In a letter dated September of 1993 Vice President Albert Gore stated:
The Clinton Administration has made the creation and development of a National Information Infrastructure (NII) a top priority. This seamless web of communications networks including computers, televisions, telephones and satellites will forever change the way we live, learn, work and communicate with each other both here in the United States and around the world. This Administration promotes the use of networking and computing technologies to give Americans unprecedented access to information and communications services. The Agenda for Action provided a vision of what the NII could be and how government should work with the private sector to ensure that all Americans benefit from the communications revolution.Gore has been articulating policy for the National Information Infrastructure since his days as a United States Senator. His vision of the NII as the "information superhighway" is actually a tribute to his father, who, after World War II, conceived the plan for the interstate highway infrastructure.
Gore has been a leading force for the future of telecommunications technology, authoring initiatives like the High Performance Computing and Communications Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-194) and the National Research and Educational Network (NREN), and pushing for continued support for the Office of Science and Technology in the White House.
If you are interested in finding out more about the role of the Federal Government in NII policy you can browse Clinton's Technology Initiative Speech or read about the Administration's NII Accomplishments to find information on federal investments in technology infrastructure.
To keep informed of the daily progress of your government, check out Gore's own web page, National Performance Review. You can also send him email or visit the White House web site.
Another good way to get in touch with the Administration is to send email to Ronald H. Brown. He is the Chairman of the Information Infrastructure Task Force, a committee originated by the executive branch to help various branches of the government reach agreements on the NII.
A classic Gore joke:
Speaking of cliches, I often use the analogy of computers to autos, saying that if cars had advanced as rapidly as computer chips in recent years, a Rolls Royce would go a million miles an hour and cost twenty-five cents.The last time I used it was at a meeting of computer experts and one of them said, "Yeah -- but that Rolls Royce would be one millimeter long."
