United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Administration And
Resources Management
(PM-211A)
EPA220-B-92-003
January 1992
&EPA Bibliographic Series
Public Information Access
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, \ UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
• WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
X^
2 3 PQ? ADMIN1NRATION
^ i^*- ANORESOUCES
MANAGEMENT
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Public Information Access
~l, ')'•'.'.' -
FROM: Daiva Balk'us," Director
Information Management and Services Division
TO: Senior Information Resource Management Officials
IRM Branch Chiefs
Public Access Forum Attendees
EPA Records Network
EPA Library Network
EPA Clearinghouse Managers
Attached for your information is Public Information
Access, the latest in our Bibliographic series. There is
currently a renewed emphasis on public ownership of
government information and the means to access it. Public
Information Access provides EPA decision makers with
summaries of current thinking on the many issues involved
in public access to government information.
Topics covered include policy issues, cost, legislation
and the newly enacted National Research and Education Network
(NREN), to build a "super highway of information." Case
studies review federal, state and local examples of
information access initiatives.
If you would like additional copies, or have questions
on the Public Access Program, please contact Brigid Rapp,
Chief, Information Access Branch at 260-8710, or Email
Rapp.B.
cc: Al Pesachowitz
Paul Wohlleben
OIRM Division Directors
Director, NDPD
Printed on Recycled Paper
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Public Information Access
EPA Headquarters Library
Information Access Branch
Information Management and Services Division
Office of Information Resources Management
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
RoomM2904 PM-211A
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
U.S. Environmental Prctrsctlon Agency
Region 5, Library (pi.-*"'
77 West Jackson Ecu:;:,, ,. :-,-• pjoor
Chicago, IL 60604-3 C^O '
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CONTENTS
Introduction i
Federal Policy 1
Electronic Dissemination 16
Local and State Case Studies 28
NREN & Internet 32
Cost 43
Access Mechanisms 47
Congress and OMB
Current Legislation 52
Freedom of Information Act 57
Paperwork Reduction Act 58
OMB Circular A-130 60
Technology Transfer 62
Environmental Initiatives 65
EPA/OARM Case Studies 69
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PUBLIC INFORMATION ACCESS
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of Public Information Access is to increase EPA
staff understanding and awareness of public access issues. The
issue of public access to government information is growing in
complexity. Factors such as confidentiality, delivery systems,
user fees and data integration all affect decisions concerning the
dissemination and availability of government information.
The "Principles of Public Information" developed by the U.S.
Commission on Libraries and Information Science defines public
information as ". . .information created, compiled, and/or maintained
by the Federal Government...public information is owned by the
people, held in trust by their government, and should be available
to the people except where restricted by law." These principles
are reflected in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)
draft public access policy. EPA is striving to create, collect,
manage and disseminate Agency information to the public. EPA is
taking an active role addressing the issues of access by initiating
an Agency-wide public access program and developing tools and
communication mechanisms to facilitate public access to
information.
Public Information Access organizes summaries of issues such as
the debate over who has access, who pays, and who delivers
government information. A legislation section begins with an
overview of current public access legislation and OMB Circulars,
followed by new legislation pending before the current 102nd
Congress. Additional citations are listed for three key pieces of
legislation; the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA), and OMB Circular A-130. The Headquarter's
Library currently provides updates on IRM legislation.
Technology issues are discussed as they relate to themes of U.S.
competitiveness in the world marketplace, data integration and
electronic dissemination. The development and implementation of
public access networks such as NREN and Internet are included.
Case studies illustrate real-life situations surrounding or
resulting from public access issues in Federal, State, and local
government.
Public Information Access was compiled from sources available
through DIALOG Information Services, Inc. Summaries are included
for each entry. Entries summarized by the EPA Headquarters Library
staff are indicated by the notation "Headquarters Library;" all
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other entries are followed by the name of the database from which
they were retrieved. The debate on public access in the press and
the legislature is constantly changing. Because the issue of
public access to information is dynamic, Public Information Access,
is by nature of its topic a living document.
For more information about the bibliography or EPA's Public
Access Program, please contact:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Public Access Program
PM-211D
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
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FEDERAL POLICY
A national strategy for the information age.
Allen, K.B.
Information Management Review, Vol. 4, Issue 4, p. 17-27, Spr 1989
Discusses the value of information in American democracy, the
evolution and current status of federal information policy, and the
need for a national strategy to facilitate evolution toward an
information society. Specific information policy goals and
principles are identified, and suggestions for implementing
policy formation are presented. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Federal information resources management (IRM): a policy review and
assessment.
