IIA
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1757
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JULY 27 (legislative day, JUNE 30), 1993
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human
Resources
AN ACT
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 Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Information
Infrastructure 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 im-
proving America’s national security, industrial com-
petitiveness, research capabilities, and ability to
make a wide array of information available for a
variety of applications;
(2) Federal programs, such as the High-Per-
formance Computing Program and National Re-
search and Education Network established by Con-
gress in 1991, are vital to the maintenance of
United States leadership in high-performance com-
puting and high-speed network development, particu-
larly in the defense and research sectors;
(3) high-performance computing and high-speed
networking have the potential to expand dramati-
cally access to information in many fields, including
education, libraries, government information dis-
semination, and health care, if adequate resources
are devoted to the research and development activi-
ties needed to do so;
(4) high-performance computing and high-speed
networking have the potential to expand opportuni-
ties for participation for Americans who have dis-
abilities and to improve equality of opportunity, full
SEC. 3. APPLICATIONS OF THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE COM-
PUTING 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.
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director, through the
Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering,
and Technology, shall, in accordance with this title—
‘‘(1) establish a coordinated interagency appli-
cations program to develop applications of comput-
ing and networking advances achieved under the
Program described in section 101, that are designed
to be accessible and usable by all persons in the
United States, including historically underserved
populations and individuals with disabilities, in the
fields of education, libraries, health care, the provi-
sion of government information, and other appro-
priate fields; and
‘‘(2) develop a Plan for Computing and
Networking Applications (hereafter in this title re-
ferred to as the ‘Plan’) describing the goals and pro-
posed activities of the applications program estab-
lished under paragraph (1), taking into consider-
ation the recommendations of the advisory commit-
tee 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). The applica-
tions program may be administered as part of the Pro-
gram established under section 101.
‘‘(b) COLLABORATION WITH NON-FEDERAL ENTI-
TIES.—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.
‘‘(c) INTEROPERABLE INFORMATION SYSTEMS.— In
selecting projects for support under this title, special con-
sideration shall be given to projects which will promote
development of interconnected and interoperable informa-
tion systems.
‘‘(d) NONDEVELOPMENTAL ITEMS.—In carrying out
activities under this Act, Federal departments and agen-
cies shall purchase nondevelopmental items whenever
possible.
‘‘SEC. 302. PLAN FOR COMPUTING AND NETWORKING AP-
PLICATIONS.
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Plan shall contain a state-
ment of steps which should be taken to implement the ap-
plications program established under section 301(a)(1) for
the fiscal year in which the Plan is submitted and the suc-
ceeding 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(a)(1), consistent with this Act;
‘‘(2) set forth the specific responsibilities of
each Federal agency and department participating in
the applications program established under section
301(a)(1) to achieve the goals and priorities estab-
lished under paragraph (1) of this subsection; and
‘‘(3) describe the recommended levels of Fed-
eral funding required for each agency and depart-
ment to carry out the specific responsibilities set
forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
‘‘(c) PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING PLAN.—(1) Ac-
companying 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 ad-
vance the technologies on which the applications de-
pend; 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 applica-
tions depend, including an estimate of the number
and the demographic diversity 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 im-
plementing 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 COORDI-
NATING COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE, ENGINEER-
ING, AND TECHNOLOGY.
‘‘The Federal Coordinating Council for Science, En-
gineering, and Technology shall—
‘‘(1) develop the Plan as provided in section
301(a)(2);
‘‘(2) coordinate the activities of Federal agen-
cies and departments undertaken pursuant to the
Plan and report at least annually to the President,
through the Chairman of the Council, on any rec-
ommended changes in agency or departmental roles
that are needed better to implement the Plan; and
‘‘(3) assess, prior to the President’s submission
to the Congress of the annual budget estimate, each
agency and departmental budget estimate for con-
sistency with the Plan and make the results of that
assessment available to the appropriate elements of
the Executive Office of the President, particularly
the Office of Management and Budget.
