FORUM The information highways and services at the time of the trials 1 February 1996

At a forum organised by his Ministry on 1 February 1996, François FILLON, Minister for Postal Services, Telecommunications made several announcements.

1- 80 additional trial projects on the information highways and services officially recognised as in the public interest. These supplement 170 projects approved by the government on 16 October 1995 after the first call for proposals in November 1994. The list of these additional projects made public 15 February 1996.

From this total of 250 trials, 97 have received state aid, or will receive it before the end of 1996, for research and development.

2- A new call for proposals was made by the National Agency to Develop Research (ANVAR) in conjunction with the SERICS, a department of the ministry. Proposals invited from small-to-medium-sized companies and must concentrate on key technology areas of the information highways and services. These areas include the user interface, audiovisual production, interworking, security of transactions (refer to the call for proposals of...)

To submit a proposal, contact ANVAR or the SERICS ;

3- Establishment of a one-stop shopping at the Ministry of Postal Services, Telecommunications for those with proposals for projects on the information highways and services ;

4- Beginning of this Internet information service where you will find details of most of the approved trials on the information highways and services. Specific information on some of the projects is not yet available here as it has not yet been submitted to the SERICS by the project directors.

To access this database, click here ;

5- 15 March 1996, provision by France Telecom of Internet access for the cost of a local call ;

6- Application of tax measures taken by the government to favour home equipment extended to personal computers ;

7- Relaxation of restrictions on the use of encryption to be relaxed (this will be dealt with by the future law on telecommunications regulations) ;

8- In conjunction with the Ministry of Culture a committee will be formed to examine questions on ethics and copyright raised by digital conversion and the expansion of networks.

© Secretary of State for industry - France