Bishop, A. (Syracuse Univ., Syracuse, NY); Doty, P.; McClure, C.R.
Managing Information and Technology, p. 40-47, 1989, Learned
Information, Medford, NJ, 32
Since the passage of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980,
Information Resources Management (IRM) has been the major strategy
used by the Federal government to improve the effective management
of information and information technology and to reduce the
costs of a wide range of information services and products. The
authors briefly examine the conceptual basis of IRM, the origins
and rationale of Federal commitment to IRM, and the development and
implementation of Federal IRM policy. They also discuss
assertions that Federal IRM has not adequately increased the
effectiveness of information management, that Federal IRM is
poorly understood and implemented by IRM managers, and that, as an
instrument for implementing Federal information policy, it has
had ambiguous results at best. It is concluded that the Federal
government must renew its commitment to the original vision of IRM,
with an emphasis on maximizing the benefits and value of Federal
information for all its users. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
US Government information policy.
Eisenbeis, Kathleen
Journal of Education for Library and Information Science v29 (2)
Fall 88, 92-98. 10 refs. bibliog
Provides an understanding of the federal information policy.
Some definitions of that policy are provided along with an idea of
the range of issues being covered. Some of the current policy
initiatives are highlighted, as are suggestions of ways faculty can
participate in the policy process. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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The right to know: public access to federal information in the
1980s.
Shattuck, John
Government Information Quarterly v5 (4) 1988, 369-375. 5 refs
Examines government information controls in the context of the
constitutional and statutory tradition of open access to
government information in the USA. Discusses the restrictive
climate in which the Reagan administration views public access
and warns that restrictive national security policies may
actually curtail economic growth, retard defence programs, and
undermine the Constitution. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
Government information: an underutilized resource.
Mason, M.G.
In: Government Information: An Endangered Species in the Electronic
Age, p. 42-57, 1986, Special Libraries Association, Washington, DC
This paper discusses the principles which provide for the
underpinnings for the Federal role in information collection and
distribution. The author considers what use consists of, what is
going on now, and are the principles being worked out. The author
considers how individual rights impacts upon information usage.
Reinterpretation of the Freedom of Information Act is also
discussed.(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Presidential Initiative on Information Policy. Number 7
Shattuck, J. ; Spence, M. M.
Performing Organization: Benton Foundation, Washington, DC. 1989
46p
Two trends have inhibited the development of information and
ideas, which are vital resources in a modern technological society,
First, the Federal Government is engaged in efforts to control the
flow of scientific and technical information (STI) to make it less
accessible to foreign competitors and hostile nations. Second,
the role of government in collecting, maintaining, and publishing
information has been curtailed due to reduced federal spending on
information resources. The President's policy agendas should
include initiatives on information policy with special programs
focusing on science, the economy, and national security. The
following elements would be included: (1) a review of the system
for classifying information; (2) a review of export controls and
related restrictions on the communication of unclassified STI; (3)
steps to give Congress and the public time to comment on proposed
executive orders and national security directives; (4) interagency
deliberations to develop guidelines that protect against undue
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government control over the content and conclusions of federally
sponsored research; (5) actions to limit the role of the Office of
Management and Budget? (6) revisions in the Freedom of Information
Act to facilitate access to government information; and (7)
authorization for the Secretary of Defense to curb inappropriate
secrecy in agency budgets. (NTIS)
Finding government information: the Federal Information Locator
System (FILS).
Bass, Gary D. and David Plocher.
Government Information Quarterly 8:11-32 no 1 '91
In 1977, the Commission on Federal Paperwork observed that "the
Federal Government does not know what information it collects, with
what frequency, from whom, and for what uses." To remedy this, the
Commission recommended the creation of a Federal Information
Locator System (FILS). Mandated by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1980, FILS exists today in name only. This article describes the
ill-fated history of FILS and presents a vision of what FILS still
can be — a series of linked computer systems maintained by Federal
agencies to improve the management of information resources and
facilitate public access to government information. (PAIS)
Federal information inventory/locator systems: from burden to
benefit.
McClure, C.R.
Jul 1990, 105p.
