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----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Forwarded from the NINCH list. Judy -------------Forwarded Message----------------- From: INTERNET:[log in to unmask], INTERNET:[log in to unmask] To: Multiple recipients of list, INTERNET:[log in to unmask] Date: 4/29/97 1:43 PM RE: NEXT GENERATION INTERNET: COMMENTS INVITED *************************************************************** NINCH ANNOUNCEMENT April 29, 1997 Below is a useful summary by the American Library Association of the government's announcement of the Next Generation Internet (NGI) initiative. The draft concept paper is available at <http://www.hpcc.gov/ngi-concept-08Apr97/> and open for comment until May 15. David Green ------------------- ALWN629.TXT follows -------------------- ================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 29 ISSN 1069-7799 April 29, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline NEXT GENERATION INTERNET DRAFT CONCEPT PAPER ISSUED BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION; COMMENTS INVITED The Clinton Administration has proposed a Next Generation Initiative (NGI) involving research and development programs across federal agencies, with $100 million requested for FY98. A draft paper outlining the concepts and goals of the NGI initiative has been posted for public comment by May 15. The draft was prepared by the Large Scale Networking Working Group of the Computing, Information, and Communications R&D Subcommittee. The draft concept paper notes that the Internet technology -- designed for a network of thousands -- is laboring to serve a network of millions, but new technology, protocols, and standards can be developed to lead to an NGI at rates thousands of times faster than today. Several years of generic, pre-competitive research and testing will be required. The federal government proposes to participate because critical federal missions require a NGI, and because much of the needed research is too long-term or high-risk for the private sector to fund. The draft states the NGI vision as follows: "In the 21st Century, the Internet will provide a powerful and versatile environment for business, education, culture, and entertainment. Sight, sound, and even touch will be integrated through powerful computers, displays, and networks. People will use this environment to shop, bank, study, entertain, work, and visit with each other. Whether at home, at the office, or on travel, the environment will be the same. Privacy, security, and reliability will be built in. The customer will be able to choose among different levels of service with varying prices. Benefits of this environment will include a more agile economy, a greater choice of places to live or work, easy access to life-long learning, and better opportunity to participate in the community, the nation, and the world." The three goals for this 5-year initiative are: (1) high-performance network fabric, (2) advanced network service technologies, and (3) revolutionary applications. Goal 1 involves connecting at least 100 universities at speeds 100 times faster than today's Internet, and 10 federal research institutions at speeds 1000 times faster. Goal 2 involves experimentation with the next generation of networking technologies that "push the envelope." Goal 3 involves the demonstration of new applications that meet important national goals and missions. Examples used include national security, disaster response, scientific research, distance education, environmental monitoring, prediction and warnings, and health care. The draft notes that "this program will not provide substantial direct funding for applications." The Advisory Committee on High-Performance Computing and Communications, Information Technology and the Next Generation Internet had input into the draft and will be commenting further on it. Two members of the Advisory Committee, Ching Chih Chen, professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Simmons College; and Sherrilynne Fuller, director of the Health Sciences Libraries and Information Center, University of Washington, bring library experience to this committee. ALA will send comments on the draft, and expects to focus on the following: 1. A recommendation that a strong and specific plan be developed for diffusion of the NGI research and development results not just to industry but to government, education, and libraries; and that progress toward the NGI be balanced with interoperability with the first generation Internet. 2. A recommendation to adjust the NGI budget to reflect a civilian as well as a military focus, and specifically to increase the National Science Foundation share(proposed at only $10 million of the $100 million) as the agency with the broadest charter in support of a wide range of education and research efforts, and to specifically add the National Library of Medicine as a partner in the NGI Initiative. 3. A recommendation that the NGI program needs an explicit applications component and budget because high-end applications and fundamental network architecture are closely interdependent. Since technology developed and tested in the NGI program is intended to be eventually adopted by a larger user community, more thought is needed towards areas such as libraries, education and health. There should be an explicit role for the National Library of Medicine. Digital library programs such as those at the National Science Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration should be linked to the NGI effort. The draft concept paper on the Next Generation Internet Initiative is available at: http://www.hpcc.gov/ngi-concept-08Apr97/ Comments may be sent to [log in to unmask] or faxed to 703/306-4727. Comments received by May 15 will be used in preparing a final version. ALA members who wish to contribute to the ALA comments should send feedback by May 13 to [log in to unmask] _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc @ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. Visit our Web site at http://www.alawash.org. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V) Lynne E. Bradley, Editor <[log in to unmask]> Deirdre Herman, Managing Editor <[log in to unmask]> Contributors: Carol C. Henderson Rick Weingarten All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================