home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
InfoMagic Standards 1994 January
/
InfoMagic Standards - January 1994.iso
/
inet
/
nren
/
hpca
/
gore89.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1989-08-22
|
33KB
|
596 lines
<NIS.NSF.NET> [NSFNET] GOREBILL.TXT
NATIONAL HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY ACT
(GORE BILL)
By Mr. GORE (for himself, Mr. Jeffords, and Mr. Durenberger):
S. 1067. A bill to provide for a coordinated Federal research program
to ensure continued United States leadership in high-performance
computing: to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation.
NATIONAL HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY ACT
Mr. GORE. Mr.President, I am today introducing the National High-
Performance Computer Technology Act of 1989 to respond to major
economic and technological challenge- the battle to ensure the United
States' leadership in advanced computing and computer networking.
High-performance computing is the most powerful tool
available to those who, in an increasing number of fields, are
operating at the frontiers of imagination and intellect. The nation
which most completely assimilates high-performance computing into
its economy will very likely emerge as the dominant intellectual,
economic, and technological force in the next century.
High-performance computers will enable us to build more
efficient engines and appliances, forecast the weather more
accurately and further in advance, test new kinds of molecules with
miraculous medical potential, and design better machine tools. Even
now we can use computers to design better computer chips. But
high-performance computers will never be able to do all these things
in the future unless we increase access through high-speed networks
right away and develop the information infrastructure to realize the
potential of these electronic technologies. The real benefits of
computing come from sharing scientific ideas and putting new
products on the market.
In the last Congress, I chaired the first Senate hearing on the
state of supercomputer technology and policy. The message I heard
at that hearing was overwhelmingly clear: If the United States if
going to be a supercomputer superpower in the in the 1990s, we had
better start building a high-capacity national research and education
network today. Toward that end, I am introducing the National
High-Performance Computer Technology Act of 1989 and will hold a
series of hearings beginning this June on high-performance
computing and computer networks.
Three years ago, on the 30th anniversary of the Interstate
Highway System, I sponsored the Supercomputer Network Study Act
to explore a fiber optic network to link the Nation's supercomputer
into one system. High-capacity fiber optic networks will be the
information superhighways of tomorrow. A national network with
associated supercomputers and data bases will link academic
researchers and industry in a national collaboratory. This
information infrastructure will cluster research centers and
businesses around network interchanges, using the Nation's vast data
banks as the building blocks for increasing industrial productivity,
creating new products, and improving access to the same national
resources-data bases, supercomputers, accelerators-as more affluent
and better known institutions.
Can we rely on the market system to provide this kind of
infrastructure? We certainly couldn't where the Interstate Highway
System was con concerned, although private industry ultimately
benefited a great deal from the Government's leadership and
investment. I believe that the Federal Government must again be a
catalyst, to get companies interested in those information networks
and show them that there is a market out there. Clearly, the
technological spinoffs and productivity gains would be enormous,
from a network that would cost the Government less than one Stealth
bomber.
The National High-Performance Computer Technology Act of
1989 builds on legislation I introduced last year and the 1987 Office
of Science and Technology report on high-performance computing,
and it takes the first critical steps to chart the Federal Government's
course in maintaining U.S. leadership in high-performance
computing. Last year's bill was designed to intensify the
Government's engagement in developing computer technology and
networks. Today's legislation is an upgraded version, based on
hearings and on intensive consultations with industry leaders,
Government officials, and educators in the intervening period.
Furthermore, my proposed legislation recognizes that it is vital to
respect the existing private networks, which, although of lower
capacity than needed, can and must play a critical and ever-
increasing role as the new high-volume network matures.
This legislation promotes high-performance computing in
several ways:
By putting in place a three gigabit per second national research
and education computer network by 1996;
By creating an information infrastructure of data bases and
knowledge banks, including a National Digital Library;
By emphasizing the development of artificial intelligence
projects like neural networks;
By investing in basic research and education;
By stimulating the development of hardware;
By enhancing the development and distribution of software;
By requiring the administration to develop a 5-year
interagency implementation plan;
By establishing advisory committees to include the views of
educators and industry.
This bill would also authorize $1.75 billion over 5 years, fiscal
years 1990 through 1994, to carry out the purposes of the act. The
investment is tiny and the payback enormous, even more so in light
of how those Federal funds would be leveraged. I am deeply
concerned about the Federal budget deficit. But the only long-term
deficit solution is to get away from short-term thinking, look to the
future, and invest in the people, technologies, and equipment that
will ensure our standard of living and increase productivity. We
must find the funds to invest in high-priority projects like computer
network development that will pay for themselves many times over.