Building on previous discussions of Federal information
inventory locator systems (FILS), this report explores issues
related to FILS and identifies policy and implementation options
that can best meet the competing rationales and requirements for
FILS. The concept of a Government-wide Information Inventory/
Locator System is explored, and it is suggested that such a system
should would serve as an authoritative register of all Federal
information collection requests, assist agencies in locating
government information, and eliminate duplication of information
collection. The system would contain citations and abstracts of
publicly available U.S. government information, and the name of the
agency or source where the information could be obtained. This
study: (l) reviews the existing policy system regarding FILS;
(2) clarifies the objectives and uses for FILS; (3) identifies key
stakeholders (i.e., Federal mission agencies, Federal dissemination
agencies, Office of Management and Budget Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Congress, public advocacy groups, the
library/information science community, the general public, and the
private sector); and (4) discusses issues and criteria related to
how these systems can meet the needs of the stakeholders. The
report assumes that readers are knowledgeable about Federal
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information policies and information resources management and does
not provide a general overview of the existing Federal information
policy system. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
The quantification of information: the paperwork budget and the
birth of the burden hour.
Rubinstein, Gwen
Government Information Quarterly, 7(1) 1990, p. 73-81
Discusses the problem of quantifying information and the
elaborate system of numbers that the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget uses
to measure paperwork. Notes the shortcoming of the Information
Collection budget and encourages it elimination. (LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Proceedings of the Federal Pre-White House Conference on Library
and Information Services
Lister Hill Auditorium, National Library of Medicine, November 26-
27, 1990
Federal Library and Information Center Committee, Library of
Congress
These proceeding contain several main areas of continuing
concern including access, networking, preservation, and funding.
These core national issues were addressed under the umbrella of:
"equal opportunity of access to federal information."
The preconference activity goals included the promotion of the
theme of "citizen access to federal information resources through
federal agency informational organizations." The guiding principle
of the federal preconference was that "access is the key" for the
improvement of information services to increase productivity,
expand literacy, and strengthen democracy. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
New Directions in Federal Information Policy and Dissemination.
Snowhill, Lucia; Meszaros, Rosemary
Microform Review v!9 (4) Fall 90, 181-185.
During the Reagan Administration, federal information policies
and climate were driven by budget cutting, elimination of
publications, and a dramatic increase in privatization of federal
information. Looks at proposed legislation of the 101st Congress
and other factors through July 90 contributing to the development
of information policy in the Bush Administration. Although the
current legislative emphasis is on incorporation of electronic
formats, print and microfiche publications continue to have a large
and valid role in disseminating certain types of government
information. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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Information policy and the Bush administration: a first look.
Shill, Harold B.
Government Information Quarterly v7 (I) 1990, 1-7. 14 refs
Attempts to identify directions in US information policy after
one year of the Bush administration. The following general
policy directions are emerging in some areas of information
policy: electronic dissemination of information; scientific and
technical information; the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and
public/private roles and responsibilities. Examines the 1988
Republican Party platform, analyses the new administration's
pattern of appointments; considers specific decisions made and
actions taken on information-related issues since Inaugural Day,
and gives attention to the Bush administration's decision-making
structure, style and priorities in an attempt to identify
information policy directions. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
What's new in federal information policy.
Johnson, S.W. ed.; Hattery, M.
Information Retrieval and Library Automation (US), Vol. 26, Issue
4, p. 1-4, Sep 1990
Reforms in federal information policy proposed by D. Allen
Bromley, the President's science adviser, are discussed. Public
information is defined. Principles of public information
regarding access, dissemination, and integrity and preservation
are suggested. An enhances role for FCCSET (Federal
Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology) is
predicted. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
The use of government publications: a twelve-year perspective.
Postema, B. (Fargo Public Library, Fargo, ND); Weech, T.L.
Government Publications Review, Vol. 18, Issue 3, p. 223-238
May 1991
Updating an earlier review of the literature of government
document use that was published in 1978, this article covers the
period from mid-1977 through December, 1989. The literature is
analyzed in terms of three categories: library surveys, citation
studies, and user surveys. Six library surveys, three citation
studies, and 13 user surveys (including studies using circulation
data) are identified and analyzed. In addition, five non-U.S.
