World-Wide Web: The Information Universe (Page 52)

93 Pages·1992·12.9 MB·English

by  Tim Berners-Lee, Robert Cailliau, Jean-Frangois Groff, and Bernd Pollermann

EDITORIAL ADDRESSES
EDITORS Fax: [phone] Ann Arbor, M148109-2099
Internet: [email protected] Internet: [email protected]
Charles R. McClure, Editor Phone: [phone]
School of Information Studies Michael Breaks
Center for Science and Technology University Librarian Pat Molholt, Associate Director
Rm. 4-206 Heriot-Watt University Institute Libraries
Syracuse University Riccarton Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Syracuse NY 13244 Edinburgh EH14 4AS Troy, NY 12180 - 3590
Phone: [phone] Scotland Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
([email protected]) Fax: [phone] Internet: usera0pm@rpitsmts
Internet: [email protected]
Ann P. Bishop, Associate Editor Tracy LaQuey Parker
Graduate School of Library and Martin Dillon, Ph. D. Network Information Specialist
Information Science Director Network Services, Computation
University of Illinois at Office of Research Center
Urbana-Champaign OCLC University of Texas at Austin
426 David Kinley Hall 6565 Frantz Road Austin, TX 78712
1407 W. Gregory Drive Dublin, OH 43017-0702 Phone: [phone]
Urbana, IL 61801 Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Internet: [email protected]
Fax: [phone] Internet: [email protected]
([email protected]) Carol A. Parkhurst
Susan Estrada Assistant University Librarian for
Philip Doty, Associate Editor Executive Director, CERFnet Systems & Technical Services
Graduate School of Library and General Atomics University Library/322
Information Science P.O. Box 85608 University of Nevada, Reno
University of Texas at Austin San Diego, CA 92186-9784 Reno, NV 89557
Austin, TX 78712-1276 Phone: [phone] Phone: [phone]
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Internet: [email protected] Internet: [email protected]
([email protected]) BITNET: [email protected]
Brian Kahin, Esq.
Joe Ryan, Resource Review Editor Director Henry H. Perritt, Jr.
School of Information Studies Information Infrastructure Project Professor of Law
Center for Science and Technology Science, Technology and Public Villanova University School of Law
Rm. 4-206 Policy Program Villanova, PA 19085
Syracuse University John F. Kennedy School of Phone: [phone]
Syracuse NY 13244 Government Fax: [phone]
Phone: [phone] Harvard University Internet: [email protected]
Fax: [phone] Cambridge, MA 02138
([email protected]) Phone: [phone] Fred W. Weingarten, Ph.D.
Fax: [phone] Executive Director
Internet: [email protected] Computing Research Association
MEMBERS 1625 Massachusetts Ave.
Michael J. McGill, Ph.D. Suite 110
Pamela Q. J. Andre Director of Network Systems Washington, DC 20036-2212
Associate Director for Automation Information Technology Division Phone: [phone]
National Agricultural Library 5112 Institute for Fax: [phone]
10301 Baltimore Boulevard Science and Technology Irtternet: [email protected]
Beltsville, MD 20705 2900 Bonistell
Phone: [phone] University of Michigan
Co
Editor-in-Chief
Charles R. McClure, Syracuse University
Associate Editors
Ann P. Bishop, University of Illinois
Philip Doty, University of Texas at Austin
Resource Reviews Editor
Joe Ryan, Syracuse University r~_..search, appllc--~tlons and pollc’~j
European Editor
Michael Breaks, Heriot-Watt University
Production Manager
Marissa Felix
Managing Editor
Doreen Beauregard Contents vo,. 2. No. 1 - Spring 1992
Vice President, Information & Technology
Nancy Melln Nelson
Senior Vice President
Anthony Abbott
2 From the Editor
Publisher
Alan Meckler
10 A Special Issue of Electronic Networking: Research,
Appfications, and Policy
Accessing Information on the Internet
Editorial Board George H. Brett, Guest Editor
Pamela Q.J. Andre
National Agricultural Library 13 Describing and Classifying Networked
Martin Dillon Information Resources
OCLC Clifford A. Lynch and Cecilia M. Preston
Susan Estrada
CERFnet 24 The X.500 Directory Service: A Discussion
Brian Kahin of the Concerns Raised by the Existence
Harvard University of a Global Directory
Michael J. McGill
Julia M. Hill
Ameritech Information Systems
Pat Molholt
30 Prospero: A Tool for Organizing Internet Resources
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Tracy LaQuey Parker B. Clifford Neuman
University of Texas at Austin
Carol A. Parkhurst 38 HYTELNET as Software for Accessing the Internet:
University of Nevada, Reno A Personal Perspective on the Development
Henry H. Perritt, Jr. of HYTELNET
Villanova University School of Law Peter Scott
Fred W. Weingarten
Computing Research Association 45 Resource Discovery in an Internet Environment--
the Archie Approach
Peter Deutsch
52 World-Wide Web: The Information Universe
Electronic NeiworkJ’ng (ISSN t051-4805) is pub~shed qua~ly by MecPJu Cerpo-
ra~on, 11 Ferry Lane West, Weslput‘ CT 06880 [phone]; In.net: Meck- Tim Berners-Lee, Robert Cai//iau, Jean-Fragois Groff,
[email protected]; CompuServe (70373, 616). Copyright ©1992 Medde~ Cerl:~’a~on.
