9 February 1998 Source: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aaces002.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [Congressional Record: February 4, 1998 (Senate)] [Page S379-S400] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:cr04fe98-148] STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS [Excerpt] S. 1609. A bill to amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1999 and 2000 for the Next Generation Internet program, to require the Advisory committee on High- Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology, and the Next Generation Internet to monitor and give advice concerning the development and implementation of the Next Generation Internet program and report to the President and the Congress in its activities, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. the next generation internet research act of 1998 Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, advances in computer networking have led to some of the most significant developments of the last decade. We have all been touched one way or another by the Internet and the networking protocols that form the World Wide Web. Its presence is being felt in schools, businesses and homes across the country. Many people already come to rely on the Internet as their source for news and information. Now, electronic commerce is beginning to emerge as a significant source of network traffic, so it appears that more individuals are relying on the Internet for purchases as well. By any measure, the Internet is a success. It is a fast-paced living laboratory where every day brings new innovation and applications. The Internet's culture of rapid innovation stems from its days as a research vehicle sponsored by the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA). This original federal investment in university based research and development has grown to pay dividends to our country in the form of new technology, new jobs and economic growth. The Internet has also served as a case study in the proper role of the federal government in science and technology. Although the research was first sponsored by the Department of Defense, multiple agencies have come to play a significant role in the development and commercialization of the Internet. In particular, the National Science Foundation demonstrated how to successfully transition the management of an operational system, the Internet, from the public to the private sector. Today's Internet is a flexible, robust network, but already some of its limits have been reached. There are fascinating applications running in the laboratory that simply cannot be run on the Internet as it is today. Recently, I had a first hand look at a prime example: the virtual reality ``Immersion Desk'' collaboration. As a physician, I found it fascinating to take a guided tour of a human ear, seeing its structure in three dimensions, and able to interact with the guide and the structure in real time. It was immediately obvious to me the educational benefits that will come from putting similar devices in the hands of our nation's teachers and students. However, until the Internet's infrastructure limitations have been overcome, these applications will remain outside the reach of those who can benefit the most. Some of the limits that now impede advanced applications can be overcome through a straightforward application of existing technology, but there is an entire class of problems that requires new approaches. I believe that our nation's research and development enterprise holds the key. That is why I rise today to offer the ``Next Generation Internet Research Act of 1998.'' This legislation funds the agencies that are involved in creating advanced computer networking technology that will make tomorrow's Internet faster, more versatile, more affordable, and more accessible than today. The agencies funded by this legislation: The Department of Defense (DOD), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Energy (DoE), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), each have a role to play in moving forward the state of the art in computer networking and network applications. The NGI program will provide grants to our universities and national laboratories to perform the research that will surmount these technical challenges and create a network that is 100 to 1000 times faster than the current Internet. Today, many that are located in rural areas of the country such as portions of eastern Tennessee, find that high speed access to the Internet is too expensive and difficult to obtain. Researchers from select states enjoy access to high bandwidth Internet connections at costs that are sometimes one-eighth the rate of their rural colleagues. This legislation acknowledges this geographical penalty and encourages networking researchers to look at this problem as a research challenge. Emphasis must be placed on finding new technology that permits high speed information access without leaving large sections of the country behind. Mr. President, I believe that the passage of this legislation will continue the tradition of prudent and successful federal investment in science and technology. The Internet truly is a success story. One that could not have been written without federal support. One that has already paid for itself through the creation of jobs and technology for Americans. The last chapter of the Internet success story is far from being written, and with this legislation, we are helping to ensure that the Internet will reach its potential to provide greater educational and economic benefits to the country. I ask for support in passing this key legislative initiative. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of this legislation be printed in the Record. There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: S. 1609 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 ``Next Generation Internet Research Act of 1998''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. (a) Terms Used in This Act--For purposes of this Act-- (1) Internet.--The term ``Internet'' has the meaning given such term by section 230(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(e)(1)). (2) Geographic penalty.--The term ``geographic penalty'' means the imposition of costs on users of the Internet in rural or other locations attributable to the distance of the user from network facilities, the low population density of the area in which the user is located, or other factors, that are disproportionately greater than the costs imposed on users in locations closer to such facilities or on users in locations with significantly greater population density. (b) Definition of Network in High-Performance Computing Act of 1991.