Networking is already mission-critical yet under-utilized: buildings and host computers are inter-connected, but workgroup and low- tech users are often poorly served. Client/server and multimedia computing add to bandwidth and reliability demands. NSF is re- architecting the national backbone, with implications for capacity, cost, and commercialization of the Internet. Some institutions are providing leadership and support for community networks, and international network connectivity is increasing dramatically. At the same time we are faced with a number of unanswered questions:
What will be the impact of emerging technologies, such as ATM?
What are the implications of the integration of voice, video, and data communications?
What is the future of the Internet?
What are the implications of the National Information Infrastructure, and what are the roles of the federal and state governments and individual institutions in the NII?
How are networks being used to improve education?
How can we pay for increased services when resources are declining?
What opportunities are there for creative partnerships?