Coalition for Networked Information 
Information Policies:  A Compilation of Position Statements, Principles,
Statutes, and Other Pertinent Statements


Office of Technology Assessment

600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC  20510-8025

Source:  U.S. Government Manual, Washington, D.C., 1990/91, 
pages 60-62.

The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) was created by the Technology Assessment Act of 1972 (2 U.S.C. 472) to serve the United States Congress by providing objective analyses of major public policy issues related to scientific and technological change. The Office began operations in January 1974.

The act specifies that OTA shall consist of a Technology Assessment Board, a Director, A Technology Assessment Advisory Council, and such other employees and consultants as may be necessary in the conduct of OTA's work.

The bipartisan 13-member Board includes 6 Senators appointed by the President pro tempore, 6 Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, and the Director of OTA, who is a nonvoting member. The Board selects a Chairman and a Vice Chairman from among its members at the beginning of each Congress. The Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship alternate between the Senate and the House of Representatives with each Congress. The Director is appointed by the Board and serves a 6-year term. The Director has full authority and responsibility for organizing and managing OTA's resources according to policies set by the Board.

The Technology Assessment Advisory Council comprises 10 public members eminent in science and technology. The Council is appointed by the Board and advises the Board and OTA on assessments and other matters. The Comptroller General of the United States and the Director of the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress are also members.

The Office's assessments explore complex issues involving science and technology, helping Congress resolve uncertainties and conflicting claims, identifying alternative policy options, and providing foresight or early alert to new developments that could have important implications for future Federal policy. Requests for assessments may be made by the chairman of any congressional committee acting for himself or on behalf of a ranking minority member, or a majority of committee members; by the OTA Board; or by the OTA Director, in consultation with the Board.

The Office's work centers on comprehensive assessments that may take 1 to 2 years to complete. It also draws upon its past and current work to provide a variety of responses to meet immediate congressional needs, such as briefings, testimony, and special reports.

Office assessment teams work closely with congressional staff and support agencies to ensure that major committee concerns are addressed and to stay in touch with the published work and current activities of analysis and researchers in the Executive branch and throughout the public and private interest sectors. Each project is guided by an advisory panel of experts on a particular subject as a way of ensuring that reports are objective, fair, and authoritative.

After approval for release by the Board, OTA assessment reports are distributed to the requesting committees, with summaries provided to all Members of Congress. The reports are available to the public through the Government Printing Office.

Sources of Information

Information may be obtained from the following sources:

Congressional and Public Affairs Office (documents for congressional use and general information about OTA). Phone, 202-224-9241.

Publications Request Department (OTA documents for general use). Phone, 202-224-8996.

Personnel Locator. Phone, 202-224-8713.

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info@cni.org