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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1757 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1757

To provide for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate development 
  and dissemination of applications of high-performance computing and 
             high-speed networking, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 21, 1993

 Mr. Boucher (for himself, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Brown of California, Mr. 
   Valentine, Mr. Traficant, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Bacchus of Florida, Mr. 
 Cramer, Mr. Barcia, Mr. Klein, Mr. Fingerhut, Mr. McHale, Ms. Eshoo, 
Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Wise, 
Mr. Blackwell, and Mr. Kanjorski) introduced the following bill; which 
    was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

                             June 15, 1993

   Additional sponsors: Mr. Payne of New Jersey, Mr. Towns, and Mr. 
                                Machtley

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To provide for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate development 
  and dissemination of applications of high-performance computing and 
             high-speed networking, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``High Performance Computing and High 
Speed Networking Applications Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) high-performance computing and high-speed networks have 
        proven to be powerful tools for improving America's national 
        security, industrial competitiveness, research capabilities, 
        and ability to make a wide array of information available for a 
        variety of applications;
            (2) Federal programs, such as the High-Performance 
        Computing Program and National Research and Education Network 
        established by Congress in 1991, are vital to the maintenance 
        of United States leadership in high-performance computing and 
        high-speed network development, particularly in the defense and 
        research sectors;
            (3) high-performance computing and high-speed networking 
        have the potential to expand dramatically access to information 
        in many fields, including education, libraries, government 
        information dissemination, and health care, if adequate 
        resources are devoted to the research and development 
        activities needed to do so;
            (4) the Federal Government should ensure that the 
        applications achieved through research and development efforts 
        such as the High-Performance Computing Program directly benefit 
        all Americans;
            (5) the Federal Government should stimulate the development 
        of computing and networking applications and support wider 
        access to network resources so that the benefits of 
        applications so developed can reach the intended users 
        throughout the Nation; and
            (6) a coordinated, interagency undertaking is needed to 
        identify and promote applications of computing and networking 
        advances developed by the High-Performance Computing Program 
        which will provide large economic and social benefits to the 
        Nation, including new tools for teaching, the creation of 
        digital libraries of electronic information, the development of 
        standards and protocols to make the stores of government 
        information readily accessible by electronic means, and 
        computer systems to improve the delivery of health care.

SEC. 3. APPLICATIONS OF THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING PROGRAM.

    The High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 is amended by adding at 
the end the following new title:

         ``TITLE III--APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTING AND NETWORKING

``SEC. 301. ESTABLISHMENT OF APPLICATIONS PROGRAM.

    ``The Director, through the Federal Coordinating Council for 
Science, Engineering, and Technology, shall, in accordance with this 
title--
            ``(1) establish a coordinated interagency applications 
        program to develop applications of computing and networking 
        advances achieved under the Program described in section 101, 
        that are designed to be accessible and useable by all persons 
        in the United States, in the fields of education, libraries, 
        health care, the provision of government information, and other 
        appropriate fields; and
            ``(2) develop a Plan for Computing and Networking 
        Applications (hereafter in this title referred to as the 
        `Plan') describing the goals and proposed activities of the 
        applications program established under paragraph (1), taking 
        into consideration the recommendations of the advisory 
        committee on high-performance computing and applications 
        established under section 101(b).
The President shall designate the Federal agencies and departments 
which shall participate in the applications program established under 
paragraph (1).

