CONFEREES APPROVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS FOR IT AND TELECOM WORK
Infusion of several hundred million dollars into govt. telecom and information technology (IT) infrastructure project upgrades has been negotiated in conference report (H. Rpt. 107-278) on FY 2002 Commerce, Justice, State Depts. (CJS) appropriations bill (HR-2500). House-Senate conferees late last week also agreed on $245 million FCC budget, finding middle ground between $238.6 million House proposal and $252.5 million Senate recommendation. FCC appropriations would be offset by $218.8 million in fee collections. House Rules Committee planned hearing Tues. evening to set boundaries for floor debate on report, tentatively scheduled this (Wed.) afternoon.
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State Dept. capital investment fund includes $106.6 million to replace telecom and computer equipment used in classified operations and $109.6 million to provide desktop Internet access to State Dept. employees worldwide, report said. Agreement requires “submission of a performance plan and report for these 2 initiatives,” and recommends development of common IT platform at overseas posts, measures that were in original House report but absent from Senate report. Conferees approved separate $79.4 million package “to improve information and telephone security,” as well as other technical and personnel security functions. State Dept. IT “operations and maintenance” would get $102 million beyond those numbers.
FBI’s $3.5 billion budget in report includes $50 million for telecom, automated data processing, and “technical investigative” equipment. Conferees also adopted “by reference” language in House report calling for integration of certain FBI and INS databases. Drug Enforcement Administration would get $10 million for such equipment, and $19.4 million for the development of global DEA intranet known as “Firebird.”
Conferees reiterated support given in House and Senate reports for expanding FTC investigations into online child pornography and Internet gambling by children. They also instructed FTC to continue its efforts monitoring Web sites for compliance with Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Conference report included $156 million for agency as proposed by the House, slightly less than Senate report had recommended. Other Internet-related provisions include: (1) $6.5 million to create new investigative units under the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. (2) $10 million for U.S. Attorneys for cybercrime and intellectual property enforcement. (3) $2.2 million for CyberTipline and the Exploited Child Unit of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
NTIA would get $14 million as proposed by Senate, rather than $13 million called for by the House. In addition, NTIA would get $43.5 million for public telecom facility, planning and construction, and $15.5 million for its Information Infrastructure grant program. Patent & Trademark Office would get $1.126 billion, less than what was proposed by House and more than suggested in Senate report.
Broadcasting Board of Governors would get $428 million for international broadcasting operations, compromise between House or Senate proposals of $453 million and $414 million, respectively. Report would establish separate $24.9 million account for broadcasting to Cuba. Although both houses had sought same amount, only Senate report had proposed separate account for program. Conferees agreed to $25.9 million for capital improvements proposed by House, up from $16.9 million suggested by Senate. Agreement includes prohibition against providing funds or assistance to Palestinian Bcstg. Corp., and provides full funding for enhancement of Voice of America broadcasts to Middle East.
Bureau of Prisons (BOP) would be prevented from using funds for in-cell TV viewing with exception of inmates segregated from general prison population for safety reasons. It would block BOP from showing X, R and NC-17 rated programs to prisoners, and would ban broadcasts of boxing, wrestling, martial arts or weightlifting instructional programs. It also contains provision banning cable or videocassette products and services used “primarily for recreational purposes.” Exception can be made for “inmate training, religious or educational programs.”