studies are examined. It is noted that the research findings in
some areas such as the conclusions that social scientists,
especially economists and political scientists, are the heaviest
users of documents; non-users believe either that documents do not
contain information relevant to their information needs or that the
time involved in retrieving the information from documents cannot
be justified. Although some progress has been made in building on
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prior research, a need still exists for more consistency in the
construction of the data gathering instruments and in
categorization of the results. It is suggested that future studies
focus on the impact of privatization and electronic dissemination
of government information on use and user attitudes. (INFORMATION
SCIENCES ABSTRACTS)
Remarks of Fred B. Wood, Senior Associate, Office of Technology
Assessment, United states Congress, before the Federal Pre-White
House Conference on Library and Information Services
Proceedings of the Federal Pre-White House Conference on Library
and Information Services
Lister Hill Auditorium, National Library of Medicine, November 26-
27, 1990
Federal Library and Information Center Committee, Library of
Congress
Discusses some of the successes the information community has
seen over the past two years in the area of public access to
information policy. Lists 10 principles or guidelines critical to
implementing access, and two avenues to use for enlisting support
from the broader community to implement these principles; global
change, and elementary/secondary education. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
The Cutting Edge of Federal Information Policy: An Interview with
John Chelen, Esq., Executive Director, Unison Institute
Sherwood, Diane
Information Today Wn8 PP: 27-30 Sep 1990
In an interview, John Chelen, executive director of the Unison
Institute, which was established to provide a center for computer
systems and software technology in the public interest, discussed
the functions of the Institute. The Unison Institute was founded
on the belief that the opportunities arising from the changes in
information technology and theory are vast and profound. The
Institute is seen as a center in the public interest for the
discussion and analysis of these opportunities. Chelen is most
involved in questions of access to government information,
especially questions relating to policies of dissemination and
distribution, cost, media of dissemination, and computer software.
Areas of interest include the possibilities for greater public
access to government information. For the average citizen, the
most important benefit from the open access to information provided
by the Institute will be in the area of enhanced government
effectiveness in the operation of its own programs. (ABI/INFORM)
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Office of Technology Assessment perspectives on current US
federal information issues.
Wood, F.B. (Office of Technology Assessment, US Congress, Wash.,
DC) Government Publications Review, Vol. 17, Issue 4, p. 281-300,
Jul 1990
These articles cover three of the major issues dealing with
federal information management and policy currently being debated
in the United States Congress. They present the Office of
Technology Assessment's evaluation of and suggestions for improving
current federal information initiatives. Topics treated include:
government printing, the procurement of printing and other
information products and services, the distribution and sale of
public documents, the depository library program, the Paperwork
Reduction Act, federal information policy, and the general
management of federal information resources. The final article
details the serious financial problems being encountered by the
National Technical Information Service and outlines ways in which
the Service can be salvaged. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Information policies: strategies for the future.
Morton, S.; Barry, M.
Special Libraries, Vol. 81, Issue 2, p. 158-162, Spr 1990
This paper summarizes the National Information Policy report of
the Special Libraries Association on the issue of formulating a
national information policy for the United States. Key issues
included the dissemination of and access to government information,
the greatest possible diversity of public and private sources,
and protection of basic democratic values. Privacy, public
subsidies, global competition, and government management of
information are also reviewed. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Federal information policy.
Morton, Sandy I.
Government Information Quarterly v7 (1) 1990, 67-72. 6 refs
With a new Administration at the helm and the 101st Congress in
place, prospects are good for a coordinated effort within the
government to establish viable information management strategies
for the 1990s. Adapted from testimony given by the Special
Libraries Association, to the House Subcommittee on Government
Information, Justice, and Agriculture in May 1989, government
information dissemination policies and practices are addressed and
recommendations for the future offered. Original abstract (LIBRARY
AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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strategies arguments and tactical battles over federal information
policy development.
Sherwood, Diane E.
Government Information Quarterly v7 (1) 1990, 59-66. 10 refs
Because there is no clear philosophy on the role of the
Federal government in the dissemination of its own information,
and because dissemination technologies are changing so rapidly,
agencies conflict on how to disseminate information. Examines
specific agency attempts its data in a way that satisfies its
constituencies, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the
private sector. Specifically the Securities and Exchange
Commission's release of EDGAR, the Department of Commerce's
Patent and Trademark Office's recent lawsuit of trademark
records, and the Department of Defense's problems with Fedlog are
cited. Statements and policy recommendations from recent
Congressional hearings are also included. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Directions in federal information resources management: a view
from the Office of Management and Budget.
Reeder, Franklin S.
Information Management Review v4 (4) Spring 89, 29-37. 29 refs
Describes the role and functions of the Office of Management
and Budget with respect to federal information resources
management and defines some of the important trends and issues
in information resources management policy. (LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Government publications and publishing during the Reagan years
Hernon, Peter
Government Information Quarterly v6 (4) 1989, 395-410. table.
