roundtable: Re: Visions of the GII at the G

roundtable: Re: Visions of the GII at the G

Re: Visions of the GII at the G

Mike Nelson (mnelson@ostp.eop.gov)
Mon, 6 Mar 1995 16:57:59 -0500 (EST) 

Date: Mon, 6 Mar 1995 16:57:59 -0500 (EST)
From: Mike Nelson <mnelson@ostp.eop.gov>
Subject: Re: Visions of the GII at the G
To: roundtable@cni.org
In-Reply-To: <n1418147759.58210@epic.org>
Message-Id: <Pine.3.87.9503061659.A2780-0100000@socks.ostp.eop.gov>


Marc, I'm afraid you've made a common mistake.  

The five principles that Gore outlined in Buenos Aires (and which he 
included in his Brussels speech) apply to TELECOMMUNICATIONS policy.  
Our efforts to reform telecom. policy in the U.S. are built around 
those five principles (particularly universal service and competition).  

In Buenos Aires, he focused on telecommunications regulation because he 
was talking telecom regulators from over 100 countries.  But in Brussels, 
he looked at the big picture.

If you read Gore's speech from Brussels you'll find a section on 
information policy which outlines the Administration's concerns (which 
are every bit as real and as serious as the Europeans').  To quote:

"At the same time, users of the GII want and will demand privacy.  When 
you ask Americans about information technology, it is their biggest 
concern.  We must protect the privacy of personal data and 
communications.  Governments and industry need to work together to 
develop new technologies, new standards, and new policies that will 
provide the necessary security and privacy protection.  Of course, in 
order to protect privacy and financial transactions and enforce 
intellectual property rights, the GII must be secure and reliable.  The 
OECD should continue its leadership in the area of computer security."

I can assure you that the U.S. also raised IPR, privacy, and security 
concerns during the ministerial meetings in Brussels as well.  

Michael R. Nelson
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
202-456-6039



On Tue, 28 Feb 1995, Marc Rotenberg wrote:
> 
> FYI -- Curt, CITS, 617-662-4044
> 
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> 
> I have to disagree with the recent post criticizing the remarks of
> Jacques Santer, the President of the European Commission at the G-7
> conference. Richard Moore seemed disappointed that Santer did not
> mention personal privacy, freedom of expression, or non-market uses.
> My own impression is that the Europeans are further along on these
> issues than the US, but *much, much* more important is that the EC
> vision of the GII is far more inclusive than the one that the US
> brought to the table. Specifically, the US has focused almost
> exclusively on the following five goals for the NII since the Vice
> President's first speech at the National Press Club:
> 
>  - encouraging private investment
>  - promoting  competition
>  - creating a flexible regulatory environment
>  - providing open access to networks and services for
>    providers and users
>  - ensuring universal service.
> 
> By comparison, the final position of the G-7 called for:
> 
>  - promoting dynamic competition
>  - encouraging private investment
>  - defining an adaptable regulatory framework
>  - providing open access to networks
>  - ensuring universal provision of and access to services
>  - promoting equality of opportunity to the citizen
>  - promoting diversity of content, including cultural and
>    linguistic diversity
>  - recognising the necessity of worldwide cooperation with
>    particular attention to less developed countries
> 
> It doesn't take rocket science to realize that it is the other
> members of the G-7 that are most concerned about the social and
> cultural impact of the Global Information Infrastructure.  And then
> consider the position of the countries that are not members of this
> elite economic group.
> 
> I recommend that people look at a very good report from CPSR,
> "Serving the Community: A Public Interest Vision of the NII."
> (cpsr@cpsr.org). The report goes into some detail about the role
> of policy goals in shaping the development of the information
> infrastructure.
> 
> Marc.
> 
> 
> _________________________________________________________________________
> Subject: Visions of the GII at the G-7
> _________________________________________________________________________
> Marc Rotenberg (Rotenberg@epic.org)    * 202-544-9240 (tel)
> Electronic Privacy Information Center * 202-547-5482 (fax)
> 666 Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Suite 301  * ftp/gopher/wais cpsr.org
> Washington, DC 20003                * HTTP://epic.digicash.com/epic

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