Budget assigns 1.8 bln rubles for Runet's sustainability bill, further funding to be clarified - ministry
MOSCOW. Feb 12 (Interfax) - The federal budget assigns 1.8 billion rubles for implementing the bill on the sustainable operation of the Internet's Russian segment (Runet), while experts should clarify further funding, according to the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media.
"For now, we can say that we have money for implementing the initial measures stipulated by this bill; this funding is part of the budget and amounts to 1.8 billion rubles. Further measures will need to be assessed and included in the budget," Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Oleg Ivanov said at a plenary meeting of the State Duma on Tuesday, while responding to questions from deputies.
Funding for the establishment and maintenance of the Monitoring and Control Center, which is stipulated by the bill, and the infrastructure to be used in case of Russia's disconnection from the World Wide Web, is already available, Ivanov said.
"But some innovations mentioned in this bill do require expert and technological analysis," Ivanov said, referring to "completeness of equipment" and "deployment topology."
"Regrettably, there is [no clarity] regarding these funds so far. All we can tell you is the order of magnitude," he said.
Ivanov declined to say how much the innovations might cost.