CNI PROJECTS

Current Projects | Complete List of Projects

Project Big Ideas
(1992)

Introduction

Basic Approach

• The leaders of the Coalition Working Groups are being asked to add this topic to the agendas for their meetings at the Fall 1992 Coalition Task Force Meeting.
• A network discussion forum known as "cni-bigideas" has been established to provide a common means for continuing the separate Working Group discussions begun at the Fall 1992 Coalition Task Force Meeting, and to provide a means of participation in this conversation for individuals who were not present at the Fall 1992 Coalition Task Force Meeting.
• The leaders of the Coalition Working Groups will convene with Coalition staff and members of the Coalition Steering Committee for a meeting as soon as possible in 1993, in order to review and refine contributions being made to Project Big Ideas.
• The theme of the Spring 1993 Coalition Task Force Meeting on March 22 and 23, 1993 in San Francisco, California will be "Big ideas that make a difference" and the Meeting will be planned to aid in the development and programming of those contributions to Project Big Ideas that generate the most interest and excitement.
• Through out the period between the Fall 1992 and Spring 1993 Coalition Task Force Meeting, members of the Coalition Steering Committee, Coalition staff, leaders of Coalition Working Groups, and other people associated with the Coalition will draw upon contributions to Project Big Ideas in their speaking, writing, and constituency representing activities.
• Next steps and timetable for Project Big Ideas, if any, will be planned in light of the above measures and their outcomes, for consideration by the Coalition Steering Committee at its April 1993 meeting.

Guiding Observations

• Contributions to Project Big Ideas, and reactions thereto, should flow freely and without constraint, and they should be submitted to the Coalition by whatever means is most convenient for their contributors.
• Contributions to Project Big ideas that are expressed in terms of what is known about the elements of the technology strategy of the Clinton / Gore Administration will be particularly welcomed. It is widely reported that this strategy will have five basic elements:
  • Investment in communications infrastructure with the objective of linking every home, school, library, and business to the "national information infrastructure" by the year 2015.
  • A civilian technology agency (drawing upon the example of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) with a research agenda aimed at fostering new technologies.
  • Investments in education with particular attention to continuing education.
  • Appointment of a presidential science and technology advisor to the National Security Council and the Council of Economic Advisors.
  • A technical extension service (drawing upon the example of the Agricultural Extension Service) for speeding up the transfer of technology into small businesses.
• Contributions to Project Big Ideas that are expressed in terms of the following cost categories will be particularly welcomed:
  • Ideas that would not require money but which could be carried out by the Administration (regulatory actions, directives, assignments of responsibilities, and the like) or Congress (hearings, letters to the Administration, studies, and the like).
  • Ideas that would cost on the order of magnitude of $10,000,000, a ballpark figure for initiatives that could be funded by reallocations of existing budgets or included in a supplemental budget request by the Adminstration.
  • Ideas that would cost more, perhaps much more, than $10,000,000, constituting initiatives that would be suitable for inclusion in completely new (likely multi-year) budget submissions.
• Contributions to Project Big Ideas that are expressed in terms of the mission, goals and objectives, and priorities of the Coalition will be particularly welcomed.

Further Information