Information and Communications Technology Industry, Industry Study, Spring 2009

The U.S. Information and Communications Technology ICT industry is economically vibrant, competitively innovative, and a key contributor to U.S. economic productivity and national well-being. The U.S. is the global ICT leader but its position is being challenged by China and other countries. The convergence of ICT technologies and the everincreasing speed of information transfer are creating a connectedness that manifests itself through immediate, high-quality communication virtually anywhere on the globe. This connectedness brings many benefits but also comes with vulnerabilities as our dependence grows. Greater security and information assurance efforts are needed to protect individuals, businesses, and critical national infrastructure from cyber threats. The U.S. should continue to exert smart global leadership in the ICT industry, create conditions for continued innovation by supporting basic RD and fostering high-tech education, and promote the benefits of increased connectivity that result from cloud computing and Web 2.0.