CBO Sudy of HPCC available again

[PHILIPW <PHILIPW.NRD () cbo gov>]

The Congressional Budget Office study of the High Performance
Computing and Communications program is now back in print.  In
case you missed it or forgot, here is the original announcement.

                                                        June 1993

PROMOTING HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study Promoting
High-Performance Computing and Communications extensively
analyzes the economic obstacles confronting federal
policymakers in their efforts to promote commercial use of
high-performance computing and communications technology.  Among
the obstacles to wide use of high-performance computing and
communications (HPCC) technology discussed in the report are
trends in computer use, in technology, and in the prices of
private telephone lines.

      In 1991, the Administration and the Congress enacted the
multiagency HPCC program to further the development of U.S.
supercomputer technology and high-speed computer network
technology by pulling together existing programs and adding new
initiatives.  The motives behind this legislation were to help
federal agencies perform their missions better and to promote the
use of this technology throughout the U.S. economy.  The HPCC
program is projected to cost $4.7 billion over its five-year
life, of which $1.9 billion represents new funds.  This
interagency effort is intended to advance technology both for
parallel supercomputers and for computer networks.

      Nevertheless, efforts to promote commercial use of parallel
supercomputer technology are running counter to a trend toward
wider use of engineering workstations--high-powered technical
versions of the personal computer--in an area that had previously
been the nearly exclusive domain of the supercomputer.  The
workstation is reducing the demand for all supercomputers, just
as the personal computer reduced the demand for mainframe
computers.

      Although HPCC parallel supercomputer technology is swift in
some applications, it has yet to demonstrate speeds equaling
those of conventional super~computer technology for most
applications, and this may limit the commercial demand for
parallel supercomputer technology.

      Efforts of the HPCC program to promote computer networking
are contributing to the development of a commercial market. 
However, prices for use of leased private telephone lines in
short~distance computer networks have not been falling--in fact,
below 150 miles, posted prices have been rising since 1990.  High
prices may slow the growth of demand for short~distance networks.

      Questions regarding the analysis should be directed to
Philip Webre of CBO's Natural Resources and Commerce Division at
(202) 226-2940.  The Office of Intergovernmental Relations is
CBO's Congressional liaison office and can be reached at
226-2600.  For additional copies of the report, please call the
CBO Publications Office at 226-2809.