Federal Communications Law Journal Volume 47 Issue 2 Article 20 12-1994 Steps Toward a Global Information Infrastructure Larry Irving National Telecommunications and Information Administration Janet Hernandez National Telecommunications and Information Administration Wendy C. Chow National Telecommunications and Information Administsration Follow this and additional works at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/fclj Part of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Commons, and the Communications Law Commons Recommended Citation Irving, Larry; Hernandez, Janet; and Chow, Wendy C. (1994) "Steps Toward a Global Information Infrastructure," Federal Communications Law Journal: Vol. 47 : Iss. 2 , Article 20. Available at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/fclj/vol47/iss2/20 This Essay is brought to you for free and open access by the Law School Journals at Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Federal Communications Law Journal by an authorized editor of Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Steps Toward a Global Information Infrastructure Assistant Secretary Larry Irving* Co-Authors: Janet Hernandez** Wendy C. Chow*** I. INTRODUCTION Many of the technologies that either exist or are being developed today--computers, cellular telephones, video telephones, personal communications systems, and fiber-optic cables-were unknown and unanticipated when the Communications Act was enacted. Today, approximately 5 million computer users in the United States have e-mail addresses, and Internet is used worldwide by 15-20 million users.' These changes in technology and the marketplace have.been spurred by a number of developments. First, the emergence of information as a vital economic resource and the related need to communicate, manage, and use information have encouraged the creation of new products and services.2 Second, the * Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and the Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S.