All dgh~s reserved. and Bernd Pollermann
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2 Electronic Networking J Spring 1992 VoL2/No. I
will be painted. Much of the language in the law is
broad and sweeping; specific responsibilities for
what, exactly, is to be done by whom are not dear,
From the Editor
and a range of implementation issues will be left to
individual agencies to resolve. In short, the law does
not resolve the issues, but it does provide a context
Charles R. McCLure
for the continued debate of the HPCC and NREN ini-
tiatives. Individuals interested in the development of
high-performance computing and the NREN should
The High Performance Computing read carefully the final version of the law and the re-
Act of 1991 : Moving Forward cently released Grand Challenges 1993: High Perfor-
mance Computing and Communications (1992).
On December 9, 1991, President Bush signed into
law the High Performance Computing Act of 1991. Perhaps one of the most important benefits
In addition to mandating research and develop- from the passage of the law is that it provides some
ment related to high performance computing, the congressional direction for developing HPCC and
Act authorized the establishment of the National NREN initiatives; it will also allow for congressional
Research and Education Network (NREN) and be- oversight of agency HPCC and NREN activities at a
came Public Law 102-194. It is reprinted as an ap- later date. Clearly, the HPC and the NREN would
pendix to this editorial. The process by which the have developed as a result of executive branch pro-
original bills were introduced, debated, revised, re- grams regardless of the passage of the High Perfor-
introduced, debated in hearings, and lobbied dur- mance Computing Act of 1991. The key point, how-
ing the past three years was tortuous, but the bill ever, is that public debate and input to the
did become law (McClure, Bishop, Dory, & Rosen- policymaking process significantly improved the fi-
baum, 1991). At times, it seemed that the idea of a nal version of the law.
High-Performance Computing and Communica-
Although many of us have worked hard to
tions (HPCC) program and the NREN were ideas
have the bill passed, there are still numerous issues
whose time would never arrive.
that remain to be resolved. It is unrealistic to think
But now, at last, the bill is law, and the eleven that P.L. 102-194 would, in itself, solve the range of
pages of text are the culmination of years of work by issues associated with HPCC and NREN. But a re-
numerous individuals and stakeholder groups. view of the law does suggest a number of key issues
Those involved in the development of legislation and concerns that interested individuals and stake-
can take some pride in the fact that the bill made it holder groups should continue to consider as we
through the Congress and has been signed by the move to the post-P.L. 102-194 era. Space does not al-
President. But what, exactly, do we have in this law? low for a complete review and discussion of the
What does it authorize to be developed? What issues many issues that will continue to require our atten-
remain to be resolved? Who or what will ensure that tion, but I would suggest that the following deserve
the HPCC and the NREN evolve and meet the needs careful analysis, debate, and discussion.
of the country?
Managing the Effort
Creating a Vision
The HPCC and NREN programs may provide a
Overall, the law creates a context, a vision, a frame in "grand challenge" simply in terms of how they are
which a particular picture of HPCC and the NREN to be managed and coordinated by the government.
The director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy (OSTP) is authorized to provide for the intera-
gency coordination of the programs, set forth rele-
Charles R. McClure <[email protected]> is
vant activities, propose funding levels, and assess
professor at the School of Information Studies, Syracuse
how well program goals are being accomplished
University, Syracuse, NY 13244. He teaches in the area of
[Section 101 (3)].
planning and evaluation of information services; govern-
ment information policy; and electronic networking. He is
The history of OSTP in successfully managing
currently completing a funded study on the role of libraries
large interagency efforts such as these is uneven.
in the national electronic networked environment and has
OSTP is a relatively small agency, overwhelmed
written widely on these and related topics.
