11 August 1998
Source: http://www.usia.gov/current/news/latest/98081004.glt.html?/products/washfile/newsitem.shtml

USIS Washington File
_________________________________

10 August 1998

### CLINTON SUPPORTS INCREASED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH

    (Report urges more funding for information innovations) (680)

    Washington -- A White House advisory committee has recommended
    government steps to strengthen U.S. leadership in information
    technology, including increased support for research.

    The report of the President's Information Technology Advisory
    Committee (PITAC) -- whose membership includes many of the nation's
    top computing and communications experts -- calls for expanded
    government investments in long-term research and development in
    technologies such as computers, networks, and software.

    Such investments drive economic growth, generate new knowledge, create
    new jobs, build new industries, ensure national security, protect the
    environment, and improve the health and quality of life, the White
    House noted.

    In accepting the report August 10, President Clinton renewed his
    commitment to make significant increases in computing and
    communications research in the years ahead.

    "Our nation's economic future and the welfare of our citizens depend
    on continued advances and innovation in the information technologies
    which have produced so many remarkable developments in science,
    engineering, medicine, business, and education," the president said in
    a letter to the committee.

    Vice President Gore, author of the High Performance Computing Act of
    1991 and long-time supporter of the "information superhighway," also
    voiced his support for research in information technology.

    "Information technology can be a powerful tool for achieving many of
    our most important national objectives," the vice president said in a
    White House statement, "such as creating jobs and growing our economy,
    providing our children with a world-class education, expanding access
    to high-quality health care in rural America, and strengthening our
    national security."

    The PITAC report notes that "...the evidence is unequivocal: growth in
    today's information technology (IT) sector vastly outstrips the
    current growth of all other sectors of the economy. The Federal
    Reserve reports that during the past five years production in
    computers, semiconductors, and communications equipment quadrupled at
    a time when total industrial production grew by 28 percent. These
    three industries account for one-third of the total growth in
    production since 1992. As we approach the 21st century, the
    opportunities for innovation in IT are larger than they ever have been
    -- and more important."

    In June 1998, President Clinton asked Dr. Neal Lane, his science
    advisor, to prepare a detailed plan on computing and communications
    research. He has directed Dr. Lane to work with the U.S. scientific
    community and to carefully consider the new research directions
    identified in the committee's report.

    The committee stressed the importance of Clinton administration
    initiatives in computing and communications such as the Next
    Generation Internet, the Department of Energy's DOE 2000 distributed
    computing program, and the National Science Foundation's Knowledge and
    Distributed Intelligence emphasis. This year, President Clinton has
    proposed record increases for civilian research and development in
    science and technology.

    Recognizing the critical role that Federal research has played in
    developing modern computing, the Internet, and other Information Age
    technologies, the committee urged the president to ensure that this
    momentum is maintained.

    The committee urged sharply increased support for basic research,
    giving highest priority to research on computer software. It also
    stressed the importance of allowing the research community to "live in
    the future" and tackle long-term high-risk research challenges.

    Specifically, the committee recommend emphasis be placed on:

    -- Techniques for developing software that is more dependable and
    reliable;

    -- Communication systems which will be able to support billions of
    users and devices that are attached to the network;

    -- High-speed computers and software that can deliver useful
    performance that is a thousand times faster than today's most powerful
    super computers; and

    -- Research that ensures that America's workforce is properly prepared
    for the challenges and opportunities of the Information Age.

    Reacting to the report, Dr. Lane said that "breathtaking advances" in
    information technologies means that "research priorities need to be
    redefined to take advantage of new opportunities."

    A copy of the committee's report is available on the World Wide Web at
    http://www.ccic.gov/ac/interim/.