‘‘SEC. 304. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Each Federal agency and de-
partment designated by the President under section
301(a) as a participant in the applications program shall,
as part of its annual request for appropriations to the Of-
fice of Management and Budget—
‘‘(1) identify each element of its activities
which—
‘‘(A) contributes primarily to the imple-
mentation of the Plan; or
‘‘(B) contributes primarily to the achieve-
ment of other objectives but aids Plan imple-
mentation in important ways; and
‘‘(2) identify the portion of its request for ap-
propriations that is allocated to each such element.
‘‘(b) OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET RE-
VIEW.—The Office of Management and Budget shall re-
view each submission received under this section in light
of the goals, priorities, and agency and departmental re-
sponsibilities 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. 305. NETWORK ACCESS.
‘‘(a) CONNECTIONS PROGRAM.—The Plan shall in-
clude programs administered by the National Science
Foundation to—
‘‘(1) foster the development of network services
in local communities which will connect institutions
of education at all levels, libraries, museums, and
State and local governments to each other; and
‘‘(2) provide funds for the purchase of network
services to entities described in paragraph (1), or or-
ganizations representing such entities, to connect to
the Internet.
Such program shall include funding for the acquisition of
required hardware and software and for the establishment
of broadband connections to the Internet. Not more than
75 percent of the cost of any project for which an award
is made under this subsection shall be 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 govern-
ment personnel in the use of computer networks and the
Internet. Training programs for librarians shall be de-
signed 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. Training programs shall include pro-
grams designed for individuals with disabilities.
‘‘(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,
and including the numbers of institutions having
human/computer interfaces suitable for use by indi-
viduals with disabilities;
‘‘(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 hav-
ing access;
‘‘(3) an assessment of the factors limiting ac-
cess by institutions of education at all levels, librar-
ies, 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 pro-
grams 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.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science
Foundation for the purposes of this section, $15,000,000
for fiscal year 1994, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.
‘‘SEC. 306. RESEARCH IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATIONS.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Plan shall specify the basic
and applied research and human resource development ac-
tivities in areas, such as computer science and engineer-
ing, mathematics, computer visualization, and human cog-
nition, that will provide the foundation for achieving the
applications included in the Plan. The Plan shall include
basic and applied research activities related to the long-
range social and ethical implications of applications of
high-speed networking and high-performance computing.
The Plan shall specify those activities included in the Pro-
gram 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—
‘‘(1) ensure the security and privacy of trans-
missions over the Internet and the integrity of digi-
tal information accessed via the Internet; and
‘‘(2) facilitate the management and protection
of copyrighted information which is accessed via the
Internet.
‘‘(c) EASE OF INTERNET USE.—The Plan shall speci-
fy 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 and by individuals with disabil-
ities.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are
authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of this sec-
tion, $6,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $15,000,000 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. 307. APPLICATIONS FOR EDUCATION.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Plan shall specify projects
to develop and apply computing and networking tech-
nologies for use in education at all levels from early child-
hood education through higher education, including
projects for the education and training of individuals with
disabilities. The National Science Foundation shall be the
lead agency for implementing the activities required by
this section, and shall consult with the Department of
Education in implementing those activities. 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,
including cost effectiveness, in providing for ad-
vances in distance learning and electronic class-
rooms, facilitating nationwide communication among
educators and students, access to databases of infor-
mation 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, including teachers in
special education programs; and
‘‘(B) informal education outside of school,
including workforce training in mathematics,
science, and technology and in specific job-relat-
ed skills, including literacy; and
‘‘(3) development, testing, and evaluation of ad-
vanced educational software and of network-based
information resources.