ELECTRONIC NETWORKING, Vol. 2, No. 1, Spring 1992, pp. 2-10. © 1992 Meckler
VoL2/No. I Electronic Networking ~ Spring 1992 3
with responsibilities and presidential agen-
High-Performance Computing
das, and directs other agency activities pri-
Program (HPCP) Budget
marily by "jawboning." Moreover, the vari-
(in millions of $)
ous agencies that will be involved in the
HPCC and NREN programs have their own
Agency FY 1992 FY 1993
agendas and clientele groups to satisfy. The
(actual) (requested)
degree to which OSTP can, in fact, take a
leadership stance in providing interagency
coordination remains to be seen. ¯ Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency 232 275
Thus, there is increased importance in
individuals, public advocacy groups, and ¯ National Science Foundation 201 262
professional associations monitoring the de-
velopment of HPCC and the NREN. Much ¯ Department of Energy 92 109
of the HPCC and NREN program manage-
ment will be done within agencies. The pub- ¯ National Aeronautics and
lic will need to carefully assess the degree to Space Administration 71 89
which this management and coordination
effort is successful. ¯ Department of Health and
Human Services 41 45
Technology Development Versus ° National Oceanic and
Services and Applications Development Atmospheric Administration 10 11
The language in Title I of the law describes
¯ Environmental Protection Agency 5 8
the goals of HPCC and the NREN. To a
large degree, HPCC program (Section 101)
° National Institute of Standards
appears to emphasize technological devel-
and Technology 2 4
opment of networking---gigabit speeds, in-
creased bandwidths, and software develop-
ment. The NREN goals (Section 102), on the Totals 654 803
other hand, appear to be somewhat more
concerned with applications and services.
Section 102 (e) regarding the development Table 1.
of services over the network is especially
important.
But the president’s proposed budget for HPCC nature of those programs will be determined and
and NREN offers a perspective on emphasis not what level of public input can affect that decision
found in P.L. 102-194 (Executive Office of the Presi- making.
dent, 1992, pp. 100-102; Grand Challenges 1993: High
Performance Computing and Communications, 1992, p.
28).1 (See Tables 1 and 2) Affecting Policy and Program Initiatives
For the record, I am especially pleased in the Because of the number of issues yet to be resolved
overall increases for NREN initiatives, but the bud- and the broad language in the law about specific
get request for NREN initiatives is limited in com- programmatic initiatives to be conducted at individ-
parison to HPCC activities (recognizing that the pro- ual agencies, the public will want to know where the
posed $803 million for HPCC includes the $123 best pressure points are for affecting policy develop-
million for NREN expenditures). Furthermore, it is ment related to HPCC and NREN. Some possible
difficult to determine what specific agency activities candidates are OSTP, the participating federal agen-
and initiatives will be developed to support the man- cies, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science
dated HPCC and NREN goals, as they are outlined and Transportation (which has oversight responsi-
in P.L. 102-194. A careful reading of Grand Challenges bilities for the law), and the Federal Networking
1993 is helpful in understanding the general initia- Council (FNC)~as well as an advisory committee to
tives, but leaves much room for specific program de- the FNC.
velopment. Finally, there is an issue of how the exact
4 Electronic Networking ~ Spring 1992 VoL2/No. 1
agency decision making. The advice and rec-
National Research and Education
ommendations of the FNC and the Advisory
Network (NREN) Budget
Committee, however, may have a significant
(in millions of $) impact on the programs, funding levels, and
specific initiatives likely to be taken when im-
Agency FY 1992 FY 1993 plementing P.L. 102-194.
(actual) (requested)
The range of goals espoused for both
¯ Defense Advanced Research HPCC and the NREN will require setting pri-
orities and determining which program initia-
Projects Agency 32,9 43.6
fives are most important. Given the disparity
¯ National Science Foundation 32.7 45,1 between the proposed budgets for HPCC and
the NREN, one wonders how federal policy-
makers will allocate resources for NREN appli-
o Department of Energy 12.0 14.0
cations, services, and education and training.
¯ National Aeronautics and Will these areas fall through the’ budgetary
cracks?
Space Administration 7,4 9.8
How the various stakeholders can best af-
¯ Department of Health and
fect policy development at the FNC, at OSTP,
Human Services 4.2 7.2 and at individual agencies is a matter of some
concern. This diffuse and decentralized policy
¯ National Oceanic and area will not only be difficult to manage and
Atmospheric Administration 0,7 0.4 coordinate, but it may be difficult for citizens
and public advocacy groups to make their
¯ Environmental Protection Agency 0 0.4 views known and have them taken seriously.
¯ National Institute of Standards
and Technology 2.0 2,0 Access to the NREN
Section 102 (b) offers some interesting lan-
Totals 91.9 122.5
guage related to access to the NREN and de-
serves a very careful reading. Seen by some ob-
servers as one of the most important sections of
Table 2.
the proposed NREN program, it addresses the
need for and importance of access to the NREN
by a range of stakeholders. But the sense of this
Not mentioned in the law, but having an im- section is severely compromised by phrases such as
pact on what will be done and how it will be done, is "as appropriate," "with appropriate," and "to the
the FNC which includes participants from the key extent possible."
mission agencies related to HPCC and NREN. Cur-
This section is a good example of what one fed-
rently, the role of the FNC and its advisory commit-
eral policymaker told this writer was "jello" lan-
tee is not well understood or publicized. The FNC
guage---meaning that the issues and implementation
and its advisory committee must do a better job of
strategies will be debated and developed "later." To
informing interested individuals of (1) the Council’s
a large degree, however, the language in this section
activities, (2) the Council’s recommendations, and (3)
provides a carte blanche for federal policymakers to
how public input to the Council and its advisory
develop policies on access that could range from ex-
committee can be best channeled.
