inputs for use in this effort. o Continued to develop the Defense Information Infrastructure (DII) and is working in partnership with industry and other government agencies to maximize government-wide solutions. Some specific initiatives underway that facilitate extending DII capabilities to the NII include transforming R&D initiatives into leading-edge, wideband services that use commercial infrastructure and provide necessary security protection; providing integrated and reliable services; and providing assured services to critical users in conditions of emergency. o Supported through ARPA the development of a standard reference implementation signalling stack for Asynchronous Transfer Mode switches. NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o Chaired the Reliability and Vulnerability Working Group, which is focused on ensuring a high quality of service to meet essential, public, private, and commercial needs, as well as national security and emergency preparedness (NS/EP) require- ments. Developed approved Terms of Reference; established three subgroups to address NS/EP for NII users, reliability for the general public, and protection of the networks; reviewed draft legislation for telecommunications services; and continued to work closely with the President's National Security Telecommu- nications Advisory Committee. o Working with the President's National Security and Telecommuni- cations Advisory Committee (NSTAC) and OSTP, through the National Communications System, to conduct the Joint Govern- ment-Industry Symposium on Evolving the National Information Infrastructure. This NSTAC/OSTP sponsored gathering of senior Clinton Administration members and leaders of industry will use interactive video and gaming techniques to assess evolving interoperability, technology, security, economic and policy issues associated with the NII. o ARPA funded the Computer Emergency Response Team, which inves- tigated incidents nationwide involving network-related computer break-ins. o ARPA funded development of authenticated and hardened routing and directory services for the Internet as barriers to denial of access. o ARPA initiated work on network-based intrusion detection tools. NII Goal: Improve Spectrum Management o Published the Department of Defense Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Strategic Plan. The Plan, currently being imple- mented, will ensure the warfighter receives effective spectrum support for military operations; ensure effective management and efficient use of spectrum resources; ensure that efficient use of the electromagnetic spectrum is considered in the research and development and acquisition of weapon systems; capitalize on technological innovation for conservation and better use of the spectrum; streamline the Department's spec- trum management infrastructure to conserve resources and facilitate interaction with other government agencies and the civil sector; ensure effective DOD training and career develop- ment for spectrum management and technology; and ensure an effective electromagnetic environmental effects program. o DOD is conducting Business Process Reengineering (BPR) effort for its Management and Use of the Electromagnetic Spectrum or MUES. This effort, initiated in 1992, was triggered by the lessons of operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM and by the impending reallocation of the electromagnetic spectrum. This BPR effort has resulted in a single to-be model of DoD's future approach to spectrum management. Specific products of the effort include: o A standard approach for use of the electromagnetic spectrum in military operations throughout the Unified Commands, world-wide. These unclassified operational procedures are being shared with our allies and coali- tion partners to promote common approaches to spectrum management. o A review of all DoD spectrum management automation efforts and selection of migration systems . These migration systems will be the basis upon which the DoD will build an integrated spectrum information system, implementing the to-be environment of the BPR. o The upcoming establishment of a Joint Spectrum Center, using resources from currently separate spectrum organi- zations. The Joint Spectrum Center will serve as the single DOD focal point for spectrum management and use. o The products of the DOD BPR modeling and planning, and many of the automated systems developed by DoD for spectrum management have been shared with other Federal government agencies and with many of our allies, includ- ing the NATO. Automated spectrum management tools, developed by the DOD, are either being adopted intact or are serving as points of departure for federal and allied spectrum management automation developments, helping to ensure interoperable approaches across the federal government and with allied nations. o The reallocation of 200 MHz of spectrum initiated by Title VI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 consisted of largely military spectrum. DOD actions to comply with the law include: o Review of the NTIA proposed reallocation bands to deter- mine financial impact on DoD and performance impact on DoD operations. This impact information was used by NTIA in their development of the proposed list of 200 MHz for reallocation. o DOD initiated development of a database through which it can track current usage of the electromagnetic spec- trum. This initial effort will be expanded to promote of forecasting spectrum needs and planning future spectrum use, permitting more rapid and authoritative development of impact information. o To facilitate sharing of the electromagnetic spectrum, DOD is promoting US adoption of receiver standards to preclude spectrum being wasted due to insufficiently discriminating receivers. o DOD is promoting use of commercial telecommunications services in lieu of DOD developed systems when ever possible. This reduces the DOD's need for spectrum access and costly developments while increasing the market for commercial telecommunications services. As DOD's area of responsibility is global, DOD is encourag- ing commercial telecommunications services which it can employ world-wide. o Successfully completed testing which will lead to the Russian GLONASS system shifting in frequency closer to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), thus eliminating interference to radioastronomy and clearing spectrum for mobile satellite services. NII Goal: Protect Intellectual Property Rights o ARPA is supporting development and demonstration of an experi- mental electronic copyright management system, in conjunction with the Library of Congress. NII Goal: Improve Access To Government Information o Pursuing a comprehensive set of activities to achieve a worldwide electronic mail and messaging system. The integration of electronic mail and messaging services through the adoption of dual-use technology is a high-priority item. The Defense Message System (DMS) standards have been recognized by OMB as a basis for government-wide E-Mail. o Shared business reengineering support capabilities and linked the DOD Center for Functional Process Improvement Expertise to the NPR bulletin board and provided Federal-wide access to business process improvement lessons learned through 1-800-TELL-CIM hotline. o Developed a telecommunications architecture to link DOD and industry Electronic Meeting Systems (EMS) to foster interac- tive reengineering workshop sessions at remote locations. Facilitated the creation of the International association of collaborative technologies (INTERACT) to promote standardiza- tion and global connectivity in this technology. o Provided, and offered to other Federal agencies, an advanced architectural design tool known as ADAPT (Automated Design and Planning Tool) to document the infrastructure description of the Defense portion of the NII and to retain this information in a relational database. o DOD was the lead organization under the authority of the International Combined Communications-Electronics Board to develop the implementation agreement for international military messaging among English speaking nations and the nations of NATO. The implementation agreement, based upon X.400, received international approval in 1994. Based upon this success, the U.S. DoD has the lead for a similar agreement for developing an international directory based upon X.500. NII Goal: Improve Government Procurement o Issued a draft report in April 1994, along with the General Services Administration, concerning the structure and imple- mentation of an electronic acquisition system. o Provided the Co-chairman to the Federal Electronic Commerce Acquisition Team to foster and share among the Federal agencies electronic data interchange experience. A charter has been signed for a Program Management Office and the team has pre- pared a draft architecture document which fosters more uniform interface to industry. The architecture incorporates DoD's Electronic Commerce/Electronic Data Interchange hubs with other Federal value-added networks. Issued a draft report in April 1994, along with the General Services Administration, concern- ing the structure and implementation of an electronic acquisi- tion system. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Awarded ten grants to projects that use electronic networks to link teachers to their colleagues, experts, and other resources for professional development. Awardees include an American Indian Nation, a state university research foundation, two regional educational laboratories, and a private agency, as well as both rural and urban schools and school districts. Project activities include the use of the NII for teacher mentoring, curriculum development, and teacher preparation. o Will award two-year grants under the Star Schools Program to seven distance education projects, one statewide network project, and three dissemination projects. This program deliv- ers high quality instruction and teacher professional develop- ment in priority subject areas to underserved populations through the use of satellite, cable, and fiber optic telecommu- nications. All 50 States plus Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the Pacific territories have potential access to programs developed by the grantees. The statewide telecommunications network will deliver instructional programming through a fiber optic network using two-way full motion interactive video, voice, and data telecommunications. Teachers and students across the state will interact using integrated multimedia, including Internet access through Mosaic. o Joined NSF/NCSA Mosaic Federal Consortium to explore and test enhancements to Mosaic useful to K-12 education and users with disabilities. o Supported growing efforts by the 10 Regional Educational Laboratories to use telecommunications to link educators in schools and other educational agencies with educational R&D results. The labs' technology taskforce acquired and installed a UNIX system and full Internet connection at 9 of the 10 labs, and developed a national gopher menu for all labs and research centers. o Supported the development and dissemination of software for computer accessibility for individuals with disabilities through the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. The Department of Education also supported the development of ABLE INFORM, an electronic bulletin board system that accesses database files on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment (18,000 records) and the 40,000 record REHAB DATA bibliographic database on rehabilitation research. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government And With Other Nations o Providing grants to the states to establish technology planning panels to improve education as part of Goals 2000. o Hosted a conference on educational technology, entitled Con- necting Education to the Information Superhighway, May 8-10, 1994. The conference brought teams of teachers and administra- tors from almost every state together with private sector representatives (hardware and network service providers), and representatives from more than a dozen Federal agencies. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Released a resource guide entitled Educational Technology: Tools for Transforming Teaching and Learning, available free to the public. o Provides free information on education and schooling to more than 25,000 people each month through AskERIC, the on-line information service of the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC). ERIC has developed the world's largest educa- tion-related database and continuously collects, analyzes, and distributes information from local, state, federal, and inter- national sources. o Expanded its dissemination of research and statistical informa- tion through the Institutional Communications Network (INet) to include extensive information from Department of Education programs, including Goals 2000, Technology and School to Work. In FY 1994, INet initiated public access Gopher, FTP, and World Wide Web servers. o Developing a virtual curriculum lab through the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse on Math and Science Education to support K-12 teachers who wish to locate existing high-quality science or math resources from available on-line and off-line compo- nents. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) NII Goal: Promote Private Sector Investment o Analyzing opportunities for power companies and gas and water utilities to provide NII access services to the public. In particular, DOE is working with the Electric Power Research Institute to examine the business model and technologies associated with real-time energy pricing, production, consump- tion, and distribution. o Participating in consortium with South Central Bell, Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Tennessee Resource Valley, the Tennes- see Valley Authority, the University of Tennessee and others to build a telecommunications and applications testbed in East Tennessee. o Using MOSAIC and LYNX to provide independent gas and oil producers access to information such as lease sale results, technical project results, and public domain software. The program focuses on taking low-end network users and providing a migration path to allow them to move easily to the level of network use appropriate to the business problems they face. NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Developing advanced data compression methods in conjunction with the FBI (fingerprints) and with NASA (Landsat images). The purpose is to compress visual data without losing the relevant information so that it can be transmitted faster and to smaller computing platforms. o Preparing to upgrade the Energy Sciences Network (ESNet) to include Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) technology. ESNet is a national, multiprotocol network running at multi-megabit to Gigabit speeds that can serve as a testbed to develop new applications, state-of-the-art technology, and network manage- ment tools. o Developed a state-of-the-art computerized shop floor management system, which could provide strong leadership in the develop- ment of computer-aided design and manufacturing projects. o Involved in research and development for DOD program permitting the electronic exchange of engineering drawings, technical publications, product definition, and CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing) databases. o Developed an electronic version of a computational science textbook for higher education. This textbook is freely avail- able electronically on the National Research and Education Network, and includes codes that can be executed. o Held a workshop in New Mexico for K-12 educational administra- tors to promote the adoption of computing and networking at the pre-college level. o Providing scientists and engineers to coach high school stu- dents in New Mexico to do computational science projects with the aid of high performance computers. o Providing K-12 students near the Oak Ridge National Laboratory with computer accounts for e-mail, discussion groups, and access to international networks. o Conducts elementary school teacher education in the use of telecommunications-based environmental science information. o Working with the University of California on remote (network- based) monitoring and control of building energy demands. o Studying the enabling technologies for telecommuting and other telework, which will provide extensive energy savings as well as traffic reduction. o Developed the Video Audio Tools (VAT) System to support desktop packetized video conferencing on the NII. o Working on a prototype system ( Hands-on Universe ) that allows students from across the United States to dial into a remote telescope and request a real-time astronomical image. Requested images can be returned via computer to the classroom and used to learn math and science concepts. o Developing and field-testing fiber optic sensors for monitoring high-priority contaminants, including volatile organochlorides, fuel hydrocarbons, trichloroethylene, and other compounds. Fiber Optic Sensors offer the potential for rapid inexpensive characterization and long-term monitoring of contaminants. o Investigating and commercializing technologies that remove storage system bottlenecks and provide new storage system functionality. o Developing technologies to enable virtual collocation, includ- ing shared programs, video conferencing, and remote pointing and networking. Shared programs allow people designers, machin- ists, scientists and engineers to interactively share and modify a drawing or document. o Using object-oriented design to develop a fully integrated distributed system, tying together computational analysis, communications (multimedia, mail), storage, and access (net- working, graphical front-ends) required to solve a problem. The Heterogeneous Environment and Testbed (HEAT) consists of ten of the latest workstations from each of the five major workstation vendors, tied together to explore the possibilities of clustered heterogenous computing and the network optimiz- ations required to increase the applicability of this technolo- gy. o The Sandia National Laboratory has developed metacomputing tools such as the Parallel Object-Oriented Environment and Toolkit (POET) and the Distributed Audio Video Environment (DAVE) as intelligent system interfaces to enhance end-user productivity. In each case, our efforts have focused on appli- cations to ensure requirements for collaborative engineering in support of advanced manufacturing are met. o Studying energy use in buildings through the Conservation and Renewable Energy Program (CE), controlling energy use via computerized Energy Management and Control Systems (EMCSs), and interfacing such systems to the utility via the communications network. Conducting broad analytical studies on Integrated Resource Planning (IRP), which provides a structure for rational deci- sion-making among diverse supply and demand options. IRP will eventually incorporate the options available through advanced communications networks. CE supports work on utility systems themselves and technical options for the future, including real-time control methods. NII Goal: Promote Seamless, Interactive, User-Driven Operation o Established a pilot with Federal laboratory and international partners to test Standard Generalized Markup Language as a protocol for electronic exchange of full-text documents. o Working with Amoco and twenty other companies on an Asynch- ronous Transfer Mode (ATM) testbed to be established between Houston, Chicago, and Minnesota. o Providing a networking interoperability testbed for electronic commerce, health, and finance through the Open Systems Labora- tory. o Testing audio-video connection and interoperability through the use of a fiber ring and a wide-area gigabit network based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) technology o Building a network testbed along with AT&T and others to expand the applications of AT&T's Experimental University Network (XUNET) research project. The desired result of the project is to accelerate the development of technology for transporting real-time interactive applications, such as teleconferencing, collaborative engineering, and distributed computing message- passing applications on high-speed Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks. The testbed will explore performance issues such as congestion control, multimedia communications protocols, segmentation and reassembly of ATM cells, and overall data throughput rates, as well as techniques for network control and management. o Developing NII services on a 155 Mb/s ATM Wide Area Network known as the Bay Area Gigabit Network (BAGNet). The Bagnet: (1) provides a neutral testbed with equipment and manpower to test product based on the Fiber Channel (FC) standard; and (2) conducts field trials of fiber amplifiers in a 100 km fiber optic data link between the Lawrence Livermore National Labora- tory and the University of California-Berkeley. This fiber optic length uses Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), which is used to transport data simultaneously at 266 Mb/s, 622 Mb/s, and 1.062 Gb/s. NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o Developing and deploying security techniques in combination with Electronic Data Interchange and other business-oriented solutions in cooperation with the banking industry and the Department of Treasury. o Examining the application and use of secure technologies for supporting classified collaborative work over the NII. o Working with the National Security Agency to evaluate the MOSAIC Security Program, a program targeted for unclassified but sensitive information. o Implemented a Computer Incident Advisory Capability, one of the first teams of its kind that responds to network and host attacks and malicious code (virus) incidents in concert with the FBI and other agencies. o Started a technology transfer project with a company to incor- porate security into its medical records system, to provide multi-level privacy, authentication of data, and secure time stamping. o Demonstrating the capability of the Distributed Intrusion Detection System to detect both network and host-based attacks on computer systems. o Developing electronic cash systems that would maintain the privacy of individuals from merchants and banks, but would allow law enforcement to trace the flow of the electronic cash, given proper court orders. