CLINTON ACTS TO AID ACCESS TO INTERNET.

Byline: Associated Press 

Envisioning a day when computers are ``as much a part of classrooms as blackboards,'' President Clinton moved Thursday to broaden the sweep of the Internet at 100 universities, national labs and other federal institutions.

The president said his ultimate goal is to ``revolutionize and democratize'' American public education by making computers available regardless of income, ethnicity or social status.

Clinton said his administration will push for $100 million in federal financing in 1998 to begin a five-year project to expand the Internet's capabilities. Aides said the cost for the full five years would be about $500 million if approved by Congress.

``Everything ages, and the Internet is straining under its growing popularity,'' the president said, noting that the global information network began a generation ago as a Defense Department system.

``It is now time to invest in the next generation of Internet,'' he said.

Clinton began his campaign day in Knoxville by extending congratulations to his running mate, Vice President Al Gore, on his Wednesday night debate with Republican Jack Kemp.

``It's nice to be in Knoxville riding on Al Gore's coattails,'' Clinton said. ``Mr. Kemp is finding out something I learned a long time ago. It's better not to get on the other side of an argument with Al Gore. Last night it was Al Gore who sacked the quarterback.''

The Clinton cavalcade moved on to Ohio and Kentucky, two states where the president is striving to cement his lead.

In Dayton, Ohio, where the warring leaders of Bosnia forged a peace accords last year, Clinton said the agreement showed ``that America can be an indispensable nation for peace and freedom.''

The Clinton-Gore campaign announced that 100 former national security officials had endorsed the Democratic ticket with a statement praising the administration for ``impressive national security accomplishments.''