Ralph J. Andreotta’s scientific contributions

This paper focuses on the communications sector of the National Information Infrastructure. It describes the types of services that exist today, and how they will evolve in the future based on customer needs and trends in underlying technologies. Driven by competitive markets, many diverse types of network service providers and media are envisioned. Interoperability is recognized as a key enabler of intelligent information superhighways. Policies to ensure interoperability depend on the degree of regulation and competition in different sectors of the communications infrastructure

Discusses the National Information Infrastructure (NII) and its ramifications for educational institutions and the global marketplace. Highlights include components of the NII, including computer hardware, communication networks, computing and information resources, and human resources; the government role in competition, investment incentives, and standards; and the needs of the users. (LRW)