Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 104 Part 5.djvu/754

 104 STAT. 4076 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 (2) voluntary or mandatory soil or water conservation programs administered by the Secretary, including programs under the Food Security Act of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1281, note, et seq.); and (3) any other related programs administered by the Secretary, including programs under the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1981, et. seq.) and programs of crop insurance under the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation. (d) CONTENTS OF REPORT. — (1) IN GENERAL. — In the report required by subsection (c), the Secretary shall set forth the results of a thorough examination of the feasibility of reducing current levels of paperwork and recordkeeping required of producers by providing such producers with access to a computerized departmental network or system (including the utilization of computer capability and equipment which has been or will be acquired by the Department of Agriculture) that could be used by producers to— (A) communicate by voice, data, video, or a combination thereof for the purpose of submitting electronically all of, or a significant portion of, any necessary and appropriate applications, reports, or other documentation; and (B) provide updated electronic information and data pertinent to the producer's agricultural operation and marketing activities, or information sharing by means of video conferencing. For the purpose of preparing the report required by this subsection, the Secretary is authorized to retain the consulting service of at least one private sector business firm having experience and possessing technical expertise in the fields of wide area computer network design, function, installation, and maintenance, integrated video conferencing, and data base management systems. (2) SCHEDULE OF FEES.—In determining the feasibility and costs of providing a computerized network or system as described in paragraph (1), the Secretary may recommend a schedule of nominal fees which could be charged to producers and others for a pro rata share of a portion of the costs associated with the producers' access to and use of such system. Such fees would partially or entirely defray the costs (after taking into consideration any ongoing savings to the Department of Agriculture) associated with the operation and maintenance and future expansion of such portion of the network or system and its capabilities, but shall not be applied in a manner that would include any reimbursement for existing equipment and capabilities or for the costs associated with the initial establishment of the network or system. The report should also contain recommendations outlining additional categories of users who might be permitted access to the network or system for a fee, and the types of safeguards which would be reasonably necessary to limit file access as may be necessitated in accordance with provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and other relevant authorities governing the disclosure of individual or proprietary information. (e) RECOMMENDATIONS OF NATIONAL COMMISSION. — (1) GENERALLY. —To the maximum extent practicable, in preparing the report required by subsection (c), the Secretary shall take into consideration and incorporate the recommendations of the commission created by title V, section 501 of the

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