IP: Congress approves Next Generation Internet Research Act

[Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

From: Thomas_A._Kalil@opd.eop.gov
X-Lotus-Fromdomain: EOP
To: farber@cis.upenn.edu

IPers might be interested to know that the
Congress approved the Next Generation Internet
Research Act on Friday.

Tom Kalil
The White House
kalil_t@a1.eop.gov

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President
______________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                                  Contact:
Friday, October 9, 1998                                (202) 456-7035

 STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT GORE ON PASSAGE OF NEXT GENERATION INTERNET
RESEARCH ACT

     I am pleased that Congress has passed the Next Generation Internet
Research Act with strong bipartisan support.  This legislation encourages
federal research needed to ensure continued U.S. leadership in critical
computer and communication technologies in the years to come.

     The Next Generation Internet initiative, which President Clinton and I
first proposed in October 1996, will keep America at the cutting-edge of
Internet technology.  The NGI will establish the foundation for the
networks of the 21st Century in the same way that government investments in
networking beginning in the late 1960's led to today's Internet.

     Today, more than 70 million Americans are using the Internet to
educate their children, communicate with their elected officials, and find
the best deal on a new car or a home mortgage. The Internet is driving a $2
trillion global information and communications industry that has accounted
for roughly one-third of U.S. economic growth in recent years.  More than
7.4 million Americans work in information technology industries and in
related occupations, earning wages that are more than 60 percent higher
than the private sector average.

     But the Information Revolution is just beginning.  The Next Generation
Internet initiative will lead to networks that are more secure, reliable,
and thousands of times faster.  It will enable revolutionary new
applications such as telemedicine and distance learning and will accelerate
of the pace of scientific discovery.

     I urge Congress to provide full funding for this important initiative,
and not to take any steps that would delay it.