SUBCHAPTER I—NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Editorial Notes
Codification
§5511. Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program
(a) Networking and Information Technology research and development
(1) The President shall implement a Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program, which shall—
(A) provide for long-term basic and applied research on networking and information technology;
(B) provide for research and development on, and demonstration of, technologies to advance the capacity and capabilities of high-end computing and networking systems, and related software;
(C) provide for sustained access by the research community throughout the United States to high-end computing, distributed, and networking systems that are among the most advanced in the world in terms of performance in solving scientific and engineering problems, including provision for technical support for users of such systems;
(D) provide for efforts to increase software security and reliability;
(E) provide for high-performance networks, including experimental testbed networks, to enable research and development on, and demonstration of, advanced applications enabled by such networks;
(F) provide for computational science and engineering research on mathematical modeling and algorithms for applications in all fields of science and engineering;
(G) provide for the technical support of, and research and development on, high-end computing systems and software required to address Grand Challenges;
(H) provide support and guidance for educating and training additional undergraduate and graduate students in software engineering, computer science, computer and network security, applied mathematics, library and information science, and computational science;
(I) provide for improving the security, reliability, and resilience of computing and networking systems, including Federal systems, including providing for research required to establish security standards and practices for these systems;
(J) provide for improving the security, reliability, and resiliency of computing and networking systems used by institutions of higher education and other nonprofit research institutions for the processing, storage and transmission of sensitive federally funded research and associated data;
(K) provide for increased understanding of the scientific principles of cyber-physical systems and improve the methods available for the design, development, and operation of cyber-physical systems that are characterized by high reliability, safety, and security;
(L) provide for research and development on human-computer interactions, visualization, and big data;
(M) provide for research and development on the enhancement of cybersecurity, including the human facets of cyber threats and secure cyber systems;
(N) provide for the understanding of the science, engineering, policy, and privacy protection related to networking and information technology;
(O) provide for the transition of high-end computing hardware, system software, development tools, and applications into development and operations; and
(P) foster public-private collaboration among government, industry research laboratories, academia, and nonprofit organizations to maximize research and development efforts and the benefits of networking and information technology, including high-end computing.
(2) The Director shall—
(A) establish the goals and priorities for Federal networking and information technology research, development, education, and other activities;
(B) establish Program Component Areas that implement the goals established under subparagraph (A), and identify the Grand Challenges that the Program should address;
(C) provide for interagency coordination of Federal networking and information technology research, development, education, and other activities undertaken pursuant to the Program—
(i) among the participating agencies; and
(ii) to the extent practicable, with other Federal agencies not described in paragraph (3)(C), other Federal and private research laboratories, industry, research entities, institutions of higher education, relevant nonprofit organizations, and international partners of the United States;
(D) submit to the Congress an annual report, along with the President's annual budget request, describing the implementation of the Program;
(E) encourage and monitor the efforts of the agencies participating in the Program to allocate the level of resources and management attention necessary to ensure that the strategic plans under subsection (e) are developed and executed effectively and that the objectives of the Program are met; and
(F) consult with academic, State, industry, and other appropriate groups conducting research on and using high-end computing.
(3) The annual report submitted under paragraph (2)(D) shall—
(A) provide a detailed description of the Program Component Areas, including a description of any changes in the definition of or activities under the Program Component Areas from the preceding report, and the reasons for such changes, and a description of Grand Challenges addressed under the Program;
(B) provide a detailed description of the nature and scope of research infrastructure designated as such under the Program;
(C) set forth the relevant programs and activities, for the fiscal year with respect to which the budget submission applies, of each Federal agency and department, including—
(i) the Department of Justice;
(ii) the Department of Commerce;
(iii) the Department of Defense;
(iv) the Department of Education;
(v) the Department of Energy;
(vi) the Department of Health and Human Services;
(vii) the Department of Homeland Security;
(viii) the National Archives and Records Administration;
(ix) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(x) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
(xi) the National Science Foundation; and
(xii) such other agencies and departments as the President or the Director considers appropriate;
(D) describe the levels of Federal funding for the fiscal year during which such report is submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal year, and the levels proposed for the fiscal year with respect to which the budget submission applies, for each Program Component Area and research area supported in accordance with
(E) describe the levels of Federal funding for each participating agency, and for each Program Component Area, for the fiscal year during which such report is submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal year, and the levels proposed for the fiscal year with respect to which the budget submission applies;
(F) include a description of how the objectives for each Program Component Area, and the objectives for activities that involve multiple Program Component Areas, relate to the objectives of the Program identified in the strategic plans required under subsection (e); and
(G) include an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the goals and priorities established for the Program and the extent to which the Program incorporates the recommendations of the advisory committee established under subsection (b).
