ED 332 694 IR 015 072 T:TLE High Performance Computing and Communications Act of 1991. Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space of theOrmittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.One Hundred Second Congress, First Session on S 272 To Provide for a Coordinated Federal Research Program To Ensure Continued United States Leadership in High-Performance Comput.ng. :NST:TUT:CN Congress of the U.S., Washington, D.C. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. REPCRT NC Senate-Hrg-102-23 PUB DATE 5 Mar 91 NCTE 114p.; For reports on the High Performance Computing Acts of 1989 and 1990 and a report on this bill, see ED 328 244, IR 014 867, and IR 015 071. FRCM Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, f.0 A.0 , 20402. PUB '"177 Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials (090) NY 116 viewpoints (Cpinion/Position Papers, Zssays, etc.) EDRS PR:CZ MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIFTORS *Computer Networks; Computers; Computer Software Development; Electronic Mail; Federal Legislation: Hearings; Higher Education; Information Technology; Microcomputers; National Programs; *Researoh and Development; Technological Advancement IDENTIF:ERS Congress 102nd; *Fiber Optics; High Performance Computing; National Research and Education Network; *Supercomputers ABSTRACT This hearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space focuses on S. 272, the High-Performance Computing and Communications Act of 1991, a bill that provides for a coordinated federal research and development program to ensure continued U.S. leadership in this area. Performance computing is defined as representing the leading edge of technological advancement in computing. This report includes the text of S. 272 as well as opening statements presented by Senators Gore, Pressler, Kasten, and Robb, and by the Chairman, Senator Hollings. Also included are statements from Allan D. Bromley, Director of the Office of Science and Technolcdgy Policy; Tracey Gray, president of marketing, government systems division, US Sprint Communications Co.; Malvin H. Kalos, director of the Cornell Theory Center; Donald Langenberg, chancellor of the University of Maryland system; David C. Nagel, vice president of advanced technology, Apple Computer, Inc.; and John S. Wold, executive director, Lilly research laboratories, Eli Lilly and Co., who was accompanied by Riaz Abdulla, manager of a high-performance computing program. Additional articles, letters, and statements are included from the American Library Association; the Association of Research Libraries; Jack L. Brock, Jr., Director of the Government Information and Financial Management Issues, Information Management Division, Government Accounting Office (GAO); the-Computing Research Association; John Patrick Crecine, president of the Georgia Institute of Technology; and Kenneth M. King, president of EDUCOM. (DB) S. Hrg. 102--23 HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING AND COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1991 .111 g;r1 cao HEARING BMW= SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, CtZ AND SPACE CtT OF THIS COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED SECOND CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON S. 272 TO PROVIDE FOR A COORDINATED FEDERAL RESEARCH PROGRAM TO ENSURE CONTINUED UNITED STATES LEADERSHIP IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING MARCH 5, 1991 Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and improverneni EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION REST COPY AVAILABLE CENTER (ERIC) c". This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it U.S. OOVERNMENT PRDITING MICE C Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality Points of view Or opinions statud in this docu, 41-334 WASIGNMON : 1991 ment dO n0t necessarily represent official OERI position or policy Igar alb by So Siporinsiaint at Documess. C SIII1 Use Mom U.S. Ovvensmot Mob* Oak% Wobibebra. DC 20102 2 COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION ERNEST F. HOLUNGS, South Carolina, Chairman DANIEL K. NOUYE 1410...ti JOHN C. DANRATH, Missouri WENDELL IL FORD, Kentucky BOB PACKWOOD, Oregon J. JAMES MON, Neb *skit LARRY PRESSLER, South Dakota AL GORE, Tennessee TED STEVENS, Alaska JOHN I). ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia ROBERT W. KASTEN, JR., Wisconsin LLOYD BENTSEN, Texas JOHN McCA1N, Arizona JOHN F. KERRY, Musaohuseus CONRAD BURNS, Montana JOHN B. BREAUX, Louisiana SLADE GORTON, Wuhingtce RICHARD H. BRYAN, Nevada TRENT LOTT, Mississippi CHARLES S. ROBB, Virginia KEVIN G. CuR11N. Chief Counsel and Staff Director. WALTER B. McComeac. JR., MinOrity Chief Counsel and Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SPACE AL GORE, Tennessee, Chairman JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia LARRY PRESSLER, South Dakota LLOYD BENTSEN, Texas TED STEVENS, Alaska JOHN P. KERRY, Massadiusetts ROBERT W. KASTEN. h., Wisconsin RICHARD H. BRYAN, Nevada MINT LOTT, Mississippi CHARLES S. ROBB, Virginia 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Opening statement by Senator Gore 1 Opening statanent by Senator Pressler 5 Opening statement by Senator Kasten 8 Opening statesnalt by the Chairman 9 Opening statement by Senator Robb 47 Text of S. 272 11 WITNESS Broreley, Hon. Allan D., Director, Office of Science andTechnology Policy 30 Prepared statanent 35 Questions of Senator Kasten and the answers 41 Gray, Tracey, vice president of marketing, government systemsdivision, US Sprint Communications Co 60 Prmtred statanent 62 Kalos, Dr. Malvin H., director, Cornell Theory Caner 53 Prepared statement 57 Langenberg, Donald, chancellor, University ofMaryland System 51 Nagel, David C., vice president, advanced technology,Apple Computer, Inc 65 Prepared statement 68 Wold, John S., executive director, Lilly rexarch laboratories,Eli Lilly and Co.; accom- panied by Rita Abckilla, manager, high-perfoonanoecomputing program 78 Prepared statement 80 ADDITIONAL ARTICLES, LETTERS, AND STATEMENTS American Library Ann., statement 106 Association of Research Libraries, statanent 101 Brock, Jack L., Jr., Director, Government Informationand Financial Management Issues, Information Management and Technology Division,GAO, statement 93 Computing Research Ann., statement 95 Crecine, Dr. John Patrick, president, GeorgiaInstitute of Ttchnology, statement 104 King, Dr. Kenneth M., president, EDUCOM, statement 98 HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTINGAND COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1991 TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 1991 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY, AND SPACE, COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee mei, pursuant tonotice, at 2:04 p.m., in room SR-253, RSOB, Hon. Al Gore,presiding. Staff members assigned tothis hearing: Mike Nelson, professionalstaff member and Louis Whitsett,minority staff counsel. OPENING STATEMENT BYSENATOR GORE Senator GORE. Thissubcommittee, will come to order. I would like to welcome Dr.Bromley ane Dr. Wong and distinguished guests, other witnesses, and ladiesand gentlemen. I will have an opening statement,and then I will call on Senator Pressler,and then we will move right intothe testimony of Dr. Bromley. Today the Science andTechnology Subcommittee is consideringS. 272, the High-Performance Computing Act.'This bill is designed to ensure that the United States stays at the leading edgein computer technology. It would roughlydouble the Federal investment inresearch and development in new supercomputers, more advancedsoftware, and high-speed computer networks. Perhaps most importantly it would create aNational Research and Education Network, the NRENor theNational Information Superhighwayas Ilike to call it, which would connect morethan 1 million people at more than 1thousand colleges, universities, laboratories,and hospitals throughout the country,giving them access to computing powerand informationresources unavailable anywheka todayand malungpossible the rapid proliferation of a trulyNation- wide, ubiquitous networkwhich can do more to enhance our Nation'sproduc- tivity than any other singledevelopment. These technologies and thisnetwork represent our economicfuture. They are the smokestack industriesof today's information age. We talk alot now about jobs and economic development,about pulling our country out of recessionand into renewal. Well, our ability to meet theeconomic challenges of the information ageand beyondtough challenges from realcompetitors around the worldwill rest in large measure on our ability tomaintain and strengthen an already threatened lead in these technologies andindustries. (I) 5 2 We are witnessing the emergence of a much-heralded, global civilization, which has been prematurely announced on several occasions but now is really here. And those nations best able to deal with information will be the nations most successful in this global civilization. It is based on sharW knowledge 'in the form of digital code. And our ability to compete will depend on our ability to handle knowledge in that form. It is now the lingua franca of global civilization. We used to think of our ability to compete in terms of infmstructuredid we have enough deep-water ports? Did we have enough railroad lines or highways? Now we need to think about information infrastructure. I have been advocating legislation such as this for more than 1 dozen years. Because I strongly believe it is critical for our country to develop the best scientists, the best science, the fastest, most powerful computers, and the best base of knowl then to ensure access to these technologies