Gore announces 5 Challenges to build a g

16 Oct 98 11:43:19 +1100

>From The White House Briefing Room FYI.

David

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October 12, 1998

VICE PRESIDENT GORE ANNOUNCES FIVE CHALLENGES TO BUILD A GLOBAL INFORMATION 
INFRASTRUCTURE

                              THE WHITE HOUSE

                       Office of the Vice President
 ___________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                         Contact: Monday, October 12, 
1998                 (202) 456-7035

VICE PRESIDENT GORE ANNOUNCES FIVE CHALLENGES TO BUILD A GLOBAL INFORMATION 
INFRASTRUCTURE

     Minneapolis, MN -- In a speech today before the United Nations? chief 
telecommunications organization,  Vice President Gore challenged delegates 
representing over 180 nations to use our newest technologies to preserve our 
oldest values.

     "Four years ago, I asked you to helped create a global information 
superhighway," Vice President Gore said. "Today, I thank you for what you 
have done to bring about the most stunning revolution the world has known, 
and I challenge you to build on this unprecedented opportunity by putting 
these new global networks to work helping people."

     "Today, we can build on our progress and use these powerful new forces 
of technology to advance our oldest and most cherished values: to extend 
knowledge and prosperity to the most isolated inner cities at home, and the 
most remote rural villages around the world; to bring 21st century learning 
and communication to places that don?t even have phone service today; to 
share specialized medical technology that can save and improve lives; to 
deepen the meaning of democracy and freedom in this Internet age,"he said.

     The Vice President proposed five new challenges, which he characterized 
as a "Declaration of Interdependence."

       First, he challenged the world community to improve access to 
technology so everyone on the planet is within walking distance of basic 
telecommunication services by the year 2005.  For all our progress, 65% of 
the world's households still have no phone service.

          Second, he challenged the world community to bridge language
   barriers by developing technologies with real-time digital
   translation so anyone on the planet can talk to anyone else.
   Such technologies could reduce the cost of doing business and
   increase international cooperation.

          Third, he challenged the world community to create a global
   knowledge network of people working to improve the delivery of
   education, health care, agricultural resources, and sustainable
   development, and to ensure public safety. The Vice President
   challenged the education community to link together
   practitioners, academic experts, and not-for-profit organizations
   working on our most pressing social and economic needs.

   Fourth, he challenged the world community to ensure that
   communications technology protects the free-flow of ideas and
   supports democracy and free speech.  We must continue to work to
   ensure that the Global Information Infrastructure (GII) promotes
   the free-flow of ideas and supports democracy around the globe.

   Fifth, he challenged the world community to create networks that
   allow every micro-entrepreneur in the world to advertise, market,
   and sell products directly to the world market.  Such networks
   will enable entrepreneurs to keep more profits, provide
   information about world prices, develop technology as a business
   tool, increase the diversity of the global marketplace, and
   create jobs.

     Additionally, the Vice President called on the world community to 
address the Year 2000 computer problem, which, if not addressed, could pose 
serious problems for commerce and communications all over the world.

     "We must ensure that the international system is ready for the year 
2000 -- because one weak link in the system will hurt us all," Vice 
President Gore said. "Together, we must solve this problem."
______________________________
David Goldstein
Research and Policy
Australian Broadcasting Authority

email:     david.goldstein@aba.gov.au
phone:    +61 2 9334 7938     fax:     +61 2 9334 7799
URL:        http://www.aba.gov.au
______________________________

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