--Paragraph (4) of section 4 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5503) is amended by striking ``network referred to as the National Research and Education Network established under section 102; and'' and inserting ``network, including advanced computer networks of Federal agencies and departments; and''. SEC. 3. FINDINGS. (a) In General.--The Congress finds that-- (1) United States leadership in science and technology has been vital to the Nation's prosperity, national and economic security, and international competitiveness, and there is every reason to believe that maintaining this tradition will lead to long-term continuation of United States strategic advantages in information technology; (2) the United States' investment in science and technology has yielded a scientific and engineering enterprise without peer, and that Federal investment in research is critical to the maintenance of United States leadership; (3) previous Federal investment in computer networking technology and related fields has resulted in the creation of new industries and new jobs in the United States; (4) the Internet is playing an increasingly important role in keeping citizens informed of the actions of their government; and (5) continued inter-agency cooperation is necessary to avoid wasteful duplication in [[Page S387]] Federal networking research and development programs. (b) Additional Findings for the 1991 Act.--Section 2 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5501) is amended by-- (1) striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: ``(4) A high-capacity, flexible, high-speed national research and education computer network is needed to provide researchers and educators with access to computational and information resources, act as a test bed for further research and development for high-capacity and high-speed computer networks, and provide researchers the necessary vehicle for continued network technology improvement through research.''; and (2) adding at the end thereof the following: ``(7) Additional research must be undertaken to lay the foundation for the development of new applications that can result in economic growth, improved health care, and improved educational opportunities. ``(8) Research in new networking technologies holds the promise of easing the economic burdens of information access disproportionately borne by rural users of the Internet. ``(9) Information security is an important part of computing, information, and communications systems and applications, and research into security architectures is a critical aspect of computing, information, and communications research programs.''. SEC. 4. PURPOSES. (a) In General.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to served as the first authorization in a series of computing, information, and communication technology initiatives outlined in the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5501 et seq.) that will include research programs related to-- (A) high-end computing and computation; (B) human-centered systems; (C) high confidence systems; and (D) education, training, and human resources; and (2) to provide for the development and coordination of a comprehensive and integrated United States research program which will-- (A) focus on the research and development of a coordinated set of technologies that seeks to create a network infrastructure that can support greater speed, robustness, and flexibility than is currently available and promote connectivity and interoperability among advanced computer networks of Federal agencies and departments; (B) focus on research in technology that may result in high-speed data access for users that is both economically viable and does not impose a geographic penalty; and (C) encourage researchers to pursue approaches to networking technology that lead to maximally flexible and extensible solutions wherever feasible. (b) Modification of Purposes of the 1991 Act.--Section 3 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5502) is amended by-- (1) striking the section caption and inserting the following: ``SEC. 3. PURPOSES.''; (2) striking ``purpose of this Act is'' and inserting ``purposes of this Act are''; (3) striking ``universities; and'' in paragraph (1)(I) and inserting ``universities;''; (4) striking ``efforts.'' in paragraph (2) and inserting ``network research and development programs;''; and (5) adding at the end thereof the following: ``(3) promoting the further development of an information infrastructure of information stores, services, access mechanisms, and research facilities available for use through the Internet; ``(4) promoting the more rapid development and wider distribution of networking management and development tools; and ``(5) promoting the rapid adoption of open network standards.''. SEC. 5. DUTIES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Title I of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: ``SEC. 103. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ``(a) In General.--In addition to its functions under Executive Order 13035 (62 F.R. 7231), the Advisory Committee on High-Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology, and the Next Generation Internet, established by Executive Order No. 13035 of February 11, 1997 (62 F.R. 7231) shall-- ``(1) assess the extent to which the Next Generation Internet Program-- ``(A) carries out the purposes of this Act; ``(B) addresses concerns relating to, among other matters-- ``(i) geographic penalties (as defined in section 2(2) of the Next Generation Internet Research Act of 1998); and ``(ii) technology transfer to and from the private sector; and ``(2) assess the extent to which-- ``(A) the role of each Federal agency and department involved in implementing the Next Generation Internet program is clear, complementary to and non-duplicative of the roles of other participating agencies and departments; and ``(B) each such agency and department concurs with the role of each other participating agency or department. ``(b) Reports.--The Advisory Committee shall assess implementation of the next Generation Internet initiative and report, not less frequently than annually, to the President, the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science on its findings for the preceding fiscal year. The first such report shall be submitted 6 months after the date of enactment of the Next Generation Internet Research Act of 1998 the last report shall be submitted by September 30, 2000.''. SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. Title I of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.), as amended by section 5 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: ``SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. ``There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the Next Generation Internet program the following amounts: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``Agency FY 1999 FY 2000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``Department of Defense............... $42,500,000 $45,000,000 ``Department of Energy................ $20,000,000 $25,000,000 ``National Science Foundation......... $25,000,000 $25,000,000 ``National Institutes of Health....... $5,000,000 $7,500,000 ``National Aeronautics and Space Administration....................... $5,000,000 $5,000,000 ``National Institute of Standards and Technology........................... $5,000,000 $7,500,000''. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleague Senator Frist in introducing legislation to authorize the Next Generation Internet (NGI) Program for fiscal years 1999 and 2000. This bill funds the NGI program, which actually involves six agencies, at $102.5 million for FY99 and $115 million for FY2000. It would also require the Advisory Committee on High Performance Computing and Communication Information Technology and Next Generation Internet to oversee the program and report to the President and the Congress on its activities. As everyone in the Senate knows, I have been a long and ardent supporter of the Internet and Internet-related research. In fact, I would point to the current Internet as an example of what the government can do right. When the Internet was started, it was a government funded network for researchers and military personnel. It was expected to grow, but not into the commercially supported network with a $250 billion market base that it is today, and it is still growing. This rate of return on a rather modest government investment is something that any investment banker would love to achieve. An added benefit is that this modest government investment has allowed U.S. industry to become the world leader in most Internet-related markets. I also want to commend the Clinton Administration for their steadfast commitment to a clearly needed leadership role in charting the future of the Internet, and yet in also working closely with the affected industries, the academic community, and many others whose contributions to future applications and possibilities are almost endless. I am pleased to now work with Senator Frist, the dedicated chairman of the Senate's Commerce Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space, to provide a further foundation for this important work through this legislation. The current Internet is a victim of its own success. As more and more people come on-line, the network gets more and more crowded. People are beginning to think that the ``www'' in Internet addresses stands for ``world-wide wait'' rather than ``world-wide web''. Therefore, I fully support the idea of increasing the speed, reliability and usefulness of the Internet. With increases in speed and efficiency of data transfer, hopes of distance learning with real-time video and audio, remote access image libraries, and more use of telemedicine, will become practical realities. In addition, with increases in bandwidth, I am sure that U.S. researchers will come up with new applications that we cannot even think of today. Do not think that it is a coincidence that all the applications I just listed have to do with remote access to data. The ability to give those that do not have easy physical access quick and reliable electronic access to resources is, I feel, one of the Internet's greatest benefits to society. As history has shown us, it would be extremely easy for a situation to arise in which there are states with NGI capabilities and states without, if there is not balanced representation in the decision-making process. Due to the increased computing power and ability to collaborate with other NGI network institutions, [[Page S388]] NGI states could have a large advantage over non-NGI states when applying for grants and participation. With this in mind, I am glad to point out that this bill formally addresses geographic concerns for rural institutions and users. As I stated earlier, I have always been a firm supporter of the Internet, and will continue to support research in this area. This bill authorizes an innovative inter-agency program to increase the speed, reliability and usefulness of the Internet. I encourage my colleagues to support this bill. ______ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [DOCID: f:s1609is.txt] 105th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 1609 To amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1999 and 2000 for the Next Generation Internet program, to require the Advisory Committee on High-Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology, and the Next Generation Internet to monitor and give advice concerning the development and implementation of the Next Generation Internet program and report to the President and the Congress on its activities, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 4, 1998 Mr. Frist (for himself, Mr. Rockfeller, Mr. McCain, Mr. Hollings, Mr. Burns, and Mr. Kerry) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1999 and 2000 for the Next Generation Internet program, to require the Advisory Committee on High-Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology, and the Next Generation Internet to monitor and give advice concerning the development and implementation of the Next Generation Internet program and report to the President and the Congress on its activities, 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 ``Next Generation Internet Research Act of 1998''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. (a) Terms Used in This Act.--For purposes of this Act-- (1) Internet.--The term ``Internet'' has the meaning given such term by section 230(e)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(e)(1)). (2) Geographic penalty.--The term ``geographic penalty'' means the imposition of costs on users of the Internet in rural or other locations attributable to the distance of the user from network facilities, the low population density of the area in which the user is located, or other factors, that are disproportionately greater than the costs imposed on users in locations closer to such facilities or on users in locations with significantly greater population density. (b) Definition of Network in High-Performance Computing Act of 1991.--Paragraph (4) of section 4 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5503) is amended by striking ``network referred to as the National Research and Education Network established under section 102; and'' and inserting ``network, including advanced computer networks of Federal agencies and departments; and''. SEC. 3. FINDINGS. (a) In General.