``SEC. 302. PLAN FOR COMPUTING AND NETWORKING APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) Requirement.--The Plan shall contain a statement of steps 
which should be taken to implement the applications program established 
under section 301(1) for the fiscal year in which the Plan is submitted 
and the succeeding four fiscal years, and shall be submitted to the 
Congress within one year after the date of enactment of this title. The 
Plan shall be revised and resubmitted to the Congress at least once 
each two years thereafter.
    ``(b) Contents.--The Plan shall--
            ``(1) establish the goals and priorities for the 
        applications program established under section 301(1), 
        consistent with this title;
            ``(2) set forth the specific responsibilities of each 
        Federal agency and department participating in the applications 
        program established under section 301(1) to achieve the goals 
        and priorities established under paragraph (1) of this 
        subsection; and
            ``(3) describe the recommended levels of Federal funding 
        required for each agency and department to carry out the 
        specific responsibilities set forth in paragraph (2) of this 
        subsection.
    ``(c) Collaboration With Non-Federal Entities.--To the maximum 
extent possible, the applications program shall involve cost sharing 
and partnerships among participating Federal departments and agencies, 
State and local governments, and private sector entities.
    ``(d) Progress in Implementing Plan.--(1) Accompanying the initial 
submission of the Plan shall be--
            ``(A) a summary of the achievements of Federal efforts 
        during the preceding fiscal year to develop computing and 
        networking applications and to advance the technologies on 
        which the applications depend; and
            ``(B) any recommendations regarding additional action or 
        legislation which may be required to assist in implementing the 
        Plan.
    ``(2) Accompanying each subsequent submission of the Plan shall 
be--
            ``(A) a summary of the achievements of Federal efforts 
        since the previous submission of the Plan to develop computing 
        and networking applications and to advance the technologies on 
        which the applications depend, including an estimate of the 
        number of users served in each application;
            ``(B) an evaluation of the progress made toward achieving 
        the goals and priorities established under subsection (b)(1);
            ``(C) a summary of problems encountered in implementing the 
        Plan; and
            ``(D) any recommendations regarding additional action or 
        legislation which may be required to assist in implementing the 
        Plan.

``SEC. 303. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FEDERAL COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR 
              SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY.

    ``The Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and 
Technology shall--
            ``(1) develop the Plan as provided in section 301(2);
            ``(2) coordinate the activities of Federal agencies and 
        departments undertaken pursuant to the Plan and report at least 
        annually to the President, through the Chairman of the Council, 
        on any recommended changes in agency or departmental roles that 
        are needed better to implement the Plan; and
            ``(3) review, prior to the President's submission to the 
        Congress of the annual budget estimate, each agency and 
        departmental budget estimate in the context of the Plan and 
        make the results of that review available to the appropriate 
        elements of the Executive Office of the President, particularly 
        the Office of Management and Budget.

``SEC. 304. COORDINATOR.

    ``The Director shall designate an individual on the staff of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy to serve as the Coordinator of 
the Program described in section 101 and the applications program 
established under section 301(1) (hereafter in this section referred to 
as the `Coordinator'). The Coordinator shall--
            ``(1) monitor the activities of the Federal agencies and 
        departments participating in the Program described in section 
        101 and the applications program established by section 301(1), 
        for the purpose of preparing the report required under 
        paragraph (2) of this section;
            ``(2) report to the Director any discrepancies between 
        Federal activities carried out pursuant to this Act and the 
        goals and priorities specified in the report required by 
        section 101 or specified in the Plan pursuant to section 
        302(b)(1);
            ``(3) assist in ensuring interagency coordination of 
        activities carried out pursuant to this Act; and
            ``(4) serve as the point of contact for Congress and the 
        public regarding activities carried out under this Act.

``SEC. 305. AGENCY REPORTS.

    ``(a) Requirement.--Each Federal agency and department designated 
by the President under section 301 as a participant in the applications 
program shall, as part of its annual request for appropriations to the 
Office of Management and Budget, submit a report to that Office--
            ``(1) identifying each element of its activities which--
                    ``(A) contributes primarily to the implementation 
                of the Plan; or
                    ``(B) contributes primarily to the achievement of 
                other objectives but aids Plan implementation in 
                important ways; and
            ``(2) stating the portion of its request for appropriations 
        that is allocated to each such element.
    ``(b) Office of Management and Budget Review.--The Office of 
Management and Budget shall review each report under this section in 
light of the goals, priorities, and agency and departmental 
responsibilities set forth in the Plan. The President's annual budget 
request shall include a statement of the portion of each appropriate 
agency or department's annual budget request that is allocated to 
efforts to achieve the goals and priorities established under section 
302(b)(1).