(b) Advisory committee
(1) The President shall establish an advisory committee on networking and information technology, consisting of geographically dispersed non-Federal members, including representatives of the research, education, and library communities, network and related software providers, and industry representatives in the Program Component Areas, who are specially qualified to provide the Director with advice and information on networking and information technology. Each chair of the advisory committee shall meet the qualifications of committee membership and may be a member of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The recommendations of the advisory committee shall be considered in reviewing and revising the Program. The advisory committee shall provide the Director with an independent assessment of—
(A) progress made in implementing the Program;
(B) the need to revise the Program;
(C) the balance between the components of the Program, including funding levels for the Program Component Areas;
(D) whether the research and development undertaken pursuant to the Program is helping to maintain United States leadership in networking and information technology; and
(E) other issues identified by the Director.
(2) In addition to the duties outlined in paragraph (1), the advisory committee shall conduct periodic evaluations of the funding, management, coordination, implementation, and activities of the Program. The advisory committee shall report not less frequently than once every 3 fiscal years to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on its findings and recommendations.
(3)
(c) Office of Management and Budget
(1) Each Federal agency and department participating in the Program shall, as part of its annual request for appropriations to the Office of Management and Budget, submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget which—
(A) identifies each element of its networking and information technology activities which contributes directly to the Program Component Areas or benefits from the Program; and
(B) states the portion of its request for appropriations that is allocated to each such element.
(2) The Office of Management and Budget shall review each such report in light of the goals, priorities, and agency and departmental responsibilities set forth in the annual report submitted under subsection (a)(2)(D), and shall include, in the President's annual budget estimate, a statement of the portion of each appropriate agency's or department's annual budget estimate relating to its activities undertaken pursuant to the Program.
(d) Periodic reviews
The heads of the participating agencies, working through the National Science and Technology Council and the Program, shall—
(1) periodically assess and update, as appropriate, the structure of the Program, including the Program Component Areas and associated contents, scope, and funding levels, taking into consideration any relevant recommendations of the advisory committee established under subsection (b); and
(2) ensure that such agency's implementation of the Program includes foundational, large-scale, long-term, and interdisciplinary information technology research and development activities, including activities described in
(e) Strategic plans
(1) In general
The heads of the participating agencies, working through the National Science and Technology Council and the Program, shall develop and implement strategic plans to guide—
(A) emerging activities of Federal networking and information technology research and development; and
(B) the activities described in subsection (a)(1).
(2) Updates
The heads of the participating agencies shall update the strategic plans as appropriate.
(3) Contents
Each strategic plan shall—
(A) specify near-term and long-term objectives for the portions of the Program relevant to the strategic plan, the anticipated schedule for achieving the near-term and long-term objectives, and the metrics to be used for assessing progress toward the near-term and long-term objectives;
(B) specify how the near-term and long-term objectives complement research and development areas in which academia and the private sector are actively engaged;
(C) describe how the heads of the participating agencies will support mechanisms for foundational, large-scale, long-term, and interdisciplinary information technology research and development and for Grand Challenges, including through collaborations—
(i) across Federal agencies;
(ii) across Program Component Areas; and
(iii) with industry, Federal and private research laboratories, research entities, institutions of higher education, relevant nonprofit organizations, and international partners of the United States;
(D) describe how the heads of the participating agencies will foster the rapid transfer of research and development results into new technologies and applications in the national interest, including through cooperation and collaborations with networking and information technology research, development, and technology transition initiatives supported by the States; and
(E) describe how the portions of the Program relevant to the strategic plan will address long-term challenges for which solutions require foundational, large-scale, long-term, and interdisciplinary information technology research and development.
(4) Private sector efforts
In developing, implementing, and updating strategic plans, the heads of the participating agencies, working through the National Science and Technology Council and the Program, shall coordinate with industry, academia, and other interested stakeholders to ensure, to the extent practicable, that the Federal networking and information technology research and development activities carried out under this section do not duplicate the efforts of the private sector.
(5) Recommendations
In developing and updating strategic plans, the heads of the participating agencies shall solicit recommendations and advice from—
(A) the advisory committee under subsection (b);
(B) the Committee on Science and relevant subcommittees of the National Science and Technology Council; and
(C) a wide range of stakeholders, including industry, academia, National Laboratories, and other relevant organizations and institutions.
(f) Reports
The heads of the participating agencies, working through the National Science and Technology Council and the Program, shall submit to the advisory committee, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives—
(1) the strategic plans developed under subsection (e)(1); and
(2) each update under subsection (e)(2).
(
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2022—Subsec. (a)(1)(D).
Subsec. (a)(1)(J) to (P).
Subsec. (b)(3).
2017—
Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(1)(A).
Subsec. (a)(1)(B).
Subsec. (a)(1)(C).
Subsec. (a)(1)(D).
