[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 49 (Monday, December 7, 1998)]
[Pages 2396-2397]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Memorandum on Electronic Commerce

November 30, 1998

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Successes and Further Work on Electronic Commerce

    The Internet and electronic commerce have the potential to transform 
the world economy. The United States Government is committed to a 
market-driven policy architecture that will allow the new digital 
economy to flourish while at the same time protecting citizens' rights 
and freedoms.
    Today my Administration has released a report that details the 
significant progress made on the implementation of my Directive on 
Electronic Commerce of July 1, 1997, and its accompanying policy 
statement, ``A Framework for Global Electronic Commerce.'' The 
electronic commerce working group that has coordinated the United States 
Government's electronic commerce strategy has accomplished a great deal. 
I am proud of its significant achievements. Governments and private 
sector organizations around the world now recognize the importance of 
the Internet and electronic commerce and the viability of the approaches 
contained in the 1997 report as a means of ensuring future economic 
success. I am optimistic that the progress realized to date will be 
continued during the next year.
    In order to complete implementation of my July 1, 1997, directive by 
January 1, 2000, I direct that work continue in the 13 areas listed 
therein.
    In addition, new areas have emerged during the past year that 
deserve particular attention. To ensure progress in these areas, I 
hereby direct as follows:
    Section 1. The Secretary of Commerce, in appropriate consultation 
with the Federal Communications Commission, shall encourage the 
deployment of advanced telecommunications capabilities for all Americans 
while preserving the vibrant and competitive free market that exists for 
the Internet and other interactive computer services. These agencies 
shall work with the Office of the United States Trade Representative to 
help ensure the elimination of foreign trade barriers to the deployment 
of advanced telecommunications capabilities.
    Sec. 2. The Secretary of Commerce, in appropriate consultation with 
the Federal Trade Commission and other relevant agencies, shall foster 
consumer confidence in electronic commerce by working to ensure 
effective consumer protection online. This shall include exploring 
opportunities for global cooperation to enforce consumer protection laws 
and facilitating partnerships between industry and consumer advocates to 
develop redress mechanisms for online consumers. These agencies shall 
work with the Office of the United States Trade Representative to help 
avoid the creation of foreign trade barriers while protecting the 
interests of consumers.
    Sec. 3. The Secretary of State, in appropriate cooperation with the 
Agency for International Development, the Secretary of Commerce, the 
Federal Communications Commission, the Overseas Private Investment 
Corporation, and other relevant agencies, shall initiate a program to 
help accelerate the spread of the Internet and electronic commerce to 
developing countries. This shall include a demonstration of successful 
models for development in a small number of interested countries and 
should highlight and create incentives for public/private sector 
partnerships to serve as a catalyst for successful private action. The 
Secretary of State should seek the cooperation of the World Bank and 
other multilateral organizations in initiating this program.
    Sec. 4. The Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, in 
appropriate consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce, the Treasury, 
Labor, and other relevant agency heads, shall analyze the economic 
impact of the Internet and electronic commerce in the United States and 
internationally. This shall include convening a conference of experts 
from the public and private sectors to assess

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the impact of investments in information technology and the influences 
of electronic commerce and related technologies on the economy. These 
experts shall consider new indicators for the information economy, new 
types of data collection, and new research that could be undertaken by 
organizations in the public and private sectors. To broaden public 
understanding of the impact of electronic commerce, the Department of 
Commerce shall publish a follow-up report to the ``Emerging Digital 
Economy'' report it issued this year.
    Sec. 5. The Secretary of Commerce and the Administrator of the Small 
Business Administration shall develop strategies to help small 
businesses overcome barriers to the use of the Internet and electronic 
commerce. The initiative shall consider the need to train Federal 
Government employees who have contact with small businesses on the use 
of the Internet and electronic commerce; identify commonly used 
Government products and forms that should be moved to the Internet to 
enable small business to use the Internet to interact with the 
Government; and develop an outreach plan to enhance electronic access to 
information and services that can assist small businesses' development 
using the Internet and electronic commerce.
    Sec. 6. The directives in sections 1-5 of this memorandum and my 
July 1, 1997, directive shall be conducted subject to the availability 
of appropriations and consistent with the agencies' priorities and my 
budget.
    Sec. 7. The Vice President shall continue his leadership in 
coordinating the United States Government's electronic commerce 
strategy. Further, I direct that heads of executive departments and 
agencies report to the Vice President and me through the Electronic 
Commerce Working Group in 1 year on their progress in meeting the goals 
of the July 1, 1997, directive as well as their accomplishments under 
this memorandum.
                                            William J. Clinton