``SEC. 306. NETWORK ACCESS.

    ``(a) Connections Program.--The Plan shall include a program 
administered by the National Science Foundation to--
            ``(1) foster the creation of local networks in communities 
        which will connect institutions of higher education, elementary 
        and secondary schools, libraries, and State and local 
        governments to each other; and
            ``(2) provide for connection of such local networks to the 
        Internet.
Such program shall include funding for the acquisition of required 
hardware and for the establishment of broadband connections to the 
Internet. In making awards under this subsection, the National Science 
Foundation shall ensure that not more than 75 percent of the cost of 
the project for which the award is made is provided under this Act.
    ``(b) Training.--The Plan shall include programs administered by 
the National Science Foundation and other appropriate agencies and 
departments to train teachers, students, librarians, and State and 
local government personnel in the use of computer networks and the 
Internet. Training programs for librarians shall be designed to provide 
skills and training materials needed by librarians to instruct the 
public in the use of hardware and software for accessing and using 
computer networks and the Internet.
    ``(c) Report.--The Director shall, within one year after the date 
of enactment of this title, submit a report to Congress which shall 
include--
            ``(1) findings of an examination of the extent to which the 
        education and library communities and State and local 
        government have access to the Internet, including the numbers 
        and the geographic distribution, by type, of institutions 
        having access;
            ``(2) a statement of the extent to which broadband 
        connections to the Internet exist for the education and library 
        communities and State and local governments, including the 
        numbers and the geographic distribution, by type, of 
        institutions having access;
            ``(3) an assessment of the factors limiting access by 
        schools, libraries, and State and local governments to the 
        Internet and an estimate of the cost of providing universal 
        broadband access for those institutions to the Internet; and
            ``(4) recommendations for collaborative programs among 
        Federal, State, and local governments and the private sector to 
        expand connectivity to the Internet for educational 
        institutions, libraries, and State and local governments.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of 
this section, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $60,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1995, $70,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $80,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1997, and $80,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.

``SEC. 307. RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Plan shall specify the basic and applied 
research and human resource development activities in areas, such as 
computer science and engineering, mathematics, computer visualization, 
and human cognition, that will provide the foundation for achieving the 
applications included in the Plan. The Plan shall specify those 
activities included in the Program under title I which contribute to 
the development of applications included in the Plan.
    ``(b) Network Security and Privacy.--The Plan shall specify 
research programs needed to create means to ensure the security and 
privacy of transmissions over the Internet and the integrity of digital 
information accessed via the Internet.
    ``(c) Ease of Internet Use.--The Plan shall specify research 
programs needed to develop and demonstrate human/computer interfaces 
that will simplify access to and use of the Internet by nonspecialists 
in computing and networking technologies.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for the purposes of this section, $10,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1994, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $35,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1996, $38,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $38,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1998.

``SEC. 308. APPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION.

