Supercomputer Network Study Act of 1986

Citation
Supercomputer Network Study Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. Public 99-383 (June 21, 1986).

Overview
This Act, originally introduced as S. 2594 by then-Senator Albert Gore, charged the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) with conducting "a study of critical problems and current and future options regarding communications networks for research computers, including supercomputers at universities and federal research facilities in the United States."

At OSTP's direction, an inter-agency group under the auspices of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology (FCCSET) for Computer Research and Applications &mdash; the Computer Network Study Planning Group &mdash; was formed to carry out the study of the following issues:


 * the networking needs of the nation's academic and federal research computer programs, including supercomputer programs, over the next 15 years, including requirements in terms of volume of data, reliability of transmission, software compatibility, graphics capabilities, and transmission security;


 * the benefits and opportunities that an improved computer network would offer for electronic mail, file transfer, and remote access and communications; and


 * the networking options available for linking academic and research computers, including supercomputers, with a particular emphasis on fiber optics.

The Computer Network Study Planning Group produced and delivered a three-volume report for OSTP in early August 1987, consisting of recommendations, results of a workshop, and background papers.

Source

 * Gordon Bell, "Steps Toward a National Research Telecommunications Network," 21 Library Hi Tech (1987) (full-text).