MAINTENANCE AND EXPANSION OF CURRENT SERVICES

In FY 95, H.I.S. needs to address the following objectives.

Improve and expand customer service.

An increasing portion

of H.I.S. resources will be devoted to customer service.
This will include hardware, software, and training materials
to improve the efficiency and productivity of customer
service operations.

Expand network capacities and subscribership. The use of
data communication networks is the fastest growing area of
H.I.S. operations. The main capacity improvements needed
are (1) installation of more FDDI network routers both to
divert traffic growth from the near-saturated Ethernet
network and to provide each office with secure access to the
outside world via the Internet; (2) acquisition of
additional frame relay equipment so that additional offices
will be able to integrate their Washington and district
networks; (3) acquisition of additional equipment to allow
more Committees to establish private local area networks.
Expand ISIS facilities and subscribership. Additional
server computers and software licenses will be required to
respond to the expected demand from Member and Committee
offices for access to the ISIS system.

Upgrade of the MicroMIN system. Once state-of-the-art,
MicroMIN needs to be modernized so that it will work
effectively with the more powerful PCs now available and can
be used more efficiently in district offices.

SERVICES AND INITIATIVES

In addition to expanding the capacity and usage of the current baseline, H.I.S. proposes to continue the following initiatives.

Expand Internet access. In addition to providing Members
and Committees with assistance in accessing the Internet,
H.I.S. will provide computer and software facilities which
Members and Committees can use to establish bulletin boards,

electronic discussion forums, and document archives which they can provide to constituents and/or the general public. Expand ISIS capabilities. In addition to expanding the availability of ISIS, H.I.S. proposes to extend its capabilities by expanding the range of information and features available.

Public Access to House information.

In FY 94, H.I.S. will

establish on a test basis an information server on the Internet through which the general public will be able to electronically access such Congressional information as directed by the Committee.

It is proposed that databases of

interest to the public, such as the Text of Legislation, be made available.

Develop CD-ROM capabilities.

H.I.S. proposes to expand its

own capability in CD-ROM and imaging technologies so it can offer success similar to that of the Law Revision Counsel in publishing the U.S. Code on CD-ROM to other offices with publishing responsibilities and to better equip itself to support Member and Committee offices in their use of information available via CD-ROM.

APPENDIX A

HOUSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS

ORGANIZATION AND STAFFING

ORGANIZATION. House Information Systems is comprised of six line organizations and a Director's Office, which manages organization-wide technical and administrative support.

Although

each division has a defined mission and responsibilities, multidivisional task forces are frequently used to pool the best available talent to meet House priorities.

The chart below depicts the overall organization and staffing allocations. The mission and staffing allocations for each of the line organizations are presented on the following pages.

CUSTOMER SERVICES. The Customer Services Group (CSG) provides office automation support for all House offices and is responsible for all systems, products, and services provided specifically for House Member and Leadership offices. CSG provides a telephone hotline service, training, procedural assistance, installation, support and service for all H.I.S. developed personal computer-based systems, including MicroMIN and ISIS; support of commercially-available hardware and software products approved for House use; and Member Information Network Services (MIN).

CSG supports off-the-shelf hardware and software for microcomputers and provides training and education; desktop publishing; color graphics and printing; and Computer Aided Design (CAD).

CUSTOMER APPLICATIONS. The Customer Applications Group (CAG) provides office systems and automation support to Members and committees including applications development, assistance in acquiring computer systems, support in the use of PCs and minicomputer systems; publications support for the production of House documents, such as hearings, calendars, bills, reports, and U.S. Code revisions; and development of MicroMIN, ISIS clients, and other office automation applications for Members and committees.

CAG provides direct user support for all systems, products, and services provided specifically for House committees.