The decree barred the regional bell operating companies or RBOCs from providing long distance service, equipment manufacturing and information services. In 1991, the RBOCs were permitted to offer information services and in 1993, a federal court ruled that Bell Atlantic could offer cable television service. In 1994, a fifth component, Information Infrastructure Technologies and Applications was added. This latter component is designed to address NII issues and provides a context or framework for the other components. For example, within the applications arena, activities are to support computation, communication, information-intensive applications, and testbeds.
Digital libraries are one such activity.
Others include projects relating to health care, education, environmental monitoring, manufacturing, and government information services. Within the past year, three programs relating to applications and research and development have provided significant funding to jump start the Administration's NII vision. The projects span a variety of disciplines and include multi-sector participation. Follow-up to these awards include broadening the research base, extending the partnerships on local, state, national, and international basis, and developing new funding sources. Awardees include Carnegie Mellon University , University of California, Berkeley , University of California, Santa Barbara , University of Michigan , Stanford University , and University of Illinois at Urbana .