Subsec. (a)(1)(G).
Subsec. (a)(1)(H).
Subsec. (a)(1)(I).
Subsec. (a)(1)(J) to (O).
Subsec. (a)(2)(A).
Subsec. (a)(2)(C).
Subsec. (a)(2)(E).
Subsec. (a)(2)(F).
Subsec. (a)(3)(B).
Subsec. (a)(3)(C).
Subsec. (a)(3)(C)(i).
Subsec. (a)(3)(C)(vii).
Subsec. (a)(3)(C)(viii).
Subsec. (a)(3)(C)(ix) to (xii).
Subsec. (a)(3)(D).
Subsec. (a)(3)(E).
Subsec. (a)(3)(F).
Subsec. (a)(3)(G).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (b)(1)(D).
Subsec. (b)(2).
Subsec. (c)(1)(A).
Subsecs. (d) to (f).
2007—Subsec. (a)(1)(A) to (I).
"(A) establish the goals and priorities for Federal high-performance computing research, development, networking, and other activities; and
"(B) provide for interagency coordination of Federal high-performance computing research, development, networking, and other activities undertaken pursuant to the Program."
Subsec. (a)(2).
Subsec. (a)(2)(A) to (F).
Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (a)(3)(A).
Subsec. (a)(3)(C).
Subsec. (a)(3)(D).
Subsec. (a)(3)(E), (F).
Subsec. (b).
Subsec. (c)(1)(A).
Subsec. (c)(2).
1998—Subsec. (a)(2)(A), (B).
"(A) provide for the establishment of policies for management and access to the Network;
"(B) provide for oversight of the operation and evolution of the Network;".
Subsec. (b).
1995—Subsec. (a)(4)(D) to (F).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Termination of Advisory Committees
Advisory committees established after Jan. 5, 1973, to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a committee established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such committee is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a committee established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided for by law. See
Executive Documents
Delegation of Functions
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to serve as the advisory committee identified in subsec. (b) of this section and to be known as the President's Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee when so serving, see section 3(b)(iii) of Ex. Ord. No. 14007, set out in a note under
Ex. Ord. No. 13035. President's Information Technology Advisory Committee
Ex. Ord. No. 13035, Feb. 11, 1997, 62 F.R. 7131, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13092, July 24, 1998, 63 F.R. 40167; Ex. Ord. No. 13113, Feb. 10, 1999, 64 F.R. 7489; Ex. Ord. No. 13200, Feb. 11, 2001, 66 F.R. 10183; Ex. Ord. No. 13215, May 31, 2001, 66 F.R. 30285; Ex. Ord. No. 13305, May 28, 2003, 68 F.R. 32323, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (
(1) progress made in implementing the High-Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) Program;
(2) progress in designing and implementing the Next Generation Internet initiative;
(3) the need to revise the HPCC Program;
(4) balance among components of the HPCC Program;
(5) whether the research and development undertaken pursuant to the HPCC Program is helping to maintain United States leadership in advanced computing and communications technologies and their applications; and
(6) other issues as specified by the Director.
(b) The Committee shall carry out its responsibilities under the Research Act in the manner described in the Research Act.
(a) The heads of executive agencies shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide to the Committee such information as it may require for the purpose of carrying out its functions.
(b) The co-chairs may, from time to time, invite experts to submit information to the Committee and may form subcommittees or working groups within the Committee to review specific issues.
(c) Members of the Committee shall serve without compensation but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government service (
(b) The Committee shall terminate June 1, 2005, unless extended by the President prior to such date.
§5512. Grand Challenges in areas of national importance
(a) In general
The Program shall encourage the participating agencies to support foundational, large-scale, long-term, interdisciplinary, and interagency information technology research and development activities in networking and information technology directed toward agency mission areas that have the potential for significant contributions to national economic competitiveness and for other significant societal benefits. Such activities, ranging from basic research to the demonstration of technical solutions, shall be designed to advance the development of fundamental discoveries. The advisory committee established under
(b) Characteristics
(1) In general
Research and development activities under this section shall—
(A) include projects selected on the basis of applications for support through a competitive, merit-based process;
(B) to the extent practicable, involve collaborations among researchers in institutions of higher education and industry, and may involve nonprofit research institutions and Federal laboratories, as appropriate;
(C) to the extent practicable, leverage Federal investments through collaboration with related State and private sector initiatives; and
(D) include a plan for fostering the transfer of research discoveries and the results of technology demonstration activities, including from institutions of higher education and Federal laboratories, to industry for commercial development.
(2) Cost-sharing
In selecting applications for support, the agencies may give special consideration to projects that include cost sharing from non-Federal sources.
(
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 5512,
§5513. Repealed. Pub. L. 114–329, title I, §105(h), Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2982
Section,