DECREE
OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE
On Measures to Develop the National Component of the Internet Global Information Network and Provide Broad Access to this Network in Ukraine

In order to develop the national component of the Internet global information network, provide the public with broad access to this network, effectively use its capabilities for promoting national science, education, culture, entrepreneurship, strengthening international relations, proper information support of the performance by public authorities and local governments of their responsibilities, deeper satisfy the international community’s requirements for objective, comprehensive information about the various aspects of public life in Ukraine, as well as deal with the other objectives set forth in the Address of the President of Ukraine to the Verkhovna Rada “Ukraine: Entering the 21th Century. The Strategy of Economic and Social Development in 2000 - 2004" ( 276ŕ/2000 ), I DECREE:

1. Establish that the development of the national component of the Internet global information network (hereinafter referred to as the Internet), provision of the public and legal entities of any type of ownership with broad access to this network in Ukraine, the proper presentation in this network of national information resources is one of the priority aspects of national policy in the area of information provision, exercise of citizens` rights to information, construction of an open democratic society, development of entrepreneurship .

In view of this, the major objectives in developing the national component of the Internet global information network and providing broad access to it in Ukraine, shall be the following :

the earliest creation of the appropriate economic, legal, technical and other conditions to provide citizens, educational institutions, scientific and other organizations of any type of ownership, public authorities and local governments, business entities with broad access to the Internet;

the broadening and improvement of the presentation in the Internet of objective political, economic, legal, environmental, scientific and technological, cultural and other information about Ukraine, particularly that which is provided by public authorities and local governments, educational institutions, scientific organizations, archives, as well as libraries, museums, other institutions of culture; provision of more opportunities for access , as provided by law, to other national information resources; constant improvement of the methods of providing such information;

ensuring the constitutional human and civil rights to free collection, storage, use and promulgation of information, freedom of thought and speech, free expression of one’s views and convictions;

providing governmental support to the development of an infrastructure to offer information services through the Internet; providing opportunities for entrepreneurship and competition development in the area of electronic communication lines utilization; providing opportunities to educational institutions, scientific organizations, civic organizations, as well as libraries, museums, other institutions of culture, health care institutions, including those in the rural areas, to use the said services on preferential terms;

development and implementation of modern computer information technologies in the public administration system, the finance sector, business, education, health and legal services, in other areas;

ensuring that the country’s information security is guaranteed and the dissemination of information whose dissemination is prohibited by law, is prevented;

improvement of legal regulation of the activity of entities maintaining information relationships, the production, use, dissemination and storage of electronic information products, protection of intellectual property rights; raising liability for the violation of the procedure for access to electronic information resources of any type of ownership, for the deliberate dissemination of computer viruses.

2. The State Committee of Ukraine for Communications and Information Provision, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and the State Committee of Ukraine for Information Policies, Television and Broadcasting, in conjunction with other public executive authorities, as well as the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, leading scientists and specialists, representatives of the relevant businesses, shall draft, pursuant to the objectives set forth in Art.1 herein, within six months, a National program of Internet development in Ukraine so as to incorporate it , as an integral part, in the National Information Provision Program.

3. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine shall provide:

1) stepwise connection to the Internet, under the National program of Internet development in Ukraine passed in compliance with law, of scientific organizations, educational institutions, archives, libraries, museums and other culture institutions, including those in the rural areas;

2) development of educational and training programs on the basis of computer information technologies;

3) development of a legal, managerial, technological and other environment to pursue business using the Internet;

4) improvement of the efficiency of training of information technologies specialists, development of the appropriate standards, curricula and plans, as well as taking additional actions to educate the public so it has the knowledge and skills necessary to use the Internet;

5) establishment, before the end of 2000, of the procedure for promulgating information on the activity of Ukraine’s public authorities; completion of the development of web-pages by central public authorities, the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the oblast, Kyiv and Sevastopol city administrations , as well as leading scientific organizations and educational institutions;

6) presentation of information on the web-pages indicated under Para.5 herein, in the national language, English and other languages;

7) development of a national register of Ukrainian information resources linked to the Internet;

8) drafting and submission to the Verkhovna Rada, within six months, of pertinent laws related to:

specific features of mass media operation, the development, collection, use, dissemination and storage of information; provision of protection of intellectual property and copyrights in the Internet;

execution of civil and legal agreements using electronic document flow and electronic digital signature;

establishment of liability for the dissemination through the Internet of information whose dissemination or publication is prohibited by law, for deliberate spreading of computer viruses and the violation of the procedure for access to information resources of any type of ownership;

9) set aside, during the clarification of the 2000 national budget and the drafting of national budgets for next years, the resources required for financing the activities indicated in this Decree.

4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of the Economy of Ukraine, in conjunction with other central public executive authorities, shall:

address the issue of Ukraine’s entry into the pertinent international organizations dealing with telecommunication systems development, information rights protection, prevention of dissemination of
information detrimental to man and a citizen, society and a state, and make the appropriate proposals;

encourage the obtaining of international technical assistance funds, the use of international program resources for developing the Internet in Ukraine.

5. The Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the oblast, Kyiv and Sevastopol city administrations shall provide all-round assistance to enterprises, institutions and organizations in addressing objectives related to Internet development in Ukraine.

L.Kuchma
President of Ukraine

Kyiv
July 31, 2000
N 928/2000