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Providing annual energy data for more than 200 countries around the world as part of the World Energy Database. Data are available for oil, natural gas, coal and electricity. Eventual- ly, the database will be available for execution on the Nation- al information Infrastructure; in the meantime, the database will be updated by respondents based in the covered countries, by Internet upload. o Providing Internet users with newly available results from current DOE research and recently declassified information in the first phase of a multi-phase project. o Implemented multi-point video conferencing systems, including roll around video conferencing equipment, stand-alone desktop units, and combined personal computer and video terminals. o Making the National Education Supercomputer available for on- line use by students in K-12 and at selected community colleg- es, with the vast majority of schools dialing up through modems. o Creating an information system that allows 26,000 participant companies in the textile industry to inquire into trends in retail sales and/or supplier and customer demand so as to maintain proper inventories. o Demonstrating technology transfer through the use of remote electronic access to National Laboratory technology. Such access will improve U.S. competitiveness by providing thousands of businesses with cost-effective technical solutions. o Working with the Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG) to calculate a synthetic seismic data set. This data set will be useful to benchmark gas and oil exploration analysis software. The laboratories and the SEG have settled on the final algo- rithm and calculations are taking place in a distributed manner. The data set will eventually be 140 gigabytes and will be generated on 10 computers ranging from the largest massively parallel systems to workstation clusters located throughout the country. The data set will reside on the National Storage Library and will be accessible over the NII. Access will include intelligent data navigation tools and the ability to download customized subsets of the data, promoting private sector investment. NII Goal: Improve Government Procurement o Processing more than 30,000 transactions with 200 vendors at a 12 percent cost savings. The design uses standard electronic mail formats to carry ANTI-standard Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) formats over public networks, thereby permitting rapid, low-cost implementation. o Working with the Financial Services Technology Consortium (FSTC) and manufacturing groups to integrate technologies for electronic commerce. This DOE Weapons Laboratories program will focus specifically on systems to allow electronic billing and payments, critical for the development of agile manufacturing. The DOE facilities will leverage networking and security technologies developed for the nuclear arsenal to work with industry to provide a secure and trusted capability to complete electronic transactions. This activity is being conducted along with the Treasury Department and the National Institute for Science and Technology. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) NII Goal: Extend The Universal Service Concept o Successfully introduced EPA's Earthvision program for environ- mental education in high schools. The program acquaints teach- ers and students with computational and environmental sciences. Teams of teachers and students in Michigan learned about environmental research using high performance computers. Teams are taught to use the Internet as a primary tool for informa- tion gathering and for collaboration with other teams and research mentors. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government o Worked with nine federal agencies and five states to provide an electronic network to the Gulf of Mexico states and public to begin the new environmental approach of ecosystems management. Federal and state data and information products on the natural resources that are at risk in the Gulf of Mexico are available on Mosaic servers. Information such as fact sheets and graphi- cally displayed maps are easily accessible. Strategic, manage- ment, and action plans of the five Gulf Estuaries are available to provide technology transfer and public education. o Participated in the development of the Great Lakes Information Network with a large number of federal, state and local govern- ments to share information and data about the Great Lakes. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Dramatically expanded to the public a wide array of environmen- tal information and data from EPA Internet servers. Press releases, strategic plans, consumer guides, and the new UV Index ratings are a few examples of the holdings available via the Internet. Over 12,000 contacts are being received monthly to the EPA servers. o Began providing integrated e-mail services to all EPA offices and field locations and environmental State Commissioners to allow comprehensive and immediate access and communication to environmental announcements and developments. o Began to selectively use the Internet to disseminate proposed rules and to gather comments on proposed rules. This has greatly expanded the availability of the proposed rules and increased interaction and feedback of the public and regulated communities. NII Goal: Improve Government Procurement o Greatly improved and streamlined the procurement information process by using Internet for electronic distribution of documents to vendors competing for Agency procurement awards. Tremendous positive feedback, increased interest and attention was documented in using the Internet to communicate with potential bidders. A streamlined process, greater productivity, substantial cost savings and reduced paper consumption are realized by this new electronic approach. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) The FCC is the independent regulatory commission created by Congress that has primary responsibility for authorizing and regulat- ing interstate communications services. Although its actions are independent of the Executive Branch, its decisions and other activi- ties have been consistent with the Administration's NII goals. NII Goal: Extend The Universal Service Concept o Undertook review of its Universal Service Fund high cost assistance programs designed to promote universal service in higher cost areas. o Participated in NTIA's universal service field hearings. NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Allocated spectrum and established rules relating to licensing and operating Mobile Satellite Services, to provide voice and data services at the 1.6/2.5 GHz frequency bands. Services will include wide variety of applications such as anywhere cellular- like coverage. o Provided additional frequencies for cordless telephones. o Simplified depreciation schedules to reduce paperwork burden and allow recovery of capital more in step with carriers' actual patterns of capital consumption. o Approved applications to provide commercial video dialtone service and video dialtone service trials. NII Goal: Promote Seamless, Interactive, User-Driven Operation o Adopted regulations to ensure compatibility between cable systems and consumer electronics equipment such as TV sets, VCRs, and similar devices. o Adopted its expanded interconnection policy, creating new opportunities for competitive provision of local access servic- es. NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o Adopted policies enabling interstate Caller ID, yet protecting privacy interests. o Adopted effective measures to prevent toll fraud, without hindering the development of new technologies. o Renewed and revised the charter of its Network Reliability Council to review reliability issues relating to interconnec- tion, new technologies, national defense, emergency services, and regional needs. Also strengthened telephone service outage reporting requirements. NII Goal: Improve Management Of The Radio Frequency Spec- trum o Designed and conducted the first-ever auctions of radio spec- trum, for the provision of narrowband PCS and Interactive Video Data Services, using leading-edge auction techniques. These auctions raised over $800 million for the U.S. Treasury. o Adopted rules creating new, competitive personal communications services. Also established market-based incentives to relocate incumbent microwave licensees, enabling creation of robust new competition in the wireless market and lowering service costs to consumers. o Completed initial implementation of the Congressional mandate to establish consistent, symmetrical regulatory scheme to govern similar commercial mobile radio services, thereby creating a more level playing field, enhancing competition, and spurring innovation. o Revised Part 22 of the FCC's rules governing public mobile services. Eliminated outdated provisions and streamlined and expedited licensing process, thus expanding access to mobile radio networks and services. o Began transferring spectrum below 5 GHz from federal to private sector use. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government And With Other Bodies o Participated in joint federal-state boards to improve resolu- tion of state-related telecommunications issues. o Worked with local and state regulators implementing the Cable Act, establishing a framework for local as well as federal cable rate regulation. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information And Improve Government Procurement o Beginning February 1994, the FCC began posting Daily Digests, news releases, public notices, Reports, Orders, speeches, and transcripts of public meetings for public distribution on the Internet. On an average day, 500 users access the FCC's Inter- net address. During the July 1994 Narrowband PCS auctions, as many as 1,200 users accessed the Internet address. o Conducted public seminars, including nationwide satellite link- ups, to explain the spectrum auction procedures to potential bidders. o Deployed an e-mail system universally throughout the agency, providing both enhanced internal communication and Internet access to the entire Commission staff. o Began using telephone hotlines to provide the public informa- tion about major issues of significant interest such as cable regulation and spectrum auctions. The FCC and its contractor fielded over 19,000 telephone inquiries about spectrum auctions in less than three months. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA) NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Providing Fractional T1 Service, which permits custom-tailored telecommunications transmission service sized to specific agency requirements. o Providing compressed video transmission service that allows switching to any of up to eight locations during video confer- encing. o Making available high-capacity circuits that are ideal for broadcast quality television service and large data transfers between computers. NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o Providing secure packet switched service available with end-to- end encryption. o Contracting for national security/emergency preparedness measures to ensure continuity of government telecommunications under emergency or network overload conditions. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Nations o Participated on a number of international standards panels to improve the flow of international communications. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Will spend $3 million in FY 1995 to install government-wide e- mail system, as part of the Federal government's National Performance Review efforts. o Procured 800 number service for several Federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Federal Aviation Administration. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE (GPO) NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Initiated in June 1994 the GPO Access System providing free on- line access to government information from all 1,400 Federal Depository libraries. o Awarded development contract to help agencies manage informa- tion inventories as needed to participate in the Government Information Locator Service. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS) NII Goal: Extend The Universal Service Concept o Social Security Administration (SSA) is deploying kiosks to disseminate information and provide services as part of a pilot program. These kiosks will be available in easily accessible locations such as libraries, state social services offices, and banks. o SSA is upgrading communications network to provide services to remote locations and nursing homes, multimedia conferencing between Administration and State offices for disability claim- ant interviews, and electronic transfer of medical evidence. o SSA expanded significantly the number of payments disbursed electronically in cooperation with the Financial Management Service, Federal Reserve and the financial community. o Established 800 number services for the National Institutes of Health that work with telecommunications devices for the deaf, or that work with low- and high-speed computers that function like such devices. NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Implementing a prototype high-speed network, capable of sup- porting multimedia communication for medical research and education on the National Institutes of Health campus. This network will support high-performance radiation therapy plan- ning. o The Administration for Children and Families is pursuing electronic benefits transfer (EBT) technology, which can provide an efficient and affordable alternative for service delivery in the Aid to Families with Dependent Children pro- gram. The Administration is actively involved with more than 30 state projects using EBT. Eight states have implemented EBT, serving 350,000 cases this year. o The Health Care Financing Administration is developing benefi- ciary and provider information programs through HCFA ON-Line, a Presidential Investment Initiative. The programs will be based on new technology, reengineering, improved data sharing, the collection of quality of care information and the health status of selected heath care consumers, and will include an on-line imaging system for customer correspondence. This Initiative, which has been submitted for funding, will improve service delivery to a base of 60 million customers. o The National Library of Medicine awarded twelve grants to test health care applications including: computerized prescrip- tions; rural telemedicine (Oregon, West Virginia, Iowa); teleradiology; linking hospitals with primary care facilities; and linking computerized patient records with computerized medical images. NII Goal: Promote Seamless, Interactive, User-Driven Operation o The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) awarded a contract to develop an integrated Medicare claims processing and claims management information system that uses open systems architectures and distributed processing. This system will improve HCFA's support of electronic data interchange, and facilitate better claims coordination between Medicare, Medic- aid, and other payers. This initiative will enable HCFA to save a projected $200 million per year in claims processing costs, meet significant projected growth in Medicare claims volume, more quickly implement legislatively-mandated benefits and payments changes, and cope with increasing fraud and abuse. It will provide service to a base of 60 million customers. o HCFA is developing health care information standards for electronic data interchange in cooperation with the health care industry. Such standards will enable the electronic interchange of Medicare and Medicaid claims as well as a wide variety of reliable health care information. NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o SSA is preparing to test a Reengineered Disability System, using an electronic signature to ensure a disability claimant's privacy and to authenticate the identity of an evidentiary source in the transmission of medical evidence. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government o Public Health Service is developing the Hospital Cost and Utilization Project-3, which will create databases to permit states to compare their experience with the use and cost of hospital care with other states. This project has strong support from the states, and will be available for planning research in 1996. o SSA developed a process for immediately forwarding death data for beneficiaries to their banks, which prevents losses to the Administration and financial institutions when payments are erroneously issued after a beneficiary's death. o SSA reached an agreement with the State of Tennessee to elec- tronically access State records (e.g., birth, death, unemploy- ment compensation, etc.) for use in determining eligibility to and payment amounts for Administration programs. The Adminis- tration is exploring possible expansion to other states in order to speed up service delivery and reduce paperwork. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Developing GrantsNet, an on-line resource for grants profes- sionals and the public. It will provide easy Internet access to information about available grants. o Putting together an HHS-wide grants management information system to provide data on HHS's more than 300 grant programs and more than 60,000 annual grant awards to approximately 8,000 entities. o Making genetic information available on-line. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences' (NIGMS) Human Genetic Mutant Cell Repository has recently been added to on-line sources. The service is an exciting opportunity to make the cell catalog more than just a catalog. It will be a comprehen- sive, user-friendly source of information about genetic diseas- es. o The National Library of Medicine (NLM) maintains MEDLINE, the Library's largest (7 million references and abstracts) and most frequently consulted database, with 6 million searches so far in 1994. MEDLINE is widely used by practicing physicians, medical scientists and health educators. o NLM developed GRATEFUL MED software to provide easy, inexpen- sive access to the Library's vast collection of medical and health science information. The great majority of the Library's 85,000 member on-line network use the GRATEFUL MED software on IBM-compatible and Mackintosh PCs. o Going on-line with more than 15 million NLM records. Available databases include information on AIDS, cancer, bioethics, drugs, and poisons. GRATEFUL MED also sends out clinical alerts that provide important, lifesaving information to medical clinicians immediately. o SSA is preparing to offer information on commercial on-line services and exploring opportunities for e-mail communication with the public. o SSA is conducting a pilot project during the 1994 tax filing season, allowing 100-125 businesses to electronically transmit their annual wage reports (W-2s) to the Administration, reduc- ing paperwork and mailing costs. o SSA expanded a pilot project in the Dallas/Fort Worth area involving the distribution of benefits through automated teller machines and point-of-sale retail terminals. o SSA is working with the IITF to define the requirements for a prototype system capable of delivering both federally and state-administered benefits using one electronic benefits transfer card. o SSA is providing electronic access to the extensive, tabulated data in its Annual Statistical Supplement to the Social Securi- ty Bulletin. Information is included about payments, beneficia- ries and relevant economic factors for programs administered by SSA. NII Goal: Improve Government Procurement o Investigating the use of commercial off-the-shelf software products that support open system standards and electronic data interchange. Using nationally accepted standard formats will ensure that HHS procurement information can be easily obtained and understood by the general public. o Established connectivity with the Department of Defense (DOD) in order to participate in the Electronic Commerce program. This connection allows HHS to send Requests for Quotations to the DOD hub in order to expand the availability of procurement information to the public. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government o Connecting hundreds of public housing authorities to the HUD Bulletin Board System, which allows the housing authorities to receive HUD Headquarters notices, and to engage in e-mail dialogue with HUD Field Offices. More than 350 housing authori- ties were connected in the first sixty days of operation beginning in April 1994. o Implemented the HUD Homes Rocky Mountain Bulletin Board System to serve real estate professionals who are registered with HUD. The real estate professionals access the bulletin board weekly to receive lists of HUD properties that are available for sale to the public in Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota. The system eliminates mailing costs and provides more timely information. o Implementing a bulletin board system to provide a method for electronic communication between HUD staff in the Community Planning and Development program area and their 1,200 business partners in communities across the country. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Encouraging business partners such as mortgage companies to use electronic data interchange for increased productivity and faster processing of financial transactions. The HUD Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Program that facilitates computer-to- computer exchange of business documents between HUD and its business partners (mortgage lenders) became operational on July 8, 1994. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has completed pilot testing with two mortgage lender/servicers and HUD is now developing a national implementation schedule for implementing single family mortgage insurance claims as the premier EDI program initiative. Other FHA business transactions that will soon follow are: Mortgage Loan Default Reporting, Mortgage Record Changes/Terminations, and Mortgage Insurance Premium Collections. This is a major milestone in HUD's progress towards the use of EDI in all HUD program and administrative initiatives that require high volume, paper-based, frequently recurring submissions to the Department from private and/or public sector sources. o Providing distance learning, policy announcements, and brief- ings to HUD staff and client agencies through satellite down- links to 55 field offices, as part of the HUD Television Network (HTN). The HTN was implemented in response to a recom- mendation from the Secretary's Task Force on Departmental Training, that technology be used to deliver training and information to HUD staff and client agencies on a nation-wide basis. Installation of satellite downlinks to 55 field offices began in January 1994. With the exception of four field offic- es, all installations will be completed in FY 1994. In conjunc- tion with this broadcast capability, HUD has installed a student response keypad system which supports interactive distance learning. This technology gives HUD the ability, on a nation-wide basis, to: deliver HUD-developed training; broadcast information about HUD's programs to a wide audience; and to capture satel- lite broadcasts sponsored by professional organizations, universities and other government entities. The result has been that HUD can train more staff at lower cost, and more effi- ciently deliver information about HUD's programs to citizens and HUD's programmatic partners at the local level. o Implementing Internet access for HUD Headquarters is expected to be completed by September 12, 1994. By the end of FY 1994, Internet access will be provided to ten major HUD Field Offices via the HUD Integrated Network (HINET) using existing hardware and software in HUD Headquarters and Field Offices. FY 1995 plans call for HUD to implement the infrastructure necessary for nationwide agency access to Internet. Internet provides HUD with the capability to exchange information with educational institutions, government agencies, commercial and non-profit organizations. It provides a wide range of services including electronic mail, file searching, forwarding and retrieval, bulletin boards and discussion groups. In addition, plans are under- way to provide access by outside sources to agency informa- tion. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI) NII Goal: Promote Private Sector Investment o Working with a consortium of commercial enterprises to build an NII testbed for demonstrating transfer of earth science infor- mation and development of commercial software. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government And With Other Nations o Establishing through the National Biological Survey a National Biological Information Infrastructure to facilitate finding and accessing biological data by all users. o Assisting in the development of a Great Lakes Information Network, a cooperative effort to develop and share a wide variety of information about the Great Lakes between and among federal, state, local, and Canadian governments, as well as the private sector. o Through the Federal Geographic Data Committee, created a Competitive Cooperative Agreements Program to encourage use of the NII for geospatial data sharing by state and local govern- ments, and the private sector. NII Goal: provide access to government information o Working with the Office of Management and Budget and interagen- cy committees, the U.S. Geological Survey developed the overall design of the Government Information Locator Service, which facilitates public access to government information sources. o Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt chairs the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), an interagency committee that is developing guidelines and standards for the public dissemi- nation of geospatial data. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ) NII Goal: Improve Spectrum Management o Working with the Treasury Department to establish a wireless telecommunications network that will enable Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials to contact agents in the field and monitor their whereabouts or vital signs. o Preparing to open for public use radio frequencies previously dedicated for law enforcement by designing a radio system based on digital technology and replacing all current equipment between 1995 and 2005. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Planning to test electronic filing and e-mail approval of grant applications in order to speed processing. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o The Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) currently disseminates information on CD-ROM, including all OSHA regulations, documents, and technical information. Over 7,000 copies are produced quarterly and nearly 600 are provided to Federal Depository libraries. o The Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Current Employment Survey, which produces the nation's monthly employment and earnings data is changing its data collection techniques to allow surveyed firms to submit responses electronically. This data will be processed at a newly established data center in Chicago, Illinois. Using Electronic Data Interchange, this effort will improve the timeliness and quality of these statis- tics, reduce the burden of information collection, and simplify the collection process of both the employer and BLS. o Taking steps to fully connect the Department to the Internet by Fall, 1994. o Developing a database of high-performance work practices that will be available to the public through the Internet. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS The Library of Congress is an independent entity whose activities have been consistent with the Administration's NII goals. NII Goal: Promote Private Sector Investment o Working with private companies and organizations under the American Memory Project to support the digitization of selected collections for public distribution. o Working with cable television and telecommunications firms, and with universities and research labs to develop new ways to distribute electronic collections. NII Goal: Extend The Universal Service Concept o Software is available free of charge to the public, which enables the downloading and use of a mouse-driven interface for searching the Library's on-line public catalog. NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Established a Digital Library Initiative to address issues related to the acquisition and management of digital collec- tions. o Prototyped new applications for providing and accepting infor- mation via Internet's World Wide Web and Mosaic. o Developed an image and text scanning center for immediate-need, high priority projects. o Initiated the development of a Digital Library Visitor Center to demonstrate the Library's use of technology to improve service to Congress and the Nation. o Established a Technology Assessment Laboratory to explore emerging technologies, including technology for the disabled. NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o Reduced threats to the Library's security from external sources through router access restrictions and heightened security- conscious administration of critical host. o Implemented a network management system to assure high avail- ability of internal networks and external connectivity. NII Goal: Protect Intellectual Property Rights o Developed an imaging system for copyright registrations. o Exploring the use of high-performance computing systems and networks, tools, and procedures to manage copyright information and other intellectual property rights in a network environ- ment. o Working with holders of music collections of historical signif- icance to digitize and make such holdings available electroni- cally. o Developing the Electronic Copyright Management System, an interagency effort, involving both the executive and legisla- tive branches of government, which will serve as a testbed for evaluation of the concepts and issues surrounding electronic copyright deposit, registration, and recordation of ownership, and licensing transactions. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government And With Other Nations o Creating international exchange of legal statutes and informa- tion on Internet via the Global Legal Information Network (Poland, Ukraine, Central and South American nations). o Assisting national parliaments emerging from the dissolved Soviet Union by assessing their information technology needs and providing the necessary tools, skills, capabilities, hardware and software for implementation. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Providing Internet users with access to more than 26 million records, including a catalog of holdings in more than 400 languages. o Providing remote researchers with an easy, mouse-driven inter- face (LC ACCESS) for searching selected Library files. This interface is provided free to the public through a special licensing agreement. o Developing a campus-wide information system (LC MARVEL), which is a source of information by and about the Library, Congress, and other government entities. NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Arranged and hosted a workshop on electronic dissemination of legal information. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) NII Goal: Act As Catalyst To Promote Technological Innova- tion And New Applications o Established a cooperative agreement to form a Remote Sensing Public Access Center (RSPAC) for demonstrating, testing and transferring technology to help provide public use of Earth and space science data over the Internet. By providing Internet access and user help, remote sensing data now will be available to the educational community (K-12 to the university level), television and print media, libraries and hobbyists. NASA funding for this effort is $2.8 million. o Awarded $4.6 million for cooperative agreements to develop remote sensing database (RSDB) applications. All of these projects support the NII and represent a large diversity in technical approach and application. o Awarded $2.1 million for cooperative agreements governing digital library projects. These projects will advance the technologies in use by digital libraries and offer new paths for the libraries of tomorrow. o Initiated cross-agency (ARPA)/NASA/NSF) Digital Libraries research. NASA's contribution was $400,000. NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o Researching electronic digital signatures and authenticated EC/EDI transactions over an X.435/X.400 infrastructure. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government And With Other Nations o Supporting CENDI (Commerce, Energy, NASA, National Library of Medicine, Defense), a multi-agency effort which addresses management of scientific and technical information (STI) resources across the Executive Branch of the Federal Govern- ment. The CENDI coordination efforts result in more standard- ized management of Federal information and its integration into the NII. o Initiated Spacebridge to Moscow, a telemedicine demonstration Project for the purpose of conducting medical consultations with the Russian medical community. Spacebridge links two diverse medical cultures via a double hop satellite network. Fourteen clinical sessions focusing on a variety of medical disciplines were conducted during the year. Two of the clinical sessions were devoted to emergency medical care in the after- math of the political turmoil that occurred in Moscow in October 1993. o Extended the NASA Science Internet (NSI) to locations around the globe, thus providing a foundation for the Global Informa- tion Infrastructure (GII). The NSI goes directly to 16 coun- tries and via Internet peers to about 70 countries. o Sponsored a meeting on U.S./Japanese exchange of scientific and technical information. Twenty-two Japanese scientific and technical institutions representing government, national laboratories and universities attended. The Japanese informa- tion obtained by NASA through the exchange process will be shared with the U.S. research community over the Internet. