Gore Urges Computer Development Effort

Saying that computer technology is a vital element of America’s infrastructure, Sen. Albert Gore Jr. (D-Tenn.) on Friday urged that the federal government devote $1.75 billion over the next five years to make the nation a “supercomputer superpower.”

The proposal, introduced in new legislation, would establish a national data network to make high-performance computers more accessible to researchers, educators and businesses. At the same time, it would provide aid to the private sector’s efforts to develop supercomputer technology.

Likening the initiative to the federal effort more than 30 years ago to build an interstate highway system, Gore said his plan would not involve controversial efforts to pick “winners and losers” in American industry.

“This isn’t industrial policy,” he said in an interview. “This is infrastructure.”