Soon, virtually all human knowledge will be translatable into a
common digital code that can be acted upon by electronic processing
systems based upon computers, which, in their countless mutations.
will be electronically linked. Already, we have crossed the threshold
of the information age.
Electronics are to our age what coal and iron were to the
Industrial Revolution. However, unlike coal and iron, which are parts
of the natural endowment of nations, electronics are an endowment
which can be created wherever there is sufficient talent and
determination. That is the lesson our competitors have taught us.
Our competitors understand the importance of developing
computer networks and advanced computing. In France, for
example, the Minitel network of small home computer terminals has
become a national obsession. West Germany appears to be well
developed in networking. In Japan, the organization that targets key
technologies came up with a list of ten top priority projects that
includes a 10 billion bit per second fiber optic network.
Unless we learn from them and act in time to nurture our own
resources, the information age will be theirs, not ours, to lead.
American technological supremacy, which we had thought of as a
kind of national attribute, will pass. And so will its rewards.
High-performance computing is a fulcrum. Government action
applied here can powerfully influence the outcome of the overall
struggle. I look forward to your consideration of this legislation.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of my bill
be printed in the Record.
S. 1067
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assemble,
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "National High-
Performance Computer Technology Act of 1989".
Sec. 2. (a) Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) Advances in computer science and technology are vital to the
Nation's prosperity, national security, and scientific advancement.
(2) The United States currently leads the worked in development and
use of high-performance computer technology for national security,
industrial productivity, and science and engineering, but that lead is
being challenged by foreign competitors.
(3) Further research and improved computer research networks are
necessary to maintain United States leadership in the field of high
performance computing.
(b) It is the purpose of Congress in this Act to ensure the continued
leadership of the United States in high-performance computer
technology. This requires that the United States Government-
(1) expand Federal support for research development, and
application of high-performance computing technology in order to-
(A) establish a high-capacity national research and education
computer network:
(B) develop an information infrastructure of data bases, services, and
knowledge banks which is available for access over such a national
network:
(C) promote the more rapid development and wider distribution of
computer software;
(D) stimulate research on artificial intelligence;
(E) accelerate the development of computer systems; and
(F) invest in basic research and education: and
(2) improve planning and coordination of Federal research and
development on high-performance computing.
TITLE I-NATIONAL HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAN
Sec. 101. The National Science and Technology Policy, Organization,
and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6601 et aeq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following new title:
TITLE VI- NATIONAL HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAM
"FINDINGS
"Sec. 601. (a) Congress finds and declares the following:
"(1) In order to strengthen America's computer industry and to assist
the entire manufacturing sector, the Federal Government must
provide leadership in the development and application of high-
performance computer technology. In particular, the Federal
Government should support the development of high-capacity
national research and education network; facilitate the development
of software for research, education and industrial applications;
continue to fund basic research,; and provide for the training of
computer scientists and computational scientists.
"(2) Several Federal agencies have ongoing high performance
computer technology programs. Improved interagency coordination,
cooperation and planning could enhance the effectiveness of these
programs.
"(3) A recent rep by the Office of Science and Technology Policy
outlining a research and development strategy for high performance
computing provides a framework for a multi-agency computer
technology program.
"NATIONAL HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPLETED TECHNOLOGY PLAN"
"Sec. 602 (a)(1) The President, through the Federal Coordinating
Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (hereafter in this
title referred to as the "Council") shall develop and implement a
National High-Performance Computer Technology Plan (hereafter in
this title referred to as the 'Plan') in accordance with the provisions,
findings, and purposes of this Act. Consistent with the
responsibilities set forth under subsection (c) of this action, the Plan
shall contain recommendations for a 5 year national effort to be
submitted to Congress within one year after the date of enactment of
this title and be revised at least once every two years thereafter.
"(2) The Plan shall--
"(A) establish the goals and priorities for Federal high-performance
computer technology program for the fiscal year in which the Plan
(or revised Plan) is submitted and the succeeding 4 fiscal years;
"(B) set forth the role of each Federal agency and department in
implementing the Plan;
"(C) describe the levels of Federal funding and specific activities,
including education, research activities, hardware and software
development, and acquisition and operating expenses for computers
and computer networks, required to achieve such goals and
priorities; and
"(D) consider and use, as appropriate, reports and studies conducted
by Federal agencies and departments, the National Research Council,
and other entities.