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Sponsored a K-12 Workshop that covered access to NASA informa- tion over the Internet for educational institutions and teach- ers. o Issued a Cooperative Agreement Notice on Public Use of Earth and Space Science Data Over the Internet, which will result in selected NASA data and information (especially remote sensing data) being available to the public. o Sponsored development of the NASA Access Mechanism (NAM) to provide an easy-to-use tool to navigate the Internet and access NASA scientific and technical information. This system provides access to more than three million citations worldwide. The NAM software is being made available to the public through the NASA Computer Software Management and Information Center (COSMIC). NASA funding for this effort was $250,000. NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Awarding grants to develop interactive language instruction applications and to develop a digitized, nationally accessible Oral Language Archive providing authentic speech as various levels and in various world languages. o Funding research and demonstration efforts to encourage the use of digitization technology for the preservation and dissemina- tion of humanities resources. o Awarding fellowship grants that use existing electronic tools to conduct humanities research and that result in electronic publication of research findings. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) NII Goal: Promote Private Sector Investment o Funded the NFSNET program in Internet hardware, software and connectivity, promoting the emergence of a vigorous and highly- competitive private-sector networking industry. Total invest- ment for this effort was $39.3 million in FY 1994. o Funded the development of a standardized specification for a high-performance Fortran language for supercomputers. At least 12 companies have announced products using these standards. NII Goal: Extend The Universal Service Concept o Connected more than 1,200 U.S. colleges and universities, and facilitated the connection of over a thousand high schools, libraries, medical schools, and public health facilities to the Internet through the NFSNET program. o Provided five-year grants ranging from $800,000 to $1.5 million for computer and information science and engineering depart- ments in minority institutions (usually African American or Hispanic) to provide network access, and aided research, education and outreach activities in science and engineering. Total investment in FY 1994 is $2.2 million for this program. NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Demonstrated the power and promise of educational networking through the Global Schoolhouse project, which uses e-mail and simplified video conferencing among elementary school pupils in eleven states and the United Kingdom. o More than 90 students and teachers participated in Superquest, a nationwide summer program for high school students and their teachers to work on computational science and engineering applications of advanced computing and communications at high- performance computing centers. o Connected the Antarctic science facilities to the Internet for high-speed transmission of global data, images from telescopes, and general interactive tele-science from remotely located experimental centers. o Funded, jointly with ARPA, five gigabit network testbeds for research on very high speed communications networks. This project includes significant private sector collaboration. Total NSF funding for FY 1993 and FY 1994 was $2.8 million for this project. o Funded, jointly with ARPA, a Human Language Technology three-year research initiative requiring industrial participa- tion to investigate the use of speech and natural language for more accessible human-computer interface technologies. NSF's investment in this project in FY 1994 was $800,000. NII Goal: Promote Seamless, Interactive, User-Driven Operation o Continued research, development, and distribution by the National Center for Supercomputer Applications of a public domain software suite called Mosaic. Mosaic enables dynamic browsing, retrieval, and display of multimedia data from the Internet's World Wide Web. In less than a year, Mosaic has become the fastest growing Internet-based application, with over 30,000 copies being delivered each month. Mosaic's hyper- text capability allows users to browse through links to over 2,300 databases. o Established a National Metacenter to provide seamless access to a national computing environment across all four NSF Super- computer Centers, and initiated a program to support from four to six Metacenter Regional Alliances. NII Goal: Access To Government Information o Established a federal working group in cooperation with 15 other agencies to support continued evolution of MOSAIC hyper- text multimedia software. The agencies will transfer more effectively and make accessible their public information more easily to the public in a timely, accurate, and less costly manner via the Internet. o Funded a $666,000 pilot project which makes the Securities and Exchange Commission's Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval (EDGAR) database accessible via the Internet. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (OMB) NII Goal: Promote Seamless, Interactive, User-Driven Operation o Revised Circular A-119 on October 20, 1993 in order to encour- age agencies to use domestic and international voluntary standards in regulatory and procurement activities. o Issued a draft report to the Vice President in early 1994 on unifying the electronic delivery of government-funded benefits for all levels of government. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (SBA) NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o Working with the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization to transfer Department of Defense-developed data encryption and transmission technology to non-defense and commercial applica- tions. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government And With Other Nations o Hosts the Americans Communicating Electronically (ACE) team, made up of more than 70 agencies throughout the Federal govern- ment, plus state and county government officials, and members from more than 350 local communities and 15 foreign nations. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Providing public access to SBA information through a bulletin board system, with gateway access to other government agency bulletin boards and Internet e-mail access. DEPARTMENT OF STATE NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government And With Other Nations o Providing information on the Summit of the Americas through Internet at Florida State University. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Operates the Overseas Security Electronic Bulletin Board through the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. This on-line infor- mation service serves the U.S. business community abroad, reporting on crime and security issues by country and providing profiles of terrorist groups. o Preparing to provide 25,000 State and A.I.D. employees world- wide with Internet access via its internal unclassified e-mail systems (DOSNET and OpenNet). Beta testing of this application is underway. o Provides State Department information through GPO's Federal Bulletin Board. Six primary file libraries are on-line: Public Affairs/Spokesman, Geographic Areas, Global Issues, Economics and Trade, Travel Information, and Administrative/Reference. o Publishes Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets on CompuServe and on the Internet through St. Olaf College. (Bureau of Consular Affairs) o Provides information on the Western Hemisphere to Internet users through Florida International University. The university reported 17,000 log-ons in the past three months. o Will begin publishing Department information on the Internet via the University of Illinois at Chicago in November 1994. Publications will include U.S. Department of State Dispatch, Background Notes, and Foreign Relations of the United States. UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Leading multi-agency development of general purpose kiosks for providing government information and services. TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY (TVA) NII Goal: Promote Private Sector Investment o Working with local government and business leaders to plan Telecommunications Rural Application Centers in the Elk River region of south central Tennessee and Northern Alabama NII Goal: Extend The Universal Service Concept o Operating seven education telecommunication pilot projects throughout the 91,000-square-mile region, serving 10,000 adults and youth. o Installed a networked CD-ROM optical server as part of a fiber- based digital network in the rural north central area of Tennessee. The server allows users simultaneous access across the network to data and images, including maps, artwork, games, interactive courses and on-line encyclopedias. NII Goal: Ensure Information Security And Network Reliabil- ity o Designed, engineered, and installed approximately 900 miles of fiber optic groundwire cable as part of its electrical trans- mission system. Over 90 percent of this fiber was installed through cooperative projects with commercial long distance carriers. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government o Developed a two-way interactive telecommunications network for 13 counties in southwest Virginia, in cooperation with state and local officials. o Established an 11-site network to connect high schools and colleges as community resource centers for education, govern- ment, health providers, and businesses/industry. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) NII Goal: Promoting Technological Innovation And New Applications o Established an Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS) Program Office and IVHS Program Plan to promote the application of numerous advanced technologies to improve safety, increase operational efficiency and productivity, enhance mobility, reduce emissions, and improve fuel efficiency of transportation systems. IVHS will develop and deploy various user services such as pre-trip travel information, en-route travel advisories on traffic conditions, trip routing, travel information servic- es, fleet management systems, and incident management informa- tion systems. o Coordinating the expanded applications of Global Positioning System technologies to all aspects of transportation, including maritime, land, and air navigation and cargo and vehicle locating and tracking systems. NII Goal: Coordinate With Other Levels Of Government o Permits states to record and transmit detailed Federal Aid construction expenditures electronically. NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information And Improve Government Procurement o Established an Internet gateway and public access to the DOT Intermodal Data Network to improve access to DOT information through electronic bulletin boards and other sources. o Consolidating docket offices while providing public access, search, and print capabilities as part of an automated Docket Management System. o Planning to expand existing EDI capability to include receiving and processing of large-volume utility company invoices. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY NII Goal: Promote Technological Innovation And New Applica- tions o Established, along with the Justice Department in April 1994, a Federal Law Enforcement Wireless Users Group, which will develop a nationwide wireless network for use by Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. o Began a 12-state demonstration project in January 1994, along with the Social Security Administration and the Labor Depart- ment, to study streamlined electronic tax and wage reporting for the Nation's business community. o Chairs the Government Information Technology Services Working Group of the IITF, which is responsible for coordinating efforts to use information technology to reinvent government. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS NII Goal: Provide Access To Government Information o Working with the Treasury Department and the U.S. Postal Service to develop a common kiosk that will provide public access to information and interaction with all three agencies. APPENDIX B Information Infrastructure Task Force Last September, the White House formed the Information Infrastructure Task Force (IITF) to articulate and implement the Administration's vision for the NII. The IITF includes high-level representatives of the Federal agencies that play a major role in the development and application of information and telecommunications technologies. The IITF, chaired by Secretary of Commerce Ronald H. Brown, consists of the following committees, working groups, and forum: Information Policy, Telecommunications Policy, Applications and Technology, and NII Security Issues Forum. The Information Policy Committee (IPC) identifies and suggests criti- cal information policy that must be addressed if the National Informa- tion Infrastructure is to be fully deployed and utilized, particularly those issues which may serve as barriers to the utilization of the infrastructure as the Nation's primary communications channel. The Committee is chaired by Sally Katzen, Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. The Committee has established three working groups to address key areas: protection of intellectual property in an electronic communi- cations environment; ensuring the privacy of personal information stored and transmitted electronically; and maximizing the dissemina- tion of government information to the public. The Intellectual Property Working Group is seeking to develop an appropriate balance among the rights of copyright owners and users in the development of the information infrastructure. It considers the impact of technical matters and standards to ensure that these systems will be able to intercommunicate. It will develop a system that provides appropriate economic incentives for the inclusion of the full range of entertainment and information products in the NII. Bruce Lehman, Commissioner of the Patent and Trademark Of- fice, Department of Commerce, chairs this working group. The Privacy Working Group addresses and examines whether existing laws, practices, and policies will adequately protect individual privacy; and recommends actions, including the possibility of specific legislation in this area to ensure public trust in the use of the system. Robert Veeder, Office of Privacy, Internal Revenue Service, chairs this working group. The Government Information Working Group promotes the dissemina- tion of government information in electronic form. The Working Group identifies and recommends action on such information policy issues as the copyright of government information, the pricing of government information, and policies to maintain a diversity of information sources. Bruce McConnell, Information Policy Branch of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, chairs this working group. The Committee on Applications and Technology (CAT) coordinates the Administration's efforts to develop, demonstrate, and promote applica- tions of the NII and to develop and recommend technology strategy and policy to accelerate its implementation. Applications include manufac- turing, education, health care, government services, libraries, environmental monitoring, electronic commerce, and other areas. The Committee is chaired by Arati Prabhakar, Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The Committee has established three working groups: government information technology services, technology policy and health information and applications. The Government Information Technology Working Group is developing (1) a strategic vision and an implementation plan for using gov- ernment information resources across and within agencies, (2) steps to improve how government provides information and services to the public, and (3) strategies to empower information technolo- gy management in federal agencies and set priorities for sharing information resources among agencies. James Flyzik, Director, Office of Telecommunications Management, Department of Treasury, chairs the working group. The Technology Policy Working Group addresses cross-cutting tech- nology issues related to interoperability and scalability of new telecommunications and information services. Duane Adams, Deputy Director of Advanced Research Projects Agency, chairs the working group. The Working Group has established four subgroups: advanced digital video and NII, NII roadmap, NII services architecture, and NII standards. The Health Information and Applications Working Group fosters the development, deployment and use of the NII to improve the health of all Americans. The Working Group identifies and makes recommen- dations on policy and technical issues that affect the design, development, and use of the NII for health. John Silva, Program Manager, Advanced Research Projects Agency, chairs the working group. The Working Group has established three subgroups: tele- medicine, consumer health informatics, and standards. The Telecommunications Policy Committee (TPC) formulates a consistent Administration position on key telecommunications issues. The Commit- tee takes in account the current technological, marketplace, and regulatory developments in assessing government telecommunications policies, proposals for changes to such policies, and other factors within its jurisdiction. The Committee is chaired by Larry Irving, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and information. The Committee has established four working groups: universal service, network reliability and vulnerability, international telecommunica- tions, and legislative drafting task force. The Universal Service Working Group is working to ensure that all Americans have access to and can enjoy the benefits of the NII. Larry Irving chairs the working group. The Network Reliability and Vulnerability Working Group ensures that the NII will (1) provide protection for all users from cata- strophic failure of the network and the information services it provides, along with mechanisms for recovery from threats ranging from natural disasters to overt attacks; and (2) define and moni- tor the national security and emergency preparedness requirements. David Signori, Associate Director, Defense Information System Agency, chairs this working group. The International Telecommunications Working Group examines tele- communications issues from an international perspective. Carol Darr, Associate Administrator of the Office of International Affairs of NTIA, chairs this working group. The Working Group has established five subgroups to examine the following issues: (1) foreign government/foreign corporation participation in the NII and the use of the NII to open overseas markets; (2) the effect of current law on setting policy and legislative efforts to change the law; (3) the purposes of the United States government control- ling the flow of technology transfers; (4) United States partici- pation in international organizations and standards setting bod- ies; and (5) international use of research networks. The Legislative Drafting Task Force has been formulating and developing the Administration's telecommunications legislative reform initiatives. The Task Force addresses cross-cutting issues. Larry Irving, Assistant Secretary of Commerce on Communications and Information, chairs the group. The NII Security Issues Forum provides leadership for Federal NII security activities. The Forum will ensure coordination of the security activities across the various Committees of the Informa- tion Infrastructure Task Force (IITF) and serve as a clearinghouse for Federal security efforts related to the NII. The Forum will facilitate a public dialogue in order to define the security requirements for the NII. These objectives will prepare the Forum to consider the scope of legal, policy, technological, and manage- rial remedies necessary to achieve desired security in the NII and what the Federal role will be to assure that security needs are fulfilled. Information Infrastructure Task Force (IITF) Key Contacts Ronald H. Brown, Secretary of Phone: 202/395-4852 Commerce Fax: 202/395-3047 Chair, Information Infrastruc- ture Task Force Thomas Kalil, Director 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Science and Technology Washington, D.C. 20230 National Economic Council Phone: 202/482-3934 Old Executive Office Building, Fax: 202/482-4576 Room 233 Internet: nii@ntia.doc.gov Washington, D.C. 20500 Phone: 202/456-2801 Fax: 202/456-2223 Larry Irving,, Assistant Secre- Internet: tkalil@darpa.mis tary for Communications and Information, Administrator Donald Lindberg, Director, HPCC National Telecommunications and National Coordination Information Office of the National Library Administration of Medicine Chair, IITF Telecommunication 8600 Rockville Pike Policy Committee Bethesda, Maryland 20894 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Phone: 301/402-4100 Washington, D.C. 20230 Fax: 301/402-4080 Phone: 202/482-1840 Internet: lindberg@hpcc.gov Fax: 202/482-1635 Internet: li@ntia.doc.gov David Lytel, Information Infra- structure Specialist Arati Prabhakar, Director, Office of Science & Technology National Institute of Standards Policy and Technology Old Executive Office Building, Chair, IITF Committee on Appli- Room 423 cations and Technology Washington, D.C. 20500 Administration Building, Room Phone: 202/456-6037 A1134 Fax: 202/456-6023 Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 Internet: dlytel@ostp.oep.gov Phone: 301/975-2300 Fax: 301/869-8972 Internet: arati@micf.nist.gov Michael Nelson, Special Assis- tant Information Technology Sally Katzen, Administrator, Office of Science and Technology Office of Information and Regu- Old Executive Office Building, latory Affairs Room 423 Office of Management and Budget Washington, D.C. 20500 Chair, IITF Information Policy Phone: 202/456-6039 Committee Fax: 202/456-6023 New Executive Office Building, Internet: mnelson@ostp.oep.gov Rom 350 Washington, D.C. 20503 Greg C. Simon, Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President Office of the Vice President Old Executive Office Building 17th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20501 Phone: 202/456-6222 Fax: 202/456-6231 Jonathan Sallet, Office of the Secretary Department of Commerce 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20230 Phone: 202/482-4127 Fax: 202/482-4191 Internet: jsallet@doc.gov Denise Michel, Office of the Secretary Department of Commerce 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20230 Phone: 202/482-4127 Fax: 202/482-4191 Internet: dmichel@doc.gov Cita Furlani, Director, Office of En terprise Integration National Institute of Standards and Technology Administration Building, Room A1134 Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 Phone: 301/975-2300 Fax: 301/869-8972 Internet: cfurlani@micf.nist.gov APPENDIX C Advisory Council on the National Information Infrastructure Secretary Brown, pursuant to Executive Order No. 12864, announced the formation of the United States Advisory Council on the National Information Infrastructure on January 6, 1994. Mr. Delano