‘‘(b) ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.—
In accordance with subsection (a), applications for elemen-
tary, secondary, and vocational/technical education shall
be designed to complement and strengthen ongoing na-
tional, State, and local educational restructuring and re-
form 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 institutions of higher edu-
cation; and
‘‘(iii) access educational materials and
other computing resources;
‘‘(B) address the needs of rural popu-
lations and of urban communities; and
‘‘(C) address the needs of individuals with
disabilities;
‘‘(2) collection and dissemination of information
about ongoing elementary and secondary educational
projects, including special education projects, based
on application of computing and networking tech-
nologies, and about other educational resources
available over the Internet;
‘‘(3) development and evaluation of undergradu-
ate courses in the educational applications of com-
puting and networking for the instruction of stu-
dents 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 require-
ments of this section, the National Science Foundation,
the Department of Education, and other Federal agencies
participating in such activities shall work with the com-
puter hardware, computer software, and communications
industries, authors and publishers of educational mate-
rials, State education departments, and local school dis-
tricts, as appropriate.
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science
Foundation for the purposes of this section, $16,000,000
for fiscal year 1994, $45,000,000 for fiscal year 1995,
$60,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $75,000,000 for fiscal
year 1997, and $75,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.
‘‘SEC. 308. 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, with the goal of improving the quality and
enhancing the cost-effectiveness of health care. Special
consideration shall be given to applications that are de-
signed to lower health care costs. The Department of
Health and Human Services, through the National Insti-
tutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, shall be the lead agency for implementing the
activities required by this section.
‘‘(b) CLINICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS.—In accord-
ance with subsection (a), applications related to clinical
information systems shall include—
‘‘(1) testbed networks for linking hospitals, clin-
ics, doctor’s offices, medical schools, medical librar-
ies, and universities to enable health care providers
and researchers to share medical images and to de-
velop computer-based records;
‘‘(2) software and visualization technology for
visualizing the human anatomy and analyzing diag-
nostic 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) interactive technologies to allow health
care providers to monitor, evaluate, and treat pa-
tients in nonclinical settings;
‘‘(6) database technology to provide health care
providers with access to relevant medical information
and literature;
‘‘(7) database technology for storing, accessing
and transmitting patients’ medical records while pro-
tecting the accuracy and privacy of those records;
‘‘(8) numerical simulation of chemical inter-
actions relevant to reducing the time and cost of
drug development;
‘‘(9) three dimensional geometric modeling and
artificial intelligence methods for interpreting an
array of medical images; and
‘‘(10) complex simulations of sociological popu-
lations affected disproportionately by selected dis-
eases or disorders.
‘‘(c) HEALTH INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.—In ac-
cordance with subsection (a), applications related to deliv-
ery 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 com-
munity health and human service agencies, Centers
for Independent Living established by the Rehabili-
tation Act of 1973, organizations established by title
I of the Technology-Related Assistance for Individ-
uals with Disabilities Act of 1988, schools, and pub-
lic libraries;
‘‘(2) pilot programs to develop, test, and evalu-
ate the effectiveness and cost efficiency of inter-
active, multimedia materials to assist patients in de-
ciding among health care options;
‘‘(3) development and demonstration of human/
computer interfaces to allow nonspecialists in com-
puting and networking technologies ease of access to
and use of databases of health information and net-
works providing health information service; 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 dis-
ease 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), applica-
tions for health delivery systems and for gathering popu-
lation data sets shall include—
‘‘(1) testbed networks and software that per-
mits 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 co-
ordinated services for at-risk populations;
‘‘(2) pilot programs to develop high speed com-
munications 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 Prevention 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 informa-
tion germane to clinic-based health promotion
and disease prevention; and
‘‘(3) development, testing, and evaluation of
database technologies to provide clinicians with ac-
cess to information to guide and assist them in pro-
viding diagnosis, providing treatment, and providing
advice regarding health promotion and disease pre-
vention to patients, and to facilitate the gathering of
systematic population data sets in compatible for-
mats on the efficacy of treatments and on national
health trends.
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health
and Human Services for the purposes of this section,
$22,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, $54,000,000 for fiscal
year 1995, $72,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, $90,000,000
for fiscal year 1997, and $90,000,000 for fiscal year 1998.
‘‘SEC. 309. 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, and in implementing this section shall take
into account the needs of individuals with disabilities.
‘‘(b) DIGITAL LIBRARIES.—In accordance with sub-
section (a), activities to support the development of digital
libraries shall include—
‘‘(1) development of advanced data storage sys-
tems 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;