tremely restrictive to extremely accessible. Interested
One wonders how the role of the FNC might be individuals and stakeholder groups will need to lob-
affected by section 101 (b) which establishes the by policymakers about what "appropriate access"
"High Performance Computing Advisory Commit- and to the "extent possible" to electronic informa-
tee." Some description of each agency’s responsibili- tion resources really means.
ties can be found in Title II of the law, but it is un-
clear how the advisory committee would affect
VoL2/No. 1 Electronic Networking ~ Spring 1992 5
The Missing Department of Education Reauthorization of the Paperwork Reduc-
tion of Act of 1991 [S. 1044, Glenn Bill; $.
How does the Department of Education fit into P.L.
1139, Nunn Bill]
102-194? Section 206 outlines responsibilities for the
department as "being authorized to conduct basic Government Printing Office Wide Informa-
and applied research in computational research with tion Network for Data Online Act of 1991
an emphasis on the coordination of activities with li- (WINDO) [H.R. 2772]
braries, school facilities and education research
Improvement of Information Access Act
groups." Despite heroic efforts on the part of a num-
[H.R. 3459]
ber of public advocacy groups, the department’s role
is limited. Indeed, were it not for these lobbying ef- Revision of OMB Circular A-130, "The Man-
forts, there may not have been any role! agement of Federal Information Resources."
But the proposed authorizations for NREN ini-
tiatives from the Department of Education in P.L.
Each of these, and other proposals not men-
102-194 are minute $1.7 million for FY 1993. Com-
tioned here, deal with improving the dissemination
pared to the proposed budget requests for other
of government information in, or through the use of,
agencies, as outlined above, $1.7 million will result
electronic formats. How HPCC and the NREN will
in the Department of Education having little pres-
interface with existing electronic information dis-
ence in the NREN initiatives.
semination policy, as well as recent initiatives such
Moreover, the Department of Education is in as those above, will require careful analysis and
the middle of its own initiative, America 2000: An Ed- much debate.
ucation Strategy (1991). One of their initiatives is
"Bringing America On-Line." But no mention of
bringing American on-line via the NREN is made in Next Steps
America 2000. In fact, there appears to be limited co-
The issues discussed in this brief editorial only
ordination and joint planning between the NREN in-
scratch the surface of policy areas that will require
itiatives and America 2000. Specific language in P.L.
additional public debate and discussion. Other key
102-194 regarding educational initiatives, bringing
issues to be addressed relate to pricing of NREN
in the K-12 audience, and linking the library and ed-
services, commercialization of networked informa-
ucational community into the NREN are conspicu-
tion, insuring equitable access to information re-
ous by the limited attention they received.
sources for all members of society, supporting test-
bed institutions to develop new network
technologies, strategies for network education and
Dissemination of Government Information
training, protecting intellectual property over the
One of the most interesting portions of the new law network, and a host of others.
is Section 101(2) (E) which states that the HPCP shall
Some individuals and public advocacy groups
"provide for improved dissemination of Federal
believe that additional legislation may be needed as
agency data and electronic information." This seem-
a followup to the High Performance Computing Act
ingly simple statement belies an exceedingly com-
of 1991 to address questions related to management
plex federal information policy system.
and coordination of HPCC and the NREN; to better
The current decentralized and ambiguous Fed- describe specific program initiatives rather than al-
eral information policy system is based primarily on lowing individual agency determination of what
agency-specific statutes regarding the dissemination should be done and how; and to better define the
of government information, for example, 44 U.S.C., role and involvement of the library and education
dealing with the Government Printing Office; more community in the NREN.
general statutes such as the Paperwork Reduction
But rather than seek additional legislation, in-
Act, Copyright, and Privacy Acts; and regulations
terested stakeholder groups should become knowl-
such as the Office of Management and Budget
edgeable about the issues, and work within the exist-
(OMB) Circular A-130, "The Management of Federal
ing policy system to make their views known to
Information Resources" (Hernon & McClure, 1987).
affect policy development of issues such as those
A number of new initiatives are also being con- discussed here and to be active at the agency level in
sidered regarding dissemination of government in- putting forth ideas and strategies for implementa-
formation in electronic format. For example: tion. An excellent example of this kind of work is
6 Electronic Networking J Spring 1992 VoL2/No. 1
that being done by the Coalition for Networked The point is to make your views known and
Information. get involved. The successful development of the
HPCP and the NREN is dependent on ongoing open
A critical first step for stakeholders interested
and active policy debates among informed individu-
in the development of HPCC and the NREN is to
als. The issues are of critical importance; ideas, de-
carefully read the legislation (see appendix), review
bate, proposals, and strategy development are need-
Grand Challenges 1992: High Performance Computing
ed now. The passage of the High Performance
and Communications (1992), familiarize themselves
Computing Act of 1991 into P.L. 102-194 is a begin-
with supporting background materials produced in
ning, not an end.
