SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS Committee and Its Tasks The Vision of an Open Data Network Developing an Open Data Network Architecture Configuring the Components Defining NII Compliance and Setting Standards Factoring in the International Aspect Deploying the Open Data Network Research and Education Concerns Infrastructure Financing: Investments for Research and Education The Government Role Long-term Strategy, Management, and Wise Investment Leadership in Education Technology Research and Development Recommendations The Vision of an Open Data Network Recommendation 1: Leadership and Guidance Recommendation 2: Technology Deployment Recommendation 3: Transitional Support Recommendation 4: K-12 Education Recommendation 5: Network Research 1. U.S. NETWORKING: THE PAST IS PROLOGUE Where We Are Today Existing Communications Networks and Increasing Focus on Infrastructure How We Got Here Today in Transition Visions of the Information Future: What Might It Be? The Internet-based Vision, The Entertainment-based Vision The Clinton-Gore Administration's Vision Possible Scenarios for Development of a National Information Infrastructure The Committee's Vision: An Integrated National Information Infrastructure Converging the Visions of the Future Technology Impetus Benefits to the Nation-Last-mile Economics, How Can We Converge the Visions? Structure and Content of This Report Notes 2. THE OPEN DATA NETWORK: ACHIEVING THE VISION OF AN INTEGRATED NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE The Open Data Network Criteria for an Open Data Network, Technical, Operational, and Organizational Objectives Benefits of an Open Data Network Open Data Network Architecture An Architectural Proposal in Four Layers The Centrality of the Bearer Service Characterizing the Bearer Service Middleware: A New Set of Network Services Defining the Higher-level Services Basic Higher-level Services More Demanding Higher-level Services Quality of Service: Options for the ODN Bearer Service Best-Effort and Reserved Bandwidth Service Assuring the Service NII Compliance Standards Role of Network Standards Factors that Complicate Setting Standards Network Function Has Moved Outside the Network It Is Hard to Set Standards Without a Recognized Mandate A Bottom-up Process Cannot Easily Set Long- term Direction A Top-down Approach No Longer Appears Workable Commercial Forces May Distort the Standards- Setting Process Setting Standards for the NII-Planning for Change Is Difficult But Necessary Issues of Scale in the NII Addressing and Naming Mobility as the Computing Paradigm of the Future Management Systems Measurement and Monitoring Security and the Open Data Network Securing the Network, the Host, and Information Developing a Security Architecture Security Objectives and Current Approaches for Reaching Them Computer System Protection Protection of Information in the Host Protection of Information in the Network, Authenticating Users Control of Authorized Users Taking a Comprehensive Approach to Ensuring Security Finding and Balancing Opportunities to Build Toward Convergence Development of Standards for Television-An Example Reengineering of the Nation's Access Circuits Cost and Function in Access Circuits Options for Incorporating the ODN Bearer Service Need for Government Action in Balancing Objectives Acting Now to Realize a Unified NII Recommendation: Technology Deployment Research on the NII-Ensuring Necessary Technical Development Research to Develop Network Architecture Defining the Bearer Service Issues for the Lower Levels: Scale, Robustness, and Operations Addressing and Routing Quality of Service New Approaches to Transport Protocols Network Control Functions Mobility as the Computing Paradigm of the Future Management Systems-Monitoring and Control New Technology for Access Circuits Middleware and Information Services Support Navigation and Filtering Tools Intellectual Property Rights Computer and Communications Security Research in the Development of Software Experimental Network Research Experimental Research in Middleware and Application Services Rights Management Testbed Research to Characterize Effects of Change Recommendation: Network Research Notes 3. RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND LIBRARIES Research Higher Education K-12 Education Lifelong Education Libraries and the Broadening of Public Interest Networking Cross-Cutting Observations Notes 4. PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE Equitable Access Flow of Information Government Information Privacy First Amendment Intellectual Property Protection Broader Consideration of Ethics Notes 5. FINANCIAL ISSUES Federal and Other Funding for Networking to Date Cost of Network Infrastructure Paying the Price Imminent Short-term Increases Recommendation: Transitional Support, Costs of Local Infrastructure and Access to Services, Usage-based Pricing Flat-fee Pricing Covering User Charges (Subsidies and Mechanisms) Deriving Specific Funds Equity Notes 6. GOVERNMENT ROLES AND OPPORTUNITIES Leadership and Vision Leadership in Development and Deployment of Infrastructure Leadership in Education Recommendation: K-12 Education Balancing of Interests Diverse and Fragmented Public and Private Interests Coordination and Management Uncertain Technical Expertise Cross-agency and Uncertain Structure Recommendation: Leadership and Guidance Influencing the Shape of the Information Infrastructure Influence on Architecture and Standards Influence Through Procurement Influence on Future Oversight of the Internet, Influence on Network Deployment and Technology Development Support for Experimental Networks Approach to Operational Networks and Intermediate Technologies Research and Development Conclusion Notes APPENDIXES A. FEDERAL NETWORKING: THE PATH TO THE INTERNET B. SAMPLE PRINCIPLE SETS C. USER SUPPORT SERVICES D. STATE AND REGIONAL NETWORKS E. INTERNATIONAL ISSUES F. KEY TERMS INDEX