Lewis, President and CEO of National Public Radio, and Mr. Ed McCracken, CEO of Silicon Graphics, Inc., have been appointed as co-chairpersons. The 37-member Council broadly represents the key constituencies impacted by the NII, including business, labor, academia, public interest groups, and state and local government. The Council was created to advise the Administration, through the Secretary of Commerce, on matters related to the development of the NII, such as: the appropriate roles of the private and public sectors in the development of the NII; a vision for the evolution of the NII and its public and commercial applications; the impact of current and proposed regulatory regimes on the evolution of the NII, privacy, security, and copyright issues, national strategies for maximizing interconnection and interoperability of communications networks; and universal access. To that effect, in April of this year the Advisory Council established three Mega-Projects: Vision and Goals for the NII, Access to the NII, and Privacy, Security and Intellectual Property backbone for the initial programmatic work of the NIIAC. While the work of the NIIAC is at the embryonic stage, the individual Mega-Projects have been involved in a number of activities including co-sponsoring, along with the IITF's Security Issues Forum, a public hearing of security issues, conducting extensive environmental scans in order to create a matrix of options for achieving universal access to the NII, and developing a set of outreach efforts in order to further public education of the NII. Appendix D List Of Acronyms ACS Automated Commercial System AFSMS Automated Federal Spectrum Management System ARPA Advanced Research Projects Agency ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode CAT Committee on Applications and Technology CEA Council of Economic Adviser CIA Central Intelligence Agency DAVE Distributed Audio Video Environment DBMS Database Management System DISA Defense Information Systems Agency DOC U.S. Department of Commerce DOD U.S. Department of Defense DOE U.S. Department of Energy DOI U.S. Department of the Interior DOL U.S. Department of Labor DOT U.S. Department of Transportation DSS Digital Signature Standard ECAC Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Center EDI Electronic Data Interchange EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPRI Electric Power Research Institute FCC Federal Communications Commission FGDC Federal Geographic Data Committee FHWA Federal Highway Administration FLEWUG Federal Law Enforcement Wireless Users Group GAMS Guide to Available Mathematical Software GII Global Information Infrastructure GILS Government Information Locator Service GLIN Global Legal Information Network GOIN Global Observation Information Network GPO Government Printing Office GSA General Services Administration HCFA Health Care Financing Administration HCUP-3 Hospital Cost and Utilization Project-3 HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HPCC High Performance Computing and Communications HPSS High Speed Storage System HUD U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ICE Interactive Collaborative Environments IITF Information Infrastructure Task Force IOC Initial Operating Capability IPC Information Policy Committee IPS Internet Protocol Suite ISDN Integrated Switched Data Networks LOC Library of Congress MFJ Modified Final Judgment NVCASE National Voluntary Conformity Assessment Systems Evaluation NASA National Aeronautical and Space Administration NEC National Economic Council NEH National Endowment for the Humanities NERSC National Energy Research Supercomputer Center NII National Information Infrastructure NIIAC National Information Infrastructure Advisory Council NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology NSDI National Spatial Data Infrastructure NSL National Storage Lab NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NPR National Performance Review NTIA National Telecommunications and Information Administration NSF National Science Foundation OMB Office of Management and Budget OIRA Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs OSI Open Systems Interconnection OSTP Office of Science and Technology Policy PCS Personal Communications Services PDNs Public Data Networks REA Rural Electrification Administration TIIAP Telecommunications Information Infrastructure Assistance Program TPC Telecommunications Policy Committee TRAC Telecommunications Rural Applications Center TVA Tennessee Valley Authority USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture USGS United States Geological Survey USPS United States Postal Service VAT Video Audio Tools APPENDIX E List of Publications 1) The Information Infrastructure: Realizing Society's Goals Report (Released September 1994 by the IITF Committee on Applications & Technology) 2) The NII Field Hearings on Universal Service and Open Access: America Speaks Out Report (Released September 1994 by the IITF Technology Policy Committee) 3) A Vision for Government Information Technology Services and the National Information Infrastructure Report (Released August 1994 by the Government Information Technology Services Working Group of the IITF Committee on Applications and Technology) 4) Intellectual Property and the National Information Infrastruc- ture Preliminary Draft Report (Released July 1994 by the IITF Intellectual Property Rights Working Group) 5) Economic Benefits of the Administration's Legislative Proposals for Telecommunications (Released June 14, 1994 by the Council of Economic Advisers) 6) Putting the Information Infrastructure to Work Report (Released May 1994 by the IITF Committee on Applications & Tech- nology) 7) Government Information Locator Service (GILS) Draft Report (Released April 1994 by the IITF Information Policy Committee) 8) Draft Principles for the Code of Fair Information Practices Report (Released April 1994 by the IITF Information Policy Committee) 9) 20/20 Vision, The Development of a National Information Infra- structure (Released March 1994) 10) The White Paper Administration White Paper on Communications Act Reforms (Released January 26, 1994) 11) What It Takes To Make It Happen: Key Issues For Applications Of The National Information Infrastructure (Released January 25, 1994 by the IITF Committee on Applications & Technology) 12) Background on the Administration's Telecommunications Policy Reform Initiative (Released January 11, 1994) APPENDIX F Testimony and Speeches 1) Assistant Secretary Larry Irving Telecommunications and Informa- tion Technologies and Their Impact on Inner-City Communities: The Opportunity and the Threat, Remarks at the Harlem Economic Devel- opment Conference, August 10, 1994 2) Dr. Arati Prabhakar Technology and Applications: Building he NII, before the IEEE/Technology Policy Council on the NII, McLean, Virginia, June 29, 1994 3) Dr. Arati Prabhakar Designing the Information Infrastructure, before the IEEE Spectrum NII Roundtable, Washington, D.C., June 28, 1994 4) Assistant Secretary Larry Irving Today's Challenge for the Elec- tronics Industry: Think Creatively, remarks at Infohighway '94 Consumer Electronics Show, June 23, 1994 5) Dr. Arati Prabhakar The NII and the Committee on Applications and Technology: An Update, before the North American ISDN Users' Forum NII Seminar, Washington, D.C., June 21, 1994 6) Vice President Gore Remarks before the Communications Workers of America, Detroit, Michigan, June 14, 1994 7) Cita Furlani (for Dr. Arati Prabhakar) Before the Subcommittee on Technology, Environment, and Aviation and the Subcommittee on Science, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on Electron- ic Commerce and Interoperability in the National Information Infrastructure (House), May 26, 1994 8) Secretary Ronald Brown Remarks before the Conference on Education- al Technology, Lincoln, Nebraska, May 21, 1994 9) Dr. Arati Prabhakar Committee on Applications and Technology of the Information Infrastructure Task Force: An Update, before the Brookings Institute, May 19, 1994 10) Assistant Secretary Larry Irving Speech before the Internation- al Herald Tribune Washington & World Business Conference, April 21, 1994 11) Secretary Ronald Brown Global Information Infrastructure before Alex Brown & Sons Media Communications Seminar, New York, New York, April 19, 1994 12) Assistant Secretary Larry Irving Appropriations Hearing before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies, Committee on Appropriations (House), April 14, 1994 13) Dr. Arati Prabhakar The National Information Infrastructure: Preparing for Its Impact on the Future of Health Care, before the Health Care Information Solutions Conference Washington, D.C., April 14, 1994 14) Vice President Gore Shaping the National Information Infra- structure, before the Public Interest Summit, Washington D.C., March 29, 1994 15) Dr. Arati Prabhakar Civilian Technology for Economic Growth: The Changing Face of Federal R&D NII Applications and Technolo- gy, before the Bellcore's General Research Colloquium, Murray Hill, New Jersey, March 28-30, 1994 16) Vice President Gore Global Information Infrastructure, before the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Conference, Buenos Aires, March 21, 1994 17) Dr. Arati Prabhakar Federal Role in Information Infrastruc- ture, before ARPA's High Performance Computing and Communica- tions (HPCC) Symposium, Alexandria, Virginia, March 17, 1994 18) Assistant Secretary Larry Irving Beyond a 500 Channel World, Remarks before The Road to the Future: Economic Growth, Universal Access, and the National Information Superhighway, Tulsa, Oklahoma, February 25, 1994 19) Secretary Ronald Brown S.1822, The Communications Act of 1994, before the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transpor- tation (Senate), February 23, 1994 20) Assistant Secretary Larry Irving The Clinton Administration's National Information Infrastructure Initiative, before the United States Chamber of Commerce, Washington D.C., February 8, 1994 21) Assistant Secretary Larry Irving Telecommunications Reform Legislation, before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance, Committee on Energy and Commerce (House), January 27, 1994 22) Assistant Secretary Larry Irving Telecommunications Reform Legislation, before the Subcommittee on Economic and Commer- cial Law, Committee on the Judiciary (House), January 26, 1994 23) Vice President Gore National Telecommunications Reform, before the Academy of Television Arts and Science, University of California - Los Angeles (Royce Hall), January 11, 1994 24) Vice President Gore Remarks before the National Press Club, Washington D.C. December 21, 1993 25) Dr. Arati Prabhakar The NII: A View from the Department of Commerce, before the Annenberg Washington Program's Conference on the National Information Infrastructure, Washington, D.C., November 9, 1993 26) Dr. Arati Prabhakar CALS and the NII Information Technology Tools to Promote Economic Growth, before the CALS Exposition, Atlanta, Georgia, October 26, 1993 27) Secretary Ronald Brown Remarks before the Networked Economy Conference, Washington D.C., October 20, 1993 28) Dr. Arati Prabhakar The National Information Infrastructure and NIST's Role, before Women in Government Relations, Wash- ington, D.C., September 29, 1993 29) Dr. Arati Prabhakar Building the National Information Infra- structure: The Role of Government, before the Industry Summit (MIT), Cambridge, MA, September 9-12, 1993