During the 1980s, for example, U.S. business alone invested one trillion dollars in information technology. 16 Communications and related industries are among the fastest growing, most profitable segments of the U.S. economy, accounting for 9.2 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. The information sector is second only to defense in its positive contribution to the U.S. trade balance. Before the end of the decade, information is likely to be first. In addition to being the subject of international trade, efficient, rapid communications are essential to the operations of the government and national and multinational businesses.
Information is the lifeblood that sustains political, social, and business decisions.
As a result, both governments and businesses have a vital stake in workable and consistent technical and regulatory standards and practices from country to country to facilitate information as a multinational commodity and service as an essential component of multinational business activities. Even if it were possible to restrict information to the boundaries of a single country, it is not profitable or practical to do so.