Claims that the Reagan administration adopted policies and
practices that managed, controlled, reduced, and, in some cases,
restricted the flow of government publications and information to
the public. This overview identifies the relevant policy
instruments used by the Administration in this regard, and
indicates that Congress also reduced public access to government
publications and information. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
Discussion forum: national information policy.
Hernon, P.
Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 6, Issue 3, p. 229-236, 1989
Reviews discussions of the need for a national information
policy and explores some of the complex issues involved in
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policy formation. The differences between national and federal
information policy are identified, the role of scientific and
technical information is discussed, and strategies for creating
a national information policy are suggested. (INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
Strengthening Federal Information Policy: Opportunities and
Realities at OMB. Number 6
Bass, G., Plocher, D.; Benton Foundation, Washington, DC
1989
During the past decade the Federal Government has significantly
retreated from its historical responsibility to maintain the free
flow of information that is essential to maintain a healthy
democracy. This responsibility includes the collection of basic
data on the health of the economy as well as the dissemination of
information that assists and propels public debate. The Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), which has wide-ranging authority over
Federal information activities, is the agency primarily responsible
for discouraging the flow of public information. It has failed in
its mandate to improve Federal information resources management
(Circular A-130) , deferring to private sector businesses instead of
helping agencies to plan for the new electronic information age.
Two areas in which OMB has exercised control over Federal
information activities are paperwork reduction and information
resources management, and management of Federal information
dissemination through reductions in printing of government
publications and the privatization of government information
dissemination. The consequences of these cutbacks in information
activities have been magnified by the current revolution in
information technology. Efforts should be made to: (1) articulate
a national information policy; (2) reform legislative direction and
oversight; (3) reduce centralized political control of Federal
agency information activities; and (4) strengthen the capabilities
of Federal agencies to control their information activities.
Congress and the President must work together to redirect Federal
information policies and practices if the free flow of public
information is to be ensured. (NTIS)
Federal information policies: the Congressional initiative. A
summary of proceedings of the annual forum of federal information
policies, 1989.
Price, D. (Federal Library and Information Center, Washington DC)
80 pp., 1989, Pub. No: ED 314 070
This booklet summarizes the proceedings of a forum—whose
audience consisted of over 200 library and information managers,
congressional staff members, and persons from the information
industry and academic community—on the condition of federal
information policies as they relate to the Congressional
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initiative. Among issues discussed are: (1) the role of Congress
in formulating information policies, and how that role is
balanced by the executive and judicial branches; (2) the
practicality and desirability of centralized control over the
dissemination of government information; and (3) the inhibiting
impact of the costs of acquiring information in electronic
formats on access to that information. (INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
Federal information policy.
Boehlert, Sherwood
Government Information Quarterly v6 (l) 1989, 25-29. refs
Contribution to a special section devoted to the 5th annual forum
on federal information policies, a symposium on the impact on
competitiveness, held in Washington, DC, 7 Mar 88, and sponsored by
the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC).
Keynote address which underlines the necessity of having a coherent
information policy that fosters competitiveness and recognizes the
place of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) within
the federal government. The policy structure must create greater
opportunities for the American public to gain access to
worldwide information. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Federal information policy and its impact on competitiveness: a
viewpoint.
Boehlert, Sherwood
Government Publications Review v!5 (5) Sept/Oct 88, 399-402
Congressman Sherwood Boehlert discusses the issue of US
competitiveness in trade and how it is affected by the
ready availability and free flow of information. Concludes that
there is a critical need for the development of a comprehensive
US information policy. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Technology assessment and federal information policy.
Eisenbeis, Kathleen
Special Libraries v79 (3) Summer 88, 200-206. 23 refs
A rapidly changing information technology environment, changing
user needs, and an active information industry lobby are forcing
Congress to rethink current information policies embodied in
numerous and often conflicting laws, regulations, and guidelines.
A knowledge of the chain of events leading to the current Office of
Technology Assessment (OTA) appraisal of technology, public policy,
and the changing nature of federal information dissemination is
useful in understanding the complex issues, questions, and concerns
now facing legislative policy makers. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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A secondary publisher's views on federal information policy: a
viewpoint
Landau, Herbert B.
Government Publications Review v!5 (1) Jan/Feb 88, 1-10. table.