the policy debates (McClure, Bishop, Doty, & Rosen-
baum, 1991), reach their own conclusions as to what
policy initiatives should be developed, and make
Note
their views known to appropriate public advocacy
groups and federal policymakers. Some of the many 1. Copies of Grand Challenges 1993: High Perfor-
places to make those views known are: mance Computing and Communications can be ob-
tained from: Federal Coordinating Council for Sci-
ence, Engineering, and Technology. Committee on
Your congressional representatives and Physical, Mathematical, and Engineering Sciences,
senators c/o the National Science Foundation, Computer and
Information Science and Engineering Directorate,
Office of Science and Technology Policy,
1800 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20550.
New Executive Office Building, Washington
DC, 20506
Committee on Science, Commerce, and References
Transportation, Hart Building, Suite 427,U.S.
America 2000: An education strategy, sourcebook.
Senate, Washington, DC, 20510
(1991). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Educa-
Chairperson, Federal Networking Council, tion [ED/OS91-13].
National Science Foundation, 1800 G Street,
Executive Office of the President. (1992). Bud-
NW, Washington, DC, 20550
get of the United States government fiscal year 1993.
Coalition for Networked Information, 1527 Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington,
Grand challenges 1993: High performance comput-
DC, 20036.
ing and communications, The FY 1993 U.S. research and
development program [to supplement the President’s
Fiscal Year 1993 Budget]. (1992). Washington, DC:
Because OSTP must issue a report, one year after
Committee on Physical, Mathematical, and Engi-
passage of P.L. 102-104, on the status of HPCC and
neering Sciences. Federal Coordinating Council for
NREN [see Section 102(g)], it is especially important
Science, Engineering, and Technology: Office of Sci-
to direct comments to this agency. The six issue are-
ence and Technology Policy.
as that OSTP must address are funding, fees, future
operations, copyright protection, commercial traffic, Hernon, Peter, & McClure, Charles R. (1987).
and security. Federal information policies in the 1980s. Norwood, NJ:
Ablex Publishing Corporation.
You may also wish to initiate a discussion of is-
sues within your own institutions or professional .McClure, Charles R., Bishop, Ann, Doty, Phil-
groups. Moreover, we welcome your letters to Elec- ip, & Rosenbaum, Howard. (1991). The National Re-
tronic Networking: Research, Applications, and Policy re- search and Education Network: Research and policy
garding the next steps for developing the HPCC and prspectives. Norwood, NJ.’ Ablex Publishing Corpora-
NREN programs. tion, 1991 [appendices contain the original bills,
hearings, and other key source documents].
VoL2/No. 1 Electronic Networking J Spring 1992 7
Appendix
High-Performance Computing Act of 1991
Public Law 102-194
102d Congress (A) establish the goals and priorities for Federal’high-
An Act performance computing rese~reh, development, networking,
and other activities; and
(B) provide for interagency coordination of Federal high-
I~ 9, 1991 To p~dde for a coordlnat~d Fe~ieral proiFam to ensure continued Un~i Sta~s performance computing researeh, development, networking,
lesder~ip in high~per~ormanc~ computing. and other activities undertaken pursuant to the Program.
(2) The Program shall-
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of (A) provide for the establishment of policies for management
Un!ted States of America in Congress assembled. and ascees to the Network;
Computing (B) provide for oversight of the operation and evolution of the
of 199L Network;
15 USC r~501 This Act may be cited us the "High-Performance Computing Act (C) promote connectivity among computer networks of Fed-
of 1991". eral agencies and departments;
(D) provide for efforts to increase software availability,
15 USC 5501.
preductivity, capability, pertabiiit~, and reliability;,
The Congress finds the following. (El provide for improved diseemmatien of Federal agency data
(1) Advances in computer science and technology are vital to and electronic information;
the Nation’s prosperity, national and economic security, indue- (F) provide for acceleration of the development of high-
trial preduction, engineering, and scientific edvancemeat, performance computing systems, subsystems, and associated
(2) The United States currently leads the world in the devel- software;
opment and use of high.performance computing .for national (G) provide for the technical support and research and devel-
security, industrial preductivity, sc!eaes, and .engineering, but opment of high-performance computing software and hardware
that lead is being challenged by foreign compehters. needed to address Grand Challenges:
(3) Further researoh and development, expanded educational (H) provide for educating and training additional undergradu-
programs, improved computer resem’ch networks, and more ate and graduate students in ecftware engineering, computer
effective technology transfer from government to industry are science, library and information science, and computational
necessary for the Ualtecl States to reap fully the benefits of science; and
high-performance computing. (I) provide-
(4) A high-capacity and high-speed national research and (i) for the security requirements, policies, and standards
education computer network would provide researchers and necessary to protect Federal research computer networks
educators with access to computer and information resources and information resources accessible through Federal re-
and act us a test bed for further research and development of search computer networks, including research required to
high-capacity and hlgh-speed computer networks. establish security standards for high-performance comput-
(51 Several Federal agencies have eagomg high-performance ing systems and networks; and
computing programs, but improved leag-term interagency co- (il) that agencies and departments identified in the
ordination, ceeporation, and planning would enhance the annual report submitted under paragraph (3XA) shall
effectiveness of these pr~rams. de£me and implement a security plan consistent with the
(6) A 1991 roped entitled "Grand Challenges: High-Perform- Program and with applicable law.
