MEMBERS OF CONGRESS:

I am pleased to forward with this letter "High Performance Computing and Communciations: Foundation for America's Information Future" prepared by the High Performance Computing, Communications and Information Technology (HPCCIT) Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Information and Communications (CIC). This report, which supplements the President's Fiscal Year 1996 Budget, describes the interagency High Performance Computing and Communications Program.

America stands preeminent today among the nations of the world in its mastery and deployment of information technologies. Under the HPCC Program, government, industry, and academia have helped to lay the technological foundations for the National and Global Information Infrastructures and to maintain our global leadership in science and engineering. The "virtual agency" concept, which the HPCC Subcommittee has successfully implemented, is a key element of our collective effort to re-invent the Federal government to achieve greater efficiencies and productivity.

As noted in a recent National Research Council report requested by Congress to study the HPCC program: "Publicly funded research in information technology will continue to create important new technologies and industries, some of them unimagined today, and the process will take 10 to 15 years. The High Performance Computing and Communications Initiative is the main vehicle for public research in information technology." Sustained, long term commitment to the fundamental science and advanced technologies for our information future is essential, and this Program represents an opportunity to accelerate opportunities for innovation. The HPCC program has demonstrated its ability to solve the next set of long term problems in fast moving technology areas which is the key to laying the foundation for America's information ftiture.

This past year marked the first full year of operation for the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) and the successful development of a comprehensive Strategic Implementation Plan by the CIC. It is the beginning of an important dialogue to guide future public R&D investments in computing and communications. HPCC technologies are at the core of the overall strategy.

The HPCCIT Subcommittee and its member agencies have maintained a close working relationship with the private sector and academia, which is illustrated throughout the document. John C. Toole, Chair of the HPCCIT Subconunittee, Donald A. B. Lindberg, former chair, the many people in the HPCC agencies, their associates, and staff are to be commended for making HPCC a role model for streamlined, efficient, and highly effective government investment in advanced technology.