    ``(a) In General.--The Plan shall specify projects to develop and 
apply computing and networking technologies for use in education at all 
levels. The National Science Foundation shall be the lead agency for 
implementing the activities required by this section. Activities under 
this section shall include--
            ``(1) projects, including support for acquisition of 
        required computer hardware and software, that demonstrate the 
        educational value of the Internet in providing for advances in 
        distance learning and electronic classrooms, facilitating 
        nationwide communication among educators and students, access 
        to databases of information in digital format, and access to 
        innovative curricular materials;
            ``(2) development, testing, and evaluation of computer 
        systems, computer software, and computer networks for--
                    ``(A) teacher training; and
                    ``(B) informal education outside of school, 
                including workforce training in mathematics, science, 
                and technology and in specific job-related skills; and
            ``(3) development, testing, and evaluation of advanced 
        educational software and of network-based information 
        resources.
    ``(b) Elementary and Secondary Education.--In accordance with 
subsection (a), applications for elementary and secondary education 
shall be designed to complement and strengthen ongoing national and 
State educational restructuring and reform activities and shall 
include--
            ``(1) projects in computing and networking that--
                    ``(A) provide for network connections among 
                elementary and secondary schools in local regions and 
                connections to the Internet to enable students and 
                teachers to--
                            ``(i) communicate with their peers;
                            ``(ii) communicate with educators and 
                        students in colleges and universities; and
                            ``(iii) access educational materials and 
                        other computing resources; and
                    ``(B) address the needs of rural populations and of 
                urban communities;
            ``(2) collection and dissemination of information about 
        ongoing elementary and secondary educational projects based on 
        application of computing and networking technologies, and about 
        other educational resources available over the Internet;
            ``(3) development and evaluation of undergraduate courses 
        in the educational applications of computing and networking for 
        the instruction of students preparing for teaching careers, 
        including courses that will ensure the early familiarization 
        and training of these students in the use of the Internet; and
            ``(4) development, testing, and evaluation of educational 
        software designed for collaborative use over the Internet, 
        including tools that will enable classroom teachers easily to 
        adapt software to local conditions.
    ``(c) Cooperation.--In carrying out the requirements of this 
section, the National Science Foundation and other Federal agencies 
participating in such activities shall work with the computer and 
communications industry, authors and publishers of educational 
materials, State education departments, and local school districts, as 
appropriate.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of 
this section, $24,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $70,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1995, $82,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $94,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1997, and $94,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.

``SEC. 309. APPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE.

    ``(a) In General.--The Plan shall specify projects to develop and 
apply high-performance computing and high-speed networking technologies 
for use in the health care sector. The Department of Health and Human 
Services, through the National Library of Medicine, the National 
Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control, shall be the 
lead agency for implementing the activities required by this section.
    ``(b) Clinical Information Systems.--In accordance with subsection 
(a), applications related to clinical information systems shall 
include--
            ``(1) testbed networks for linking hospitals, clinics, 
        doctor's offices, medical schools, medical libraries, and 
        universities to enable health care providers and researchers to 
        share medical images and to develop computer-based records;
            ``(2) software and visualization technology for visualizing 
        the human anatomy and analyzing diagnostic images and records;
            ``(3) virtual reality technology for simulating surgical 
        and medical procedures;
            ``(4) collaborative technology to allow several health care 
        providers in remote locations to provide real-time treatment to 
        patients;
            ``(5) database technology to provide health care providers 
        with access to relevant medical information and literature; and
            ``(6) database technology for storing, accessing, and 
        transmitting patients' medical records while protecting the 
        accuracy and privacy of those records.
    ``(c) Health Information to the Public.--In accordance with 
subsection (a), applications related to delivery of health information 
to the public shall include--
            ``(1) development, testing, and evaluation of database and 
        network technologies for the storage of consumer-oriented, 
        interactive, multimedia materials for health promotion, and for 
        the distribution of such materials to public access points, 
        such as community health and human service agencies, schools, 
        and public libraries;
            ``(2) pilot programs to develop, test, and evaluate the 
        effectiveness and cost efficiency of interactive, multimedia 
        materials to assist patients in deciding among health care 
        options;
            ``(3) development and demonstration of human/computer 
        interfaces to allow nonspecialists in computing and networking 
        technologies ease of access to and use of databases of health 
        information and networks providing health information services; 
        and
            ``(4) development, testing, and evaluation of database and 
        network access technologies to provide individuals with health 
        information, including health risk appraisal, preventative 
        medical advice, and disease treatment options, which is 
        oriented to nonhealth professionals and which is customized to 
        take into consideration an individual's medical history.
    ``(d) Health Delivery Systems and Population Data Sets.--In 
accordance with subsection (a), applications for health delivery 
systems and for gathering population data sets shall include--
            ``(1) testbed networks and software that permits 
        collaborative communication among local public and private 
        health and human service providers, such as health centers, 
        clinics, entitlement offices, and school-based clinics, to 
        enable health and human service providers to work together in 
        delivering coordinated services for at-risk populations;
            ``(2) pilot programs to develop high speed communications 
        networks and software for providing health care providers 
        with--
                    ``(A) immediate, on-line access to up-to-date 
                clinic-based health promotion and disease prevention 
                recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control 
                and other Public Health Service agencies; and
                    ``(B) a two-way communications link with prevention 
                specialists in State and local health departments, and 
                other agencies with information germane to clinic-based 
                health promotion and disease prevention; and
            ``(3) development, testing, and evaluation of database 
        technologies to provide clinicians with access to information 
        to guide and assist them in providing diagnosis, providing 
        treatment, and providing advice regarding health promotion and 
        disease prevention to patients, and to facilitate the gathering 
        of systematic population data sets in compatible formats on the 
        efficacy of treatments and on national health trends.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the 
purposes of this section, $24,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $70,000,000 
for fiscal year 1995, $82,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $94,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1997, and $94,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.