"(3) The Plan shall address, where appropriate, the relevant
programs and activities of the following Federal agencies and
departments--
"(A) The National Science Foundation;
"(B) the Department of Commerce, particularly the National Institute
of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration;
"(C) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
"(D) the Department of Defense, particularly the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency, the Office of Naval Research, and as
appropriate, the National Security Agency;
"(E) the Department of Energy;
"(F) the Department of Health and Human Services, particularly the
National Institutes of Health; and
"(G) such other agencies and departments as the President or the
Chairman of the Council considers appropriate.
"(b) the Council shall--
"(1) serve as lead entity responsible for development and
implementation of the Plan;
"(2) coordinate the high-performance computing research and
development activities of Federal agencies and departments and
report at least annually to the President, through the Chairman of the
Council, and on any recommended changes in agency or
departmental roles that are needed to better implement the Plan;
"(3) prior to the President's submission to Congress of the annual
budget estimate, review each agency and departmental budget
estimate in the context of the Plan and make the results of that
review available to each agency and department and to the
appropriate elements of the Executive Office of the President,
particularly the Office of Management and Budget;
"(4) work with Federal agencies, with the National Research Council
and with academic, State, and other groups conducting research on
high-performance computing; and
"(5) consult with actual and potential users of such research by
establishing an advisory board which stall include representation
from universities and industry.
"(e)(1) The Plan shall take consideration but not be limited to, the
following missions and responsibilities of agencies and departments:
"(A) The National Science Foundation shall continue to be
responsible for basic research in all areas of computer science,
materials science, and computational science. The Foundation shall
continue to solicit grant proposals and award grants by merit review
for research in universities, non-profit research institutions, and
industry. The National Science Foundation shall also be responsible
for providing researchers with access to supercomputers and
providing for the establishment by 1996 of a 3 gigabit per second
national computer network, as required by section 201 of the
National High-performance Computer Technology Act of 1989.
Additional responsibilities include development of an information
infrastructure of services, data bases, and knowledge banks
connected to such computer network; facilitators of the validation of
software and distribution of that software over such computer
network; and promotion of science and engineering education.
"(B) The National Institute of Standards and Technology shall be
responsible for ensuring interoperability between computer
networks run by different agencies of the Federal Government and
for establishing in conjunction with industry, benchmark tests and
standards for high-performance computers and software. Pursuant
to the Computer security Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-235;100 Stat
1724) the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall
continue to be responsible for developing standards and guidelines
for Federal computer systems, including standards and guidelines
needed to assure the cost-effective security and privacy of sensitive
information and Federal computer systems.
"(C) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall
continue to observe, collect, communicate, analyze, process, provide,
and disseminate data about the Earth, its oceans, atmosphere and
space environment. It shall improve the quality and accessibility of
the environmental data stored at the four NOAA data centers. In
addition, NOAA shall perform research and develop technology to
support its data handling role.
"(D) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall
continue to conduct basic and applied research in high-performance
computing, particularly in the field of computational science, with
emphasis on aeronautical applications and remove sensing data
processing.
"(E) The Department of Defense, through the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency; the Office of Naval Research, and other
agencies, shall continue to conduct basic and applied research in
high-performance computing, particularly in computer networking,
semiconductor technology, and large-scale parallel processors.
Pursuant to the Stevenson Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq), the Department shall ensure that
unclassified computer technology research is readily available to
American Industry. The National Security Agency, pursuant to the
Security Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-235; 100 Stat. 1724), shall
continue to provide, where appropriate, technical advice and
assistance to the National Institute of Standards and Technology for
the development of standards and guidelines needed to assure the
cost effective security and privacy of sensitive information in Federal
computer systems.
"(F) The Department of Energy and its national laboratories shall
conduct basic and applied research in high performance computing,
particularly in software development and multi-processor
supercomputers. Pursuant to the Stevenson Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (1B U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) and other appropriate
statues, the Department of Energy shall ensure that unclassified
computer technology research is readily available to American
industry.
"(2) The Plan shall facilitate collaboration among agencies run by the
agencies and debatements.
"(B) increasing software productivity, capability, and reliability;
"(C) promoting interoperability of software;
(D) distributing software among the agencies and departments; and
"(E) distributing federally-funded, unclassified software to industry
and universities.