ance Computing and C~mmunlcatious" by the Office of Science (3) The Director shall-
and Technology Policy, outlining a research and development (A} submit to the Congress an annual report, along with the aeport~
strategy for hlgh.performance computing, provides a framework President’s annual budget request, describing the implementa-
for a multtsgency high-performance computing program. Such a tion of the Program;
program would provide American researchers and educators (B) provide for interagency coordination of the Program; and
with the computer and information resources they need, and (C) consult with academic, State, industry, and other appro-
demonstrate how advanced computers, high-capasity and high- priate groups conducting research on and using hlgh-porform-
speed networks, and electronic data bases can improve the ance computing.
national information infrastructure for use by all Americans. (4) The annual report submitted under paragraph (3XA) shall-
(A) include a detailed description of the goals and priorities
established by the President for the Program;
The pu~eee of this Act is to help ensure the continued leadership (B) set forth the relevant programs and activities, for the
of the United States in high-performanes computing and its applica- fmcal year with respect to which the budget submission applies,
tious by- of each Federal agency and department, including-
(i} the Department of’ Agriculture;
(l) expanding Federal support for research, development, and (ii) the Department of Commerce;
application of high-performance computing in order te~ (iii) the Department of Defeaee;
(A) establish a high-capacity and high-speed National (iv) the Department of Education;
Research and Education Network; (v) the Department of Energy;,
(B) expand the number of researchers, educators, and
students with training in hlgh-performance computing and (vi) the Department of Health and Human Services;
access to high-performance computing resources; (vii) the Department of the Interior,
(C) promote the further development of an information (viii) the Environmental Protection Agency;
infrastructure of data buses, services, access mechanisms, (ix) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
and research facilities available for use through the Net- (x} the National Science Foundation; and
work; (xi) such other agencies and departments as the President
(D) stimulate research on software technology; or the Director considers appropriate;
(El ]promote the more rapid development and wider dis- (C) describe the levels of Federal funding for the lineal year
tribution of computing software tools and applications soft- during which such report is submitted, and the levels propesed
ware; for the f’~w~al year with respect to which the budget submission
(F) accelerate the development of computing systems and applies, for specific activities, including education, research,
subsystems; hardware and software development, and support for the
(G) provide for the application of high-performance establishment of the Network;
computing to Grand Challenges; (D) describe the levels of Federal funding for each agency and
(H) invest in basic research and education, and promote
department participating in the Program for the fiscal year
the inclusion of high-performance computing into edu-
during which such report Ls submitted, and the levels proposed
cational institutions at all levels; and
(I) promote greater collaboration among government, for the fmcni year with respect to which the budget submission
Federal laboratories, industry, high-performanes comput- applies; and
ing centers, and universities; and (El include an analysis of the progress made toward achieving
(2) improving the intsregency planning and coordination of the goals and priorities established for the Program.
Federal research and development on high-performance 0~) HIGH-PERFOP~MANCE OOMplYrING ADVISORY COMMFrIT~.--The President.
computing and maximizing the effectiveaes~ of the Federal President shall establish an advisory committee on high-perform-
Government’s hlgh-performance computing efforts. ance computing consisting of non-Federal members, including tel>
resentatives of the research, education, and library communities,
15 USC 5503. network providers, and industry, who are specially qualified to
As used in this Act, the term- provide the Direc~r with advice and information on high-perform-
(l) "Director" means the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy ance computing. The recommendations of the advisory committee
(2) "Grand Challenge" means a fundamental problem in sci- shall be considered in reviewing and revising the Program. The
ence or englneeHng, with broad economic and scientific impact, advisory committee shall provide the Director with an independent
whose solution will require the application of hlgh-performance assessment of--
computing resources; (1) progress made in implementing the Program;
(3) "high.porformsnce computing" means advanced comput- (2) the need to revise the Program;
ing, communications, and information technologies, including (3) the balance between the components of the Program;
scientific workstations, supercomputer systems (incinding (4) whether the research and development undertaken pursu-
vecter supercomputers and large scale parallel systems), high- ant to the Program is helping to maintain United States leader-
capacity and high-speed networks, specmt purpose and experl- ship in computing technology; and
mental systems, and applieations and systems software; (5) other issues identified by the Director.