``SEC. 310. APPLICATIONS FOR LIBRARIES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Plan shall specify projects to develop 
technologies for `digital libraries' of electronic information. The 
National Science Foundation shall be the lead agency for implementing 
the activities required by this section.
    ``(b) Digital Libraries.--In accordance with subsection (a), 
activities to support the development of digital libraries shall 
include--
            ``(1) development of advanced data storage systems capable 
        of storing hundreds of trillions of bits of data and giving 
        thousands of users simultaneous and nearly instantaneous access 
        to that information;
            ``(2) development of high-speed, highly accurate systems 
        for converting printed text, page images, graphics, and 
        photographic images into electronic form;
            ``(3) development of database software capable of quickly 
        searching, filtering, and summarizing large volumes of text, 
        imagery, data, and sound;
            ``(4) encouragement of the development and adoption of 
        common standards and, where appropriate, common formats for 
        electronic data;
            ``(5) development of computer-based means to categorize and 
        organize electronic information in a variety of formats;
            ``(6) training of database users and librarians in the use 
        of and development of electronic databases;
            ``(7) development of means for simplifying the utilization 
        of networked databases distributed around the Nation and around 
        the world; and
            ``(8) development of visualization methods for quickly 
        browsing large volumes of imagery.
    ``(c) Development of Prototypes.--In accordance with subsection 
(a), the Plan shall provide for the development of prototype digital 
libraries to serve as testbeds for the systems, software, standards, 
and methods developed under subsection (b). The prototype digital 
libraries shall be accessible by the public via the Internet. In 
carrying out this subsection, an evaluation shall be conducted of the 
suitability and utility of distributing electronic information over the 
Internet, including cataloging and evaluating the kinds of uses and 
determining barriers that impair use of the Internet for this purpose.
    ``(d) Development of Databases of Remote-Sensing Images.--The 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall develop databases 
of software and remote-sensing images to be made available over 
computer networks.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated--
            ``(1) to the National Science Foundation for the purposes 
        of this section, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $30,000,000 
        for fiscal year 1995, $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, 
        $44,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $44,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 1998; and
            ``(2) to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        for the purposes of this section, $6,000,000 for fiscal year 
        1994, $16,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $20,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 1996, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $20,000,000 
        for fiscal year 1998.

``SEC. 311. APPLICATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT INFORMATION.

    ``(a) In General.--The Plan shall specify projects needed to 
develop and apply high-performance computing and high-speed networking 
technologies to provide improved public access to information generated 
by Federal, State, and local governments.
    ``(b) Projects.--In accordance with subsection (a), projects shall 
be undertaken which--
            ``(1) connect depository libraries and other sources of 
        government information to the Internet to enable--
                    ``(A) access to Federal Government information and 
                databases in electronic formats;
                    ``(B) access to State or local government 
                information;
                    ``(C) access to related resources which enhance the 
                use of government information; and
                    ``(D) linkages with other libraries and 
                institutions to enhance use of government information; 
                and
            ``(2) demonstrate, test, and evaluate technologies to 
        increase access to and to facilitate effective use of 
        government information and databases for support of research 
        and education, economic development, and an informed citizenry.
    ``(c) Federal Information Locator.--In accordance with subsection 
(a), an information locator system shall be established which is 
accessible by the public via the Internet and which provides citations 
to Federal information and guidance on how to obtain such information.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated for the purposes of this section, $8,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1994, $24,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $26,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1996, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1997, and $30,000,000 for fiscal 
year 1998.''.