Adapted from a talk presented at the Federal Library and
Information Committee 'Forum on Federal Information Policies', 25
Feb 87, Washington, DC. Current US government information policy
is found lacking in terms of its support of the domestic
information industry. Lack of federal leadership and a
broad-based national information policy imposes a serious
competitive handicap upon the USA. As a result, large segments
of the US information infrastructure have been acquired by
foreign interests. The US response to the present situation
requires: a comprehensive and cohesive national information policy;
a focal point for national policy and program development and
coordination; and recognition and nurturing of US private and
public information resources (LIBRARY AND SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Statement before the subcommittee on Science, Research and
Technology on Federal Information Resources Policy, July 14, 1987
Skill, Harold B.
West Virginia Libraries v40 (3) Fall 87, 8-28. 8 refs
Statement on behalf of the American Library Association before
the subcommittee on Science, Research and Technology, House
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on Federal
Information Resources Policy, 14 July 87. Lists the subcommittee's
concerns and addresses them by: examining the national and
international context of information policy today; reviewing the
federal government's current programs for acquiring, processing,
organizing, indexing and disseminating both completed research
and statistical data; analyzing the question of public/private
responsibilities in the context of current national information
needs and the option of converting the National Technical
Information Service into a government corporation; and giving
more attention to a policy mechanism which might appropriately
draft the type of information policy the Subcommittee seeks.
(LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Public Laws and Public Access
Chartrand, Robert Lee
Information Society v5nl PP: 7-18 1987
The roles of traditional libraries and the newer multi-
purpose information centers in offering the type of access desired
by their patron? will continue to evolve with technological
advances and changing user needs. In view of these changes,
the issue of access is becoming more important. Information
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professionals have focused close attention on national
information access policies and the increasing complexity of
formulating such policies. Over 500 bills and resolutions that
focused on information-related matters were introduced during the
99th Congress, most concerning the areas of: 1. library and
archives policy, 2. information disclosure, confidentiality, and
right of privacy, and 3. government information systems,
clearinghouses, and dissemination. Policymakers are beginning to
view information as a commodity and as a national resource that
must be protected and cultivated. (ABI/INFORM)
Access and dissemination issues concerning federal government
information
Levin, Marc A.
Special Libraries v74 (2) Apr 83, 127-137. 20 refs
For the first time in US history a national information policy
is beginning to surface-unplanned, with little democratic
participation, and less unanimity. Examines the federal access
and dissemination policies that favor and encourage the
availability of public information; the structures and mechanisms
for producing and disseminating government information; recent
legislation and legal implications of policy decisions; the
effect of new technologies on public access and dissemination
issues; current executive branch policy directions; and a call
for action to reverse some trends that threaten basic values and
rights. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Federal Information Policies in the 1980s: conflicts and Issues
Hernon, P.; McClure, C.R.
467 pp., 1986, Ablex Publishing Co., Norwood, NJ
This book examines the development of US information policy. It
then examines the uses of government publications as an information
resource. The impact of public access laws, and of legislation and
regulations on the provision of federal government information are
studied. Federal science and technology information policies are
also studied, both before and during the Reagan administration.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
United States government information policies: views and
perspectives.
McClure, Charles R.
1989, xi+349pp.
Includes discussion on the role of the Office of Management and
Budget and other federal agencies in information policy
development, and the collection and dissemination of information.
(PAIS) :
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Federal information resources management (IRM): a policy review and
assessment.
Bishop, A.; Doty P.; McClure, C.R.
In: Managing Information and Technology, p. 40-47, 1989
Since the passage of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980,
Information Resources Management (IRM) has been the major strategy
used by the Federal government to improve the effective management
of information and information technology and to reduce the costs
of a wide range of information services and products. The authors
briefly examine the conceptual basis of IRM, the origins and
tarionale of Federal commitment to IRM, and the development and
implementation of Federal IRM policy. They also discuss assertions
that Federal IRM has not adequately increased the effectiveness of
information management, that Federal IRM is poorly understood and
implemented by IRM managers, and that, as an instrument for
implementing Federal information policy, it has has had ambiguous
results at best. It is concluded that the Federal government must
renew its commitment to the original vision of IRM, with an
emphasis on maximizing the benefits and value of Federal
information for all its users. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Information policy: a study of values in the policy process
Overman, E. Sam, and Anthony G. Cahill
Policy Studies Review, Summer 1990
Discusses such issues as access, privacy, openness, usefulness,
cost and benefit, security, and ownership and their relative
significance in the existing legislation and policy debate. (PAIS)
How many people can keep a secret?. Data interchange within a
decentralized system.
