[An incomplete NTIA/IITF (US govt.) FAQ on the NII] THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the National Information Infrastructure (NII)? The National Information Infrastructure will consist of (1) thousands of interconnected, interoperable telecommunications networks, (2) computer systems, televisions, fax machines, telephones, and other "information appliances", (3) software, information services, and information databases (e.g. "digital libraries"), and (4) trained people who can build, maintain, and operate these systems. In the future, the NII will enable all Americans to get the information they need, when they need it and where they need it, for an affordable price. 2. Who will own and manage the National Information Infrastructure? o The Administration believes that the private sector should own and operate the National Information Infrastructure. o The private sector currently invests approximately $50 billion annually in the U.S. telecommunications infrastructure. The privately-owned networks funded by this substantial investment will continue to be the basis of the NII. Even current Federally-supported networks operating on a national scale, such as Internet, rely on facilities leased from private sector providers, and this relationship will not change. o The Administration's program stresses a government-private sector partnership in which the Federal government promotes necessary development, but does not become the national network operator. 3. What is the Federal role in the National Information Infrastructure? There is much the Federal government can do to accelerate the development of the National Information Infrastructure, including: o Support long-term research and development by industry, universities, and Federal labs on the technology needed to build and effectively us the NII. o Fund demonstration projects to help test applications of the NII. o Develop forward-looking telecommunications policies that: (1) ensure that all Americans have access to the benefits of the NII, (2) encourage private-sector investment in building and utilizing the NII, and (3) create a competitive market for telecommunications and information services. o Address information policy issues, such as those relating to privacy and intellectual property rights. o Effectively utilize the NII and information technology to provide better government services. 4. How much will it cost to build the National Information infrastructure? o Most experts estimate that it will require at least $50 to $100 billion in private-sector investment over the next ten years to build the telecommunications links and facilities required for the NII. o The Federal government is presently investing about $1.2 billion a year to promote development and deployment of the information technology needed for the NII. 5. Overall, what do you hope to achieve with the NII initiative? o The Administration intends to spur the development of a National Information Infrastructure (NII), which will ultimately connect the nation's businesses, residences, schools, health care facilities, and other public information and social service providers through a broadband, interactive, telecommunications and information network. The NII will be capable of transporting large quantities of data at high speed and make two-way video as commonplace as phone conversations are today. o The NII will pay enormous dividends to the nation's economic competitiveness and the quality of life of our citizens. It will provide Americans with access to the information they need, where they need it, when they need it. It is essential if the U.S. is to compete in the 21st Century and remain an economic superpower. 6. Why is the Information Infrastructure Task Force needed? o Many different agencies make policies that affect different components of the National Information Infrastructure. In addition, Federal agencies will use and contribute to the National Information Infrastructure. The task force is needed to ensure that the entire Administration is acting in concert to accelerate the development and use of the NII. 7. Who will be on the Information Infrastructure Task Force (IITF)? o The task force will consist of high-level representatives of the key Federal agencies involved in telecommunications and information policy. Participating agencies include the Department of Commerce, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the Department of State, the General Services Administration, and a number of research agencies. Within the White House, the National Economic Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget will play key roles. 8. What is the function of the Advisory council of the National Information Infrastructure and when will it be formed? o The members of the advisory council will include representatives of industry, labor, academia, public interest groups, and state and local governments. The council will provide advice on all the issues faced the IITF and assemble groups of experts to work with the working groups of the IITF. o The Advisory Council will have 25 members, appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. On behalf of the Department of Commerce, NTIA is currently compiling a list of potential nominees. The Administration intends to have the Advisory Council hold its first meeting in December. 9. Is the National Information Infrastructure going to consist primarily of fiber-optic networks? o The NII initiative will leave the choice of transmission technology to the private sector. Different technologies will provide different services and capabilities and fill different market niches. The Administration's goal is to promote development of a network of high-speed networks, using different technologies but all interconnected. o For example, as noted in the "Agenda for Action", the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration will provide funding to state and local governments, health care providers, school districts, libraries, universities, and other non-profit entities for planning and developing the infrastructure capabilities they need to provide critical services. We anticipate that funded projects will employ a variety of transmission technologies, including satellite, terrestrial microwave, copper telephone wires, coaxial cables, and fiber optic cables. 10. How can the NII help the United States by more competitive in global markets? o Properly used, information technologies can raise the productivity of American workers. o The widespread deployment of personal computers and local area networks has brought the speed and efficiency of word processing and electronic mail to the workplace. o Dramatic cost reductions and impressive gains in compression techniques, while improving video quality, have combined to make video conferencing an important business strategy for firms that could not afford it or rejected its picture quality in the past. o Faster data transmission speeds at affordable prices have resulted in improved performance for some, for example, in the financial or research communities. Producers have benefited from "intelligent manufacturing," through employment of robots, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing, and other innovations. o The NII will provide scientists and engineers with the tools they need to more quickly develop new technologies and turn them into products. By reducing the product development cycle, American companies can increase market share and profits. o As productivity increases, firms are able to pass cost savings on to customers in the form of lower prices. Or new technologies may permit new capabilities, such as the increased mobility afforded by wireless communications services. These cost and feature improvements redound to the firms' advantage in the marketplace. o In turn, greater U.S. competitiveness translates into a higher standard of living for Americans as personal and business incomes rise. 11. Can you explain how a data highway can create new jobs and enhance the productivity and growth of our small businesses? o The vast majority of new jobs that have been created in this country over the past three decades have been with small and medium-sized businesses. Therefore, it is especially important that the telecommunications infrastructure is capable of helping smaller businesses prosper, in order to support their "job creation" role in the economy. o A modern telecommunication infrastructure can also promote small business and job creation by making it easier for larger businesses to outsource tasks to smaller ones. U.S. businesses are increasingly operating as so-called "organizations without walls" and find that relationships with smaller businesses can be an efficient and flexible means of meeting global competition. o Regrettably, government policy may not have kept up with these dynamic trends in the private sector. Although larger, wealthy firms can readily invest in private telecommunication equipment and services to meet their needs, smaller, entrepreneurial firms do not necessarily have the same access to sophisticated communications capabilities. 12. How is the government effort organized? TO BE SUPPLIED 13. What are the principal government agencies and their roles? TO BE SUPPLIED 14. What are the ongoing NII-related programs? TO BE SUPPLIED 15. List of acronyms TO BE SUPPLIED