SEC. 4. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING AND APPLICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    Section 101(b) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) High-Performance Computing and Applications Advisory 
Committee.--The President shall establish an advisory committee on 
high-performance computing and applications consisting of non-Federal 
members, including representatives of the research, elementary and 
secondary education, higher education, and library communities, 
consumer and public interest groups, network providers, and the 
computer, telecommunications, and information industries, who are 
specially qualified to provide the Director with advice and information 
on high-performance computing and on applications of computing and 
networking. The recommendations of the advisory committee shall be 
considered in reviewing and revising the Program described in section 
101 and the Plan required by section 301(2). The advisory committee 
shall provide the Director with an independent assessment of--
            ``(1) progress in implementing the Program described in 
        section 101 and the Plan required by section 301(2);
            ``(2) the need to revise the Program described in section 
        101 and the Plan required by section 301(2);
            ``(3) the balance between the components of the activities 
        undertaken pursuant to this Act;
            ``(4) whether the research, development and demonstration 
        projects undertaken pursuant to this Act are helping to 
        maintain United States leadership in computing and networking 
        technologies and in the application of those technologies;
            ``(5) whether the applications developed under title III 
        are successfully addressing the needs of the targeted 
        populations, including assessment of the number of users served 
        by those applications; and
            ``(6) other issues identified by the Director.''.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK AMENDMENTS.

    Section 102 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 102. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--As part of the Program described in section 
101, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the 
Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other agencies participating 
in the Program shall support the establishment of the National Research 
and Education Network Program. The Network Program shall consist of the 
following components:
            ``(1) Research and development of networking software and 
        hardware required for the transmission of data at a speed of 
        one gigabit per second or greater.
            ``(2) Experimental test bed networks for--
                    ``(A) developing and demonstrating advanced 
                networking technologies resulting from the activities 
                described in paragraph (1); and
                    ``(B) providing connections for purposes consistent 
                with this Act which require levels of network 
                performance not available from privately operated 
                commercial networks.
            ``(3) Provision of support for researchers, educators, and 
        students to obtain access to and use of the Internet to allow 
        for communication with other individuals in the research and 
        education communities and to allow for access to high-
        performance computing systems, electronic information 
        resources, other research facilities, and libraries.
    ``(b) Test Bed Network Characteristics.--The test bed networks 
shall--
            ``(1) be developed and deployed in coordination with the 
        computer, telecommunications, and information industries;
            ``(2) be designed, developed, and operated in collaboration 
        with potential users in government, industry, and research 
        institutions and educational institutions;
            ``(3) be designed, developed, and operated in a manner 
        which fosters and maintains competition and private sector 
        investment in high-speed data networking within the 
        telecommunications industry;
            ``(4) be designed and operated in a manner which promotes 
        and encourages research and development leading to the creation 
        of commercial data transmission standards, enabling the 
        establishment of privately developed high-speed commercial 
        networks;
            ``(5) be designed and operated so as to ensure the 
        application of laws that provide network and information 
        resources security, including those that protect copyright and 
        other intellectual property rights, and those that control 
        access to data bases and protect national security;
            ``(6) have accounting mechanisms which allow users or 
        groups of users to be charged for their usage of copyrighted 
        materials available over the test bed networks and, where 
        appropriate and technically feasible, for their usage of the 
        test bed networks;
            ``(7) be interoperable with Federal and non-Federal 
        computer networks, to the extent appropriate, in a way that 
        allows autonomy for each component network; and
            ``(8) be developed by purchasing standard commercial 
        transmission and network services from vendors whenever 
        feasible, and by contracting for customized services when not 
        feasible, in order to minimize Federal investment in network 
        hardware.
    ``(c) Network Access.--The Federal agencies and departments 
participating in activities under this section shall develop a plan 
with specific goals for implementing the requirements of subsection 
(a)(3), including provision for financial assistance to educational 
institutions, public libraries, and other appropriate entities. This 
plan shall be submitted to the Congress not later than one year after 
the date of enactment of the High Performance Computing and High Speed 
Networking Applications Act of 1993. Each year thereafter, the Director 
shall report to Congress on progress in implementing subsection (a)(3).
    ``(d) Restriction on Use of Test Bed Networks.--(1) The test bed 
networks shall not be used to provide services that could otherwise be 
provided satisfactorily using privately operated commercial networks.
    ``(2) This subsection shall take effect 18 months after the date of 
enactment of the High Performance Computing and High Speed Networking 
Applications Act of 1993.
    ``(e) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Responsibility.--As 
part of the Program, the Department of Defense, through the Defense 
Advanced Research Projects Agency, shall support research and 
development of advanced fiber optics technology, switches, and 
protocols needed to develop the Network Program.
    ``(f) Information Services.--The Director shall assist the 
President in coordinating the activities of appropriate agencies and 
departments to promote the development of information services that 
could be provided over the Internet consistent with the purposes of 
this Act. These services may include the provision of directories of 
the users and services on computer networks, data bases of unclassified 
Federal scientific data, training of users of data bases and computer 
networks, and technology to support computer-based collaboration that 
allows researchers and educators around the Nation to share information 
and instrumentation.
    ``(g) Use of Grant Funds.--All Federal agencies and departments are 
authorized to allow recipients of Federal research grants to use grant 
moneys to pay for computer networking expenses.''.