(4) "Network" means a computer network referred to as the (c) ’OF~cE Or iYL~^o~rr .~V BUDder.--(1) Each Federal Reports.
National Research and Education Network established under
agency and department participating hi the Program shall, as part
section t02; and
(5) "Program" means the National High-Performance of its annual request for appropriations to the Office of Management
Computing Program described in section 101. and Budget, submit a repert~ to the Office of Management and
Budget which-
TITLE I--HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING AND THE (A) identifies each element of its high-performance computing
NATIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK activities which contributes directly to the Program or benefits
from the Program; and
SEC~ IOL NATIONAL ltlGH-PERFORMANCE COMP~TING PROGRAM. (B) states the portion of its request for appropriations that is
President. (a) NATIONAL HZoH-P.F.RFORMANCZ CoMPUTING PR~.~I) The allocated to each such element.
President sh~l implement a Nation~ ~gh-Peffo~ce ~mput~g
Pro~, w~ch s~ll--
8 Electronic Networking i Spring 1992 VoL2/No. 1
Appendix
High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (continued)
(2) The Office of Management and Budget shall review each such (5) how to protect the copyrights of material distributed over
report in light of the goals, priorities, and agency and departmental the Network; and
responsibilities set forth in the annual report submitted under (6) appropriate policies to ensure the security of resources
subsection (aX3XA), and shall include, in the President’s annual available on the Network and to protect the privacy of users of
budget estimate, a statement of the portion of each appropriate networks.
agency’s or department’s annual budget estimate relating to its
activities undertaken pursuant to the Program. TITLE II--AGENCY ACTIVITIES
15 USC 5512, SEC. 102. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK~ SEC. 201. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES. 15 USC 552L
(a) Em-~m~rr,--As part of the Program, the National Science (a) GESturAL RmeoNsmmrr~m.--As part of the Program described
Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Department of Ener~, in title I--
the Department of Commerce, the National Aeranautics and Space (1) the National Science Foundation shall provide computing
Administration, and other agencies participating in the Program and networking infrnstrncture support for all science and
shall support the establishment of the National Research and Edu- engineering disciplines, and support basic research and human
cation Network, portions of which shall, to the extent technically resource development in all aspects of high-performance
feasible, be capable of transmitting data at one gigabit per second or computing and advanced high-speed computer networking;
greater by 1996. The Network shall provide for the lln~nge of (2) to the extent that colleges, universities, and libraries
research institutions and educational institutions, government, and cannot connect to the Network with the assistance of the prl-
industry in every State. rate sector, the Natianal Scfence Foundation shall have pri*
(b) Access.--Federal agencies and departments shall work with
private network service providers, State and local agencies, librar- mary responsibility for assisting colleges, universities, and li-
ies, educational institutions and organizations, and others, as appro- brories to connect to the Network;
priate, in order to ensure that the researchers, educators, and (3) the National Science Foundation shall serve as the pri-
mary source of information on acoe~ to and use of the Network;
students have access, as appropriate, to the Network. The Network
is to provide users with appropriate access to high-performance and
(4) the National Science Foundation shall upgrade the Na-
computing systems, electronic information resources, other research tional Science Foundation funded network, assist regional net-
facilities, and libraries. The Network shall provide access, to the works to upgrade their capabilities, and provide other Federal
extent practicable, to electronic information resources maintained departments and agencies the opportunity to connect to the
by libraries, research facilities, publishers, and afi’fliatsd organiza. National Science Foundation funded network.
tions. (b) AUTHomzA’I2ON OF APPROPRIATIONS.--From sums otherwise
(c) NzTwoP~ CP.Am~CTZmS’r~CS.--The Network shaLl- authorized to be appropriated, there axe authorized to be appro-
(l) be developed and deployed with the computer, tele- priated to the National Science Foundation for the pa~ of the
communications, and information industries; Program $213,000,000 for Fmcal year 1992; $262,000,000 for fmcal
(2) be designed, developed, and operated in collaboration with year 1993; $305,000,000 for f’~z~al year 1994; $354,000,000 for f’mcal
year 1995; and $413,000,000 for fmcal year 1996.
potential users in government, industry, and research institu-
tlo(n3)s baen dd eesdiugcnaetdio, ndaelv ienlostpietudt,i oannsd; operated in a manner which SEC. 20~. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPA~ ADMINISTRATION ACTI~L 5 USC 5522.
fosters and maintains competition and private se~or invest~ (a) GZ~ZRA~ R~eoNsmiLrr~zs.--As part of the Program described
¯n ent in hlgh-speed data networking within the telecommuni- in title I, the National Aeronautics and Space Admlniatration shall
cations industry; conduct basic and applied research in high-performance computing,
(4) be designed, developed, and operated in a manner which particularly in the field of computational science, with emphasis on
promotes research and development leading to development of aerospace sciences, earth and space sciences, and remote exploration
commercial date communications and telecommunications and experimentation.
