PUBLIC LAW 107-347—DEC. 17, 2002 116 STAT. 2945 (C) the incidence of disparities among different groups within the population; and (D) chgmges in the nature of personal and public Internet access that may alleviate or aggravate effective access to online Government services; (2) how the increase in online Government services is influencing the dispguities in Internet access and how technology development or diffusion trends may offset such adverse influences; and • (3) related societal effects arising from the interplay of disparities in Internet access and the increase in online Government services. (c) RECOMMENDATIONS.— The report shall include recommendations on actions to ensure that online Government initiatives shall not have the unintended result of increasing any deficiency in public access to Government services. (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— There are authorized to be appropriated $950,000 in fiscal year 2003 to carry out this section. SEC. 216. COMMON PROTOCOLS FOR GEOGRAPfflC INFORMATION SYS- 44 USC 3501 TEMS. note. (a) PURPOSES.— The purposes of this section are to— (1) reduce redundant data collection and information; and (2) promote collaboration and use of standards for government geographic information. (b) DEFINITION. —In this section, the term "geographic information" means information systems that involve locational data, such as maps or other geospatial information resources. (c) IN GENERAL. — (1) COMMON PROTOCOLS.—The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretguy of the Interior, working with the Director and through an interagency group, and working with private sector experts. State, local, and tribal governments, commercial and international standards groups, and other interested psirties, shall facilitate the development of common protocols for the development, acquisition, maintenance, distribution, and application of geographic information. If practicable, the Administrator shall incorporate intergovernmental and public private geographic information paulnerships into efforts under this subsection. (2) INTERAGENCY GROUP.—The interagency group referred to under peu-agraph (1) shall include representatives of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and other agencies. (d) DIRECTOR.— The Director shall oversee— (1) the interagency initiative to develop common protocols; (2) the coordination with State, local, and tribal governments, public private psirtnerships, and other interested persons on effective and efficient ways to align geographic information and develop common protocols; and (3) the adoption of common standards relating to the protocols. (e) COMMON PROTOCOLS.— The common protocols shall be designed to—
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