SEC. 6. ACCESS TO SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION.

    (a) Associate Directors.--Section 203 of the National Science and 
Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 
6612) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``four'' in the second sentence and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``five''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new sentence: 
        ``Among other duties, one Associate Director shall oversee 
        Federal efforts to disseminate scientific and technical 
        information.''.
    (b) Functions of Director.--Section 204(b) of the National Science 
and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 
U.S.C. 6613(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (3);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(5) assist the President in disseminating scientific and 
        technical information.''.

SEC. 7. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    The High Performance Computing Act of 1991 is amended--
            (1) in section 3(1)--
                    (A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
                follows:
                    ``(A) accelerate progress toward a universally 
                accessible high-capacity and high-speed data network 
                for the Nation;''; and
                    (B) by striking ``Network'' and inserting in lieu 
                thereof ``Internet'' in subparagraph (C);
            (2) in section 4--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), 
                and (5) as paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (6), and (7), 
                respectively;
                    (B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so 
                redesignated by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the 
                following new paragraph:
            ``(1) `broadband' means a transmission rate for digital 
        information on a communications network which exceeds the 
        maximum rate possible for transmission of digital information 
        on normal copper telephone wires;'';
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (4), as so 
                redesignated by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the 
                following new paragraph:
            ``(5) `Internet' means the network of both Federal and non-
        Federal interoperable packet-switched data networks;'';
                    (D) by amending paragraph (6), as so redesignated 
                by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, to read as 
                follows:
            ``(6) `Network Program' means the National Research and 
        Education Network Program established under section 102;'';
                    (E) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
                in lieu thereof ``; and''; and
                    (F) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(7) `test bed networks' means the experimental test bed 
        networks described in section 102(a)(2).'';
            (3) in section 101(a)(2)(A) and (B), by striking 
        ``Network'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``test bed 
        networks'';
            (4) in section 101(a)(2)(C), by inserting ``the private 
        sector, States, and'' after ``computer networks of'';
            (5) in section 101(a)(4)(C), by striking ``establishment of 
        the Network'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Network 
        Program'';
            (6) in section 201(a)(2), by striking ``Network'' both 
        places it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``Internet'';
            (7) in section 201(a)(3), by striking ``Network'' and 
        inserting in lieu thereof ``Internet for the purposes of this 
        Act''; and
            (8) in section 201(a)(4), by inserting ``consistent with 
        section 102,'' before ``assist regional networks''.

                                 <all>

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