"(d)(1) Each Federal agency and department involved in high-
performance computing shall, as part of its annual request for
appropriations to the Office of Management and Budget, submit a
report identifying each element of its high-performance computing
activities which--
"(A) specifies whether each such element (i) contributes primarily to
the implementation of the Plan or (ii) contributes primarily to the
achievement of other objectives but aids Plan implementation in
important ways; and
"(B) states the portion of its request for appropriations that is
allocated to each such element.
"(2) The office of Management and Budget shall review each such
report in light of the goals, priorities, and agency and departmental
responsibilities set forth in the Plan, and shall include in the
President's annual budget estimate, a statement of the portion of
each agency or departments annual budget estimate that is allocated
to each element of such agency or department's annual budget
estimate that is allocated to each element of such agency or
department's high-performance computing activities. The Office of
Management and Budget shall ensure that a copy of the President's
annual budget estimate is transmitted to the Chairman of the Council
at the same time as such budget estimate is submitted to Congress.
"Annual Report"
"Sec. 603 The Chairman of the Council shall prepare and submit to
the President and Congress, not later than March 1 of each year, an
annual report on the activities conducted pursuant to this title during
the preceding year, including--
"(1) a summary of achievements of Federal high-performance
computing research and development efforts during that preceding
fiscal year.
"(2) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the goals and
objectives of the Plan;
"(3) a copy or summary of the Plan and any changes made in such
Plan:
"(4) a summary of agency budgets for high-performance computing
activities for that preceding fiscal year and
"(5) any recommendations regarding additional action or legislation
which may be required to assist in achieving the purposes of this
title".
TITLE II - NATIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK
Sec. 201 (1) The National Science Foundation shall, in cooperation
with the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the
Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and other appropriate agencies, provide for the
establishment of a national 3--gigabit per second research and
education computer network by 1996, to be known as the National
Research and Education Network, which shall-
(1) link government, industry, and the higher education community;
(2) be developed in close cooperation with the computer and
telecommunications industry;
(3) be designed and developed with the advice of potential users in
government. Industry, and the higher education community;
(4) have accounting mechanisms which allow users or groups of
users to be charged for their usage of the network, where
appropriate; and
(5) be phased out when commercial networks can meet the
networking needs of American researchers,
Sec. 202. In addition to other agency activities associated with the
establishment of the National Research and Education Network, the
following actions shall be taken:
(1) The Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and
Technology shall-
(A) establish a National Network Advisory Committee to provide
technical and policy advice from all the interests involved in the
Network program, including (i) researchers from university,
industry, and Federal laboratories who will use the Network; (ii)
university and college educators; (iii) librarians involved in electronic
data storage and retrieval; (iv) industrial organizations that develop
and provide relevant technology and services; (v) managers of
regional computer networks; and (vi) experts in networking and
computer science who can provide technical guidance;
(B) submit to Congress, within one year after the date of enactment
of this Act, a report describing and evaluating effective mechanisms
for providing operating funds for the long-term maintenance and use
of the Network, including user fees, industry support, and continued
Federal investment; and
(C) allow recipients of Federal research grants to use grant monies to
pay for computer networking and other telecommunications
expenses.
(2) The Department of Defense, through the Defense Advances
Research Projects Agency, shall be responsible for research and
development of advance fiber optics technology, switches, and
protocols needed to develop a gigabit computer network essential for
the Network.
(3) The National Institute of Standards and Technology shall develop,
in cooperation with the National Security Agency and other relevant
agencies, a common act of standards to provide interoperability,
common user interfaces to systems, and enhanced security for the
Network.
(5) The National Telecommunications and Information
Administration shall determine to what extent current Federal
telecommunications laws and regulations hinder or facilitate private
industry participation in the data transmission field. Within a year
after the dat of enactment of this Act, the Administration shall report
such determination to the Congress.
Sec. 203. In addition to such sums as may be authorized to be
appropriated to the National Science Foundation by other law, there
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation
for the research, development, and implementation of the National
research and Education Network, in accordance with the purposes of
this title, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 1990, $50,000,000 for fiscal
year 1991, $100,000,000 for fiscal years 1992, $100,000,000 for
fiscal year 1993, and $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1994.
TITLE III-NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE
Sec. 301. The National Science Foundation shall coordinate, in close
cooperation with the Department of Commerce ( in particular the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Bureau of the
Census), the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, and other relevant agencies, the development
of a national science and technology information infrastructure of
data bases and knowledge banks accessible through the National
Research and Education Network referred to in title II of this Act.