Clark, C.Z.F. (Agriculture Division, Bureau of the Census,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC); Coffey, J.L.
Review of Public Data Use, Vol. 12, Issue 4, p. 271-277, Dec
1984
This paper describes and discusses a number of the issues
associated with the sharing of statistical data by federal
government agencies. It also provides a brief history of U.S.
federal government legislation concerning the confidentiality of
statistical data and considers the legal concepts originating in
that legislation. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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There ought to be a law.. (Issues of statistical use of information
collected by the federal government).
Alexander, L. (Office of Research, Social Security Administration,
Dept. of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC)
Review of Public Data Use, Vol. 12, Issue 4, p. 279-287, Dec
1984
This paper considers the issues of statistical use of
information collected by the federal government, especially the
administrative records that agencies maintain in order to carry
out their programs. It considers the existing provisions of
federal confidentiality law and the various arguments for
legislative change. It discusses the benefits of changes, but also
the constraints that they would be likely to impose on the sharing
of statistical data. A focal point for the paper is the
draft bill for Confidentiality of Federal Statistical Records
recently circulated by the Office of Management and Budget.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
URISA 91. Information and Technology: Gateway to Solutions
Proceedings from URISA (Urban and Regional Information Systems
Association) Public Information: Legal Issues, Policy Issues, Use
and Impact of Information Technology. Vol. 4, 900 Second Street,
Suite 304, Washington, DC 20002
The URISA '91 proceedings include papers on the latest
developments in the information systems industry, including new
projects, case studies and field analyses written by people in the
field. URISA is a professional/educational organization for
individuals concerned with the effective use of information systems
by local, regional, and state/province governments. URISA's over
3,000 members include providers, managers and technicians, analysts
and vendors associated with county or municipal governments. The
Proceedings of the 1991 conference held in San Francisco include
papers on the development of data policy for the information age,
open records law, CIS, copyright, information privacy and consensus
in the development of public information policies. (HEADQUARTERS
LIBRARY)
Information 2000: Library and Information Services for the 21st
Century.
Summary report of the 1991 White House Conference on Library and
Information Services (WHCLIS). July 9-13, 1991 (Available from
WHCLIS, 1111 18th St., NW, Washington, DC 20036
The summary report of the White House Conference on Library and
Information Services (WHCLIS) contains the final 95 recommendations
adopted by delegates to the July 1991 conference. The conference
is the culmination of state pre-conferences involving thousands of
information professionals nationwide. The conference themes,
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literacy, productivity and democracy, are reflected in some aspect
of each of the recommendations. Thirteen priority recommendations
include: enactment of legislation to create and fund the National
Research and Education Network (NREN) to serve as an information
"super highway"; a provision that assures that libraries continue
to acquire, preserve, and disseminate those information resources
needed for education and research in order for the United States to
increase its productivity and stay competitive in the world
marketplace; development of a National policy for information
preservation; congressional amendments to copyright legislation to
accommodate the impact of new and emerging technologies; amendment
of the Freedom of Information Act to ensure access to all non-
exempt information whether received by the federal government or
created at public expense and regardless of physical form or
characteristics; and enactment of a national information policy.
(HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
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ELECTRONIC DISSEMINATION
Online Access to Government Information: A Foundation's view
Toll, Martha A.
Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science v!7n6
PP: 11-12, Aug/Sep 1991
Policy questions have arisen about government agencies'
information management procedures, public access to data, the
government's affirmative role in disseminating it, and who should
pay for it. The Bauman Foundation (Washington, DC) , a private,
nonprofit foundation, is working to strengthen public access to
government information in the electronic age. Its greatest
challenge lies in encouraging the public to participate in
information policy discussions and decisions at the federal
level. Broadening the nonprofit constituency beyond the civil
liberties and citizen watchdog groups concerned with
right-to-know issues in the electronic age is a crucial,
albeit long-term, process. The Bauman Foundation has worked
to help realize the potential of the Environmental Protection
Agency's Toxic Release Inventory, a publicly available database of
toxic emissions. The Foundation now is seeking to foster
electronic access across the entire spectrum of government
activities. (ABI/INFORM)
Online Access to Federal Information: A Publisher's View
Massa, Paul P.
Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science v!7n6 PP:
8-9. Aug/Sep 1991
An assumption is often made that the federal government has
numerous databases that the public could access readily if only a
"gateway" or "window" were provided. However, only a small amount
of electronic information owned by federal agencies could
conceivably be mounted by the federal government itself for remote
public online access. Editorial control would have to be far
stricter at all levels, from the technical validation of data to
the careful resolution of content and design issues. Skilled human
effort would be required at all stages: collection, processing,
access, preservation, and dissemination. Dissemination trends
already under way are likely to accelerate, such as the emergence
of a complementary relationship between government and
non-government information sources. Costs will have to be minimized
by ensuring that the information is easily available in
standard formats on offline media. A creative realism that
capitalizes on existing strengths will better equip the US to face
the challenges of the new information-intensive century that lies
just ahead. (ABI/INFORM)
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Pathways: Online Freedom
Anzovin, Steven
Compute! (GCOE) v!3n4 p46 Apr 1991
Leonard J. Umina, who ran for governor of Massachusetts in
1990, feels that electronic technology is the key to
restoring the free spread of information. He and his Independent
High Tech Party have proposed a program for public access to
government information. (COURIER PLUS)
Freedom of Information in the Computer Era
Shulman, Seth
Technology Review (TCR) v93n5 p!4-15 Jul 1990
Computer tapes containing electronic memos sent by White House
staffers are at the center of a battle over public access to
government information. (COURIER PLUS)
Determining the content and identifying suppliers of public
information in electronic form.
Perritt, H.H. (Villanova University Law School, Villanova, PA)
Government Publications Review, Vol. 17, Issue 4, p. 325-332, Jul
1990.
This paper reviews the issues involved in the growing
debate on the circumstances under which federal government
information should be made available to the public. The
existing legal framework is found to be adequate to
accommodate electronic information policies. The author
discusses how the particular features of electronic information
products should be designed to meet consumer needs. The author
stresses the need to define public and private sector roles
in adding value to electronic information. Five different stages
of information processing at which these roles influence
information are studied. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Computers and the FOIA
Stein, M L
Editor & Publisher (GEDP) v!23n23 p!6-17 Jun 9, 1990
Reporters will find the effort to get information under the
Freedom of Information Act even harder as federal agencies move
toward the creation of electronic databases; however, the
databases can bring some benefits to news organizations. The
advantages and disadvantages of databases are discussed.
(COURIER PLUS)
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Public Access: Two Cases of Federal Electronic Dissemination
U.S. General Accounting Office Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee
on Government Information, Justice and Agriculture, Committee on
Government Operations, House of Representatives; May 14, 1990
In using information technology to conduct their business more
effectively and efficiently, federal agencies have converted public
information from paper documents and data files into electronic
data base systems. Various public interest groups have expressed
concern that this transformation of public information and public
decision-making into electronic formats has occurred without
serious public policy attention being paid to how it may affect
citizen access rights to public information. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Making It Hard to Get Records
Chichioco, Tess
Editor & Publisher (GEDP) v!23n!3 p!6 Mar 31, 1990
As government increasingly conducts its business through
computers, the fight for access to records has shifted to an
ill-defined area. It is now much tougher to get government
records through the Freedom of Information Act, because computers
can be used to hinder disclosure. (COURIER PLUS)
Access denied: new electronic technologies should make it easier
for the public to get at governmental data, but requests are
often blocked; Congress may try again to open the doors.
Moore W. John.
National Journal v22:121-4, January 20, 1990
Access to electronic information such as data bases has
uncovered new problems related to the public's right to gain access
to government information. Also included discussion of the
controversy over whether the 1966 Freedom of Information Act
applies to such information. (PAIS)
The freedom of information act needs no amendment to ensure
access to electronic records.
Goldman, P.A.
Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 7, Issue 4, p. 389-402, 1990
This discussion of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
focuses on its applicability to computer records. Agency
practices to ensure access to information are considered;
requests, litigation, and administrative appeals that have
helped clarify the FOIA are described; and computer software,
electronic mail, computer programming, and requested formats are
discussed. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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Federal Information in the Electronic Age: Policy Issues for the
1990s
The Bureau of National Affairs, 1990
BNA's new Special Report presents a factual and comprehensive
review of the explosive debate that is likely to result in major
changes in how the government supplies information and the future
role of the private sector in information delivery. (HEADQUARTERS
LIBRARY)
Dialing Uncle Sam: government bulletin boards as information
resources.
Delfino, E. (Library of Congress, Washington, DC)
Online/CD-ROM '90 Conference Proceedings, p. 44-48, 1990,
Online, Inc., Weston, CT
The efficiency of bulletin board system software as the