--The Congress finds that-- (1) United States leadership in science and technology has been vital to the Nation's prosperity, national and economic security, and international competitiveness, and there is every reason to believe that maintaining this tradition will lead to long-term continuation of United States strategic advantages in information technology; (2) the United States' investment in science and technology has yielded a scientific and engineering enterprise without peer, and that Federal investment in research is critical to the maintenance of United States leadership; (3) previous Federal investment in computer networking technology and related fields has resulted in the creation of new industries and new jobs in the United States; (4) the Internet is playing an increasingly important role in keeping citizens informed of the actions of their government; and (5) continued inter-agency cooperation is necessary to avoid wasteful duplication in Federal networking research and development programs. (b) Additional Findings for the 1991 Act.--Section 2 of the High- Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5501) is amended by-- (1) striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: ``(4) A high-capacity, flexible, high-speed national research and education computer network is needed to provide researchers and educators with access to computational and information resources, act as a test bed for further research and development for high-capacity and high-speed computer networks, and provide researchers the necessary vehicle for continued network technology improvement through research.''; and (2) adding at the end thereof the following: ``(7) Additional research must be undertaken to lay the foundation for the development of new applications that can result in economic growth, improved health care, and improved educational opportunities. `(8) Research in new networking technologies holds the promise of easing the economic burdens of information access disproportionately borne by rural users of the Internet. ``(9) Information security is an important part of computing, information, and communications systems and applications, and research into security architectures is a critical aspect of computing, information, and communications research programs.''. SEC. 4. PURPOSES. (a) In General.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to serve as the first authorization in a series of computing, information, and communication technology initiatives outlines in the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5501 et seq.) that will include research programs related to-- (A) high-end computing and computation; (B) human-centered systems; (C) high confidence systems; and (D) education, training, and human resources; and (2) to provide for the development and coordination of a comprehensive and integrated United States research program which will-- (A) focus on the research and development of a coordinated set of technologies that seeks to create a network infrastructure that can support greater speed, robustness, and flexibility than is currently available and promote connectivity and interoperability among advanced computer networks of Federal agencies and departments; (B) focus on research in technology that may result in high-speed data access for users that is both economically viable and does not impose a geographic penalty; and (C) encourage researchers to pursue approaches to networking technology that lead to maximally flexible and extensible solutions wherever feasible. (b) Modification of Purposes of the 1991 Act.--Section 3 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5502) is amended by-- (1) striking the section caption and inserting the following: ``SEC. 3. PURPOSES.''; (2) striking ``purpose of this Act is'' and inserting ``purposes of this Act are''; (3) striking ``universities; and'' in paragraph (1)(I) and inserting ``universities;''; (4) striking ``efforts.'' in paragraph (2) and inserting ``network research and development programs;''; and (5) adding at the end thereof the following: ``(3) promoting the further development of an information infrastructure of information stores, services, access mechanisms, and research facilities available for use through the Internet; ``(4) promoting the more rapid development and wider distribution of networking management and development tools; and ``(5) promoting the rapid adoption of open network standards.''. SEC. 5. DUTIES OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE. Title I of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C 5511 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: ``SEC. 103. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. ``(a) In General.--In addition to its functions under Executive Order 13035 (62 F.R. 7231), the Advisory Committee on High-Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology, and the Next Generation Internet, established by Executive Order No. 13035 of February 11, 1997 (62 F.R. 7231) shall-- ``(1) assess the extent to which the Next Generation Internet program-- ``(A) carries out the purposes of this Act; ``(B) addresses concerns relating to, among other matters-- ``(i) geographic penalties (as defined in section 2(2) of the Next Generation Internet Research Act of 1998); and ``(ii) technology transfer to and from the private sector; and ``(2) assess the extent to which-- ``(A) the role of each Federal agency and department involved in implementing the Next Generation Internet program is clear, complementary to and non- duplicative of the roles of other participating agencies and departments; and ``(B) each such agency and department concurs with the rule of each other participating agency or department. ``(b) Reports.--The Advisory Committee shall assess implementation of the Next Generation Internet initiative and report, not less frequently than annually, to the President, the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science on its findings for the preceding fiscal year. The first such report shall be submitted 6 months after the date of enactment of the Next Generation Internet Research Act of 1998 the last report shall be submitted by September 30, 2000.''. SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. Title I of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C 5511 et seq.), as amended by section 5 of this Act, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. ``There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the Next Generation Internet program the following amounts: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``Agency FY 1999 FY 2000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``Department of Defense.................... $42,500,000 $45,000,000 ``Department of Energy..................... $20,000,000 $25,000,000 ``National Science Foundation.............. $25,000,000 $25,000,000 ``National Institutes of Health............ $5,000,000 $7,500,000 ``National Aeronautics and Space Administration............................ $5,000,000 $5,000,000 ``National Institute of Standards and Technology................................ $5,000,000 $7,500,000''. ------------------------------------------------------------------------