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• National Council for Science and the Environment

Summary

The Clinton Administration has developed a broad plan to interconnect industry, government, research, education, and each home with advanced telecommunications networks and information resources and technologies. Considered a key part of a larger vision to improve U.S. high technology, economic development, health care, and education, this is the National Information Infrastructure (NII). The NII may be viewed three ways: as a policy for national information infrastructure development; as federal programs to enhance and support this development; and a wide range of applications which demonstrate the tangible uses and benefits of the technologies. The policy has been articulated in a series of NII reports; the program is supported through major government R&D and grant efforts; the applications focus on a variety of applications in schools, libraries, hospitals, government, and businesses. Congressional interest in this issue similarly has been strong. Some congressional leaders have expressed their own vision of the future and the role information technologies will play. The 104th Congress addressed part of this issue by passing the Telecommunications Deregulation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104). This law contains a wide range of provisions which may affect who develops the information infrastructure of the 21st century. Congress also appropriates money for federal programs, and has reviewed current federal information technology and infrastructure programs. Policymakers in the 106th Congress continued the approach taken in both the 104th and 105th Congress, questioning the role of the federal government in development of the NII. In 1997 and 1998 the NII policy debate was set by the Clinton Administration, particularly by Vice President Gore. However, many policymakers in the 106th Congress may contend that continued federal support of the NII is at odds with their attempts to reduce the size and scope of a wide range of federal technology programs. The congressional debate over the NII for FY2000 reflects these differing viewpoints. The current federal debate lies in determining what strategies will best achieve the goals of the national interest, improve the competitive advantage of the United States, and commercial, academic and public use. The question of the government's role raises a general policy issue of how far and to what extent the government should generally involve itself in support for high technology research projects and commercialization of technology. It also revolves around the extent to which technology research, development, and deployment should be undertaken by the private sector; what tangible benefits will accrue to American workers and consumers; and whether government information infrastructure investment is needed to provide economic growth, create jobs, and ensure a leading edge in world markets.

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