The infrastructure shall include, but not be limited to-
(1) a directory of network users;
(2) provision for access to unclassified Federal scientific data bases,
including weather data, census data, economic data, and remote
sensing satellite data;
(3) rapid prototyping of computer chips and other devices using
centralized facilities connected to the network;
(4) data bases and knowledge banks for use by artificial intelligence
programs; and
(5) provision for international collaboration among researchers.
TITLE IV-SOFTWARE
Sec. 401. (a) The Office of Science and Technology Policy, as
indicated in the National High-Performance Computer Technology
Plan (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan") developed and
implemented under title VI of the National Science and Technology
Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976, as added by section
101 of this Act, shall oversee the cooperative efforts of Federal
departments and agencies in the research and development of high-
performance computer software, including projects focussed on
astrophysics, engineering, materials, biochemistry, plasma physics,
and weather and climate forecasting.
(b) The National Science Foundation shall establish clearinghouses to
validate and distribute unclassified software developed by federally-
funded researchers and other software in the public domain,
including federally-funded educational and training software. Such
clearinghouses shall-
(1) maintain libraries of programs;
(2) provide funding to researchers to improve and maintain software
they have developed;
(3) help researchers locate the software they need;
(4) make software available through the National Research and
Education network: and
(5) promote commercialization of software where possible.
(c)(1) The National Science Foundation shall place special emphasis
on the development of artificial intelligence and shall establish joint
research programs among government, industry, and the higher
education community to develop artificial intelligence applications.
(2) for purposes of this section, the term "artificial intelligence"
means software and hardware which can be used for computer
systems that learn, exhibit knowledge of themselves and their
environment, make logical inferences, display creativity, or mimic
other aspects of human intelligence, and such term includes expert
systems, neural networks, natural language processing programs,
translation programs, and higher-level programming languages.
(d) The National Institute of Standards and Technology shall develop
standards for software programs purchases or developed by the
Federal Government that promote development of interoperable
software systems that can be used on different computer systems
with different operating systems.
(c) Procurement regulations at the Defense Department and other
departments or agencies shall be changed so that contractors
providing software to the Federal Government no longer are required
to forfeit the proprietary software development tools that they used
to develop the software.
Sec. 402. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of
Science and Technology Policy for distribution to the National Science
Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy,
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other
relevant agencies for computer software research and development,
in accordance with the purposes of this title, $50,000,000 for the
fiscal year 1990, $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, $150,000,000 for
fiscal year 1992, $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, and
$250,000,000 for fiscal year 1994.
TITLE V-COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Sec. 501. The National Science Foundation shall ensure that the
national supercomputer centers in the United States continue to have
the most advanced, commercially available supercomputers
produced by United States manufactures.
Sec. 502. Where appropriate, Federal agencies shall procure
prototype or early production models of new high-performance
computer systems and sub-systems to stimulate hardware and
software development in the American high-performance computer
Industry. Particular emphasis shall be given to prompting
development of advanced display technology, alternative computer
architectures, advanced peripheral storage devices, and very high-
speed communication links.
Sec. 503. Within 90 days following the date of enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Commerce shall review export controls that hinder
the development of foreign markets for United States manufacturers
of supercomputers and other high-performance computer
technology, and report to the Congress the results of such review.
Sec. 504. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Office of
Science and Technology Policy, for distribution to appropriate
agencies and departments as specified in the Plan, for research in
computational science and engineering, $30,000,000 for fiscal year
1990, $60,000,000 for fiscal year 1991, $90,000,000 for fiscal year
1992, $120,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, and $150,000,000 for fiscal
year 1994.
TITLE VI-BASIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
Sec. 601. The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall, in
cooperation with relevant departments and agencies-
(1) support basic research on computer technologies, including
research on computer technology, including research on advanced
semiconductor chip designs, new materials for chips, improved chip
fabrication techniques, photonics and superconducting computers;
(2) create technology transfer mechanisms to ensure that the results
of basic research are readily available to United States industry;
(3) promote basic research in computer science, computational
science, electrical engineering, and material science; and
(4) educate and train more researchers in computer science and
computational science.
Sec. 602. To expand its traditional role in supporting basic research
in universities and colleges, and in training scientists and engineers
in computer science, computational science, and electrical
engineering, there are authorized to be appropriated to the National
Science Foundation, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1900, $20.000,000
for fiscal year 1991, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1903, and
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 1994.