Internet Host: nic.cerf.net Directory: farnet Subdirectory: farnet_docs Filename: nwnet-press-rel Last Updated: Nov 11, 1991 For more information: Eric S. Hood Executive Director NorthWestNet ehood@nw.net (206) 562-3000 --PRESS RELEASE-- PNWER LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AGREE TO PROMOTE TCP/IP PROTOCOLS At the annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) earlier this month, legislative leaders from six northwestern states and provinces agreed to work in partnership with NorthWestNet to promote the TCP/IP protocol as a standard means of digital communication. This resolution will affect agencies in the PNWER states and provinces of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Alberta, and British Columbia. "This is significant progress," said Dr. Eric Hood, NorthWestNet Executive Director, who addressed the issue of computer networking at the meeting. "The adoption of this standard will allow key government agencies in northwestern states to participate fully in the national networking community." Once their computers start using TCP/IP, the standard communications protocols for the national Internet, PNWER state agencies will be able to access the major informational resources of federal agencies such as NASA, DARPA, and the Department of Energy. Internet resources, including databases and archives of software and documents at these sites, will be available for use by state libraries, educational institutions, and other such organizations; state research institutions will be able to process vast amounts of data on supercomputers around the country. Additionally, communication features such as electronic mail, news groups, and real-time electronic conferencing will help staff at these agencies to communicate and collaborate with each other across state and provincial lines. Although computer networks exist today within many state agencies, inter-agency and inter-state communications are often difficult if not impossible because of differing protocol standards. Hood compares the use of different communication protocols on today's computer networks to the early railroad system in America. "An appropriate historical analogy links America's economic growth and the development of the West in the 19th century to the standardization of railroad track size and gauge." He explained that prior to the adoption of these standards, different models of engines and cars were needed by railroad companies using different sizes and types of track. Cargo often had to be manually transferred from one train to another, resulting in significant loss of time and money. The adoption of standards within the railroad industry enabled a more efficient national transportation system. "PNWER's resolution to adopt TCP/IP protocol standards will reduce today's need for gateways between disparate networks and will facilitate more effective communication and efficient information transfer," said Hood. The National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) is a key component of today's Internet. One of the early goals in building the NSFNET was to provide researchers around the country access to a half dozen supercomputer centers. "In my mind supercomputer access seems like a fringe benefit compared to the to the real goal of electronic communication," said Dan Jordt, NorthWestNet Director of Technical Services. "We're trying to build an infrastructure similar to the telephone network or the highway system. Getting state governments involved will help speed this process tremendously." The Washington State Information Services Board recently acknowledged the value of the Internet and its potential for the advancement of inter-agency communication when it adopted TCP/IP protocols as a standard. This decision will become effective in January 1992 and will be implemented through purchasing regulations. Speaker of the Washington State House of Representatives Joe King met recently with Hood to discuss the benefits of telecomputing and digital communications and their significance in promoting regional development, technology transfer, and economic competitiveness. According to Hood, their conversation also focused on solidifying the role of the State of Washington in the National Research and Education Network (NREN), which also uses TCP/IP protocols as its communication standard. The NREN is a national, high-speed network designed to interconnect America's educational institutions and its knowledge and information centers. It has received significant national attention as a component of President Bush's technology initiative entitled, "Grand Challenges: High Performance in Computing and Communications." Within the NREN vision, "elementary schools, high schools, two and four year colleges, and universities will be linked with research centers and laboratories so that all may share access to: libraries, databases, and diverse scientific instruments such as supercomputers, telescopes, and particle accelerators."1 In his FY1992 budget, Bush allocated $91.9 million for the development and implementation of the NREN. "NorthWestNet intends to take an active role in working with state agencies to implement their connection to the NREN and hence the Internet," said Hood. "This collaborative activity is consistent with NorthWestNet's mission to 'promote research, education and economic vitality by providing access to network communications, computing and electronic information resources and services throughout the Northwest.'" 1"Grand Challenges: High Performance Computing and Communications, The FY 1992 U.S. Research and Development Program." A Report by the Committee on Physical, Mathematical, and Engineering Sciences of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology, a supplement to the President's Fiscal Year 1992 Budget. Office of Science and Technology Policy, Washington, D.C.: 18-19.