Department of Commerce

Several Clinton Administration programs in the Department of Commerce are perennial budget battles, and this year is likely to be no exception. Selected program highlights include:

• Advanced Technology Program (ATP) – $175 million (up $33 million), with $34 million in carryover funds, this funding level allows $65 million to be awarded to new projects through a general competition.
• Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) – $114 million (up $9 million), including continuation of the existing network of MEP centers and $9 million for a new emphasis area on E-commerce. To accommodate a $15 million, E-commerce initiative, the base funding for the program's existing activities was decreased from $105 million to $99 million.
• Defense Economic Adjustment – $31.4 million (down $7 million). The decrease reflects a continued decline in need and demand for funding.
• Economic Adjustment Assistance Program – $70 million (up $35 million).
• Technology Opportunities Program (formerly the Telecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP) – $45.1 million (up $28 million) permitting $41 million in new grants to facilitate the development of a national telecommunication network and information infrastructure by enhancing the delivery of social services, education, health care, and public safety in under served and rural areas.
• National Quality Program – $5 million (down $1 million) to continue administration and selection of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
• Institute for Information Infrastructure Protection – $50 million (new) to support research and technology development to protect critical information and telecommunications infrastructures from attack or other failures.
• E-commerce Assistance – $23 million, (new), to provide grants to support equitable access to new technologies and create the broadband networks necessary to support full access to E-commerce in all communities.
• Home Internet Access – $50 million (new), for NTIA to provide community-based partnerships between local organizations, academia, and private industry to devise solutions that address the needs of low-income populations in gaining access to technology and online resources at home.
• The Technology Administration is requesting an additional $771,000 to expand its activities in the Office of Space Commercialization, develop an economic roadmap for the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles technologies, increase visibility and impact of the National Medal of Technology Program, and to improve monitoring and assessment of the results of government-industry research partnerships.
• Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCoT) – for the second consecutive year, no funding is requested for the EPSCoT program. The Technology Administration will spend the year evaluating the results of awards made in FY1998 and FY1999.