THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, February 27, 1995 TAG: 9502270060
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL AMES, ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
The world's seven richest nations pledged Sunday to work together for a technological revolution, despite trans-Atlantic differences over speed limits on the information superhighway.
``G-7 partners are committed to playing a leading role in the development of the Global Information Society,'' the Group of Seven nations said in a statement adopted at the end of their three-day conference on new technologies.
But while the U.S. delegation urged a high-speed push toward a new information age, European officials urged caution. Jobs and national traditions could be threatened, they said, by the application of new technologies - in global computer networks and telecommunications systems, for example.
``The potential of the future information society is clear, but we must not be starry-eyed about it,'' said Padraig Flynn, the European Union's top social affairs official. ``In its early phase, it will almost certainly bring job losses.''
Industry leaders disagreed. They insisted the new technologies would create new products and boost employment, and they called on governments to open markets, lift regulations and clear the way for a global information exchange.
The United States appeared ready to heed their advice. Vice President Al Gore said Saturday that limits on foreign investment in American telecommunications would be lifted this year for countries that drop their own restrictions.
All seven nations - the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan - approved a package of 11 pilot projects.
The ballooning global information market was worth an estimated $1.13 trillion last year.
According to figures released by the EU last week, the United States had 35 percent of the world information and communications market, the EU 27 percent and Japan 16 percent. MEMO: THE PILOT PROJECTS
The Group of Seven information conference on Sunday approved 11 pilot
projects to promote international cooperation in using and developing
new technology:
Training and education, focusing on teaching languages.
Global network of electronic libraries.
Expanded electronic museums and galleries, made more available to
schools and the public.
World data bases on environment and resource protection.
Global network to share information on the risks of natural disasters
and on emergency management.
Health care applications, including long-distance medical diagnoses.
On-line exchanges between governments.
Information that is more readily available to small businesses.
Maritime information exchange system to improve safety and
environmental protection.
An inventory of national and international projects and studies on
the information society.
Global links between the various high-speed networks.
by CNB