standards, whose development wilt encourage the establishment (b) AtrrHoRIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.--From SUmS otherwise
of privately operated high.speed commercial networks; authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be appro-
(5) be designed and operated so ns to ensure the continued priated to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for
application of laws that provide network and information the purposes of the Program $72,000,000 for fmcal year 1992;
sources security measures, including tho~e that protect copy- $107,000,000 for fiscal year 1993; $134,000,000 for f’mcal year 1994;
right and other intellectual property rights, and those that $151,000,000 for f’mcal year 1996; and $145,000,000 for fiscal year
control access to data bases and protect national security; 1996. ’
(6) have accounting mechanisms which allow users or groups
of users to be charged for their usage of copyrighted materials SEC. 203. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACrlVITIE&
available over the Network and, where appropriate and tech- (a) Gzsm~a~ R~rONSm~T~s,--As part of the Program described
nically feasible, for their usage of the Network; in title I, the Secretary of Energy shall--
(7) en~ure the intereperabLIJty of Federal and non-Federal (1) perform research and development on, and systems evalua-
computer networks, to the extent appropriate, in a way that tions of, high-performance computing and communications sys-
allows autonomy for each component network;
(8) be developed by purchasing standard commercial trans- (2) conduct computetional research with emphasis on energy
mission and network services from vendors whenever fensible, applications;
and by contracting for customized services when not feasible, in (3) support basic research, education, and human resources in
order to minimize Federal investment in network hardware; computetional science; and
(9) support research and development of networking software (4) provide for networking infrastructure support for energy-
and hardware; and (b)r eClOa~teLdA SmORisAsTiornCZ a cCtOivNSitOie~s".n A.--In accordance with the Program,
(10) serve as a test bed for further research and development the Secretary of Energy shall establish High-Performance Comput-
of high-capacity and high-speed computing networks and dem- ing Research and Development Collaborative Consortia by soliciting
onstrate how advanced computers, high-capacity and high-speed and selecting proposals. Each Collaborative Consortium shall--
computing networks, and data bnses can improve the national (I) conduct research directed at scientific and technical prob-
information infrastructure. lems whose solutions require the application of high-perform-
(d) D~FF~NSE ADVANC~.D RI~:S~kRCI’I PROJEC2~ AGF~N~Y RESPONSlBIL- ance computing and communications resources;
rr~.--As part of the Program, the Department of Defense, through (2) promote the testing and uses of new types of high-perform-
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, shall support ance computing and related software and equipment;
reseaxch and development of advanced fiber optics technology, (3) serve as a vehicle for participating vendors of high-
switches, and protooois needed te develop the Network. performance computing systems to test new ideas and tech-
(e) L~or~oN Sm~wc~s.--The Director shall assist the Presi- nology in a sophisticated computing environment; and
dent in coordinating the activities of appropriate agencies and (4) be led by a Department of Energy national laboratory, and
departments to promote the development of information services include participants from Federal agencies and departments,
that could be provided over the Network. These services may in- researchers, private industry, educational institutions, and
clude the provision of directories of the users and services on others as the Secretary of Energy may deem appropriate.
computer networks, data bases of unclassified Federal scientific (c) Tz~n~oLoo£ TRA~SzzR.--The results of research and develop-
data, training of users of date bases and computer networks, access ment carried out under this section shall be transferred to the
to commercial information services for users of the Network, and private sector and others in accordance with applicable law.
technology to support computer-basod collaboration that allows (d) ANNUAL RFA’ORT8 TO CoNGm~s.--Within one year after the
researchers and educators around the Nation to share information date of enactment of this Act and every year theresRer, the Sec-
and instrumentetion. retary of Energy shall transmit to the Congress a report on activl-
(O UsE oF GRA~r Fv~ms.--All Federal agencies and departments ties taken to carry out this Act.
are authorized to allow recipients of Federal research grants to use (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.---(1) There are authorized
grant moneys to pay for computer networking expenses. to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for the purposes of the
(g) REPORT TO CoNGRms.--Within one year after the date of Program $93,000,00{) for fmcal year 1992; $110,000,000 for fmcal year
enactment of this Act, the Director shall report to the Congress on- 1993; $138,000,000 for fiscal year 1994:$157,000,000 for fmcal year
(l) effective mechanisms for providing operating funds for the 1995; and $169,000,000 for fmcal year 1996.
maintenance and use of the Network~ including user fees, indus- (2) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
try support, and continued Federal investment; Energy for fmcal years 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996, such funds
(2) the future operation and evolution of the Network; ns may be r.eceesary te carry out the activities that are not part of
(3) how commercial information serdce providers could be the Program but are authorized by this section.
charged for access to the Network, and how Network users
could be charged for such commercial information services;
(4) the technological feasibility of allowing commercial
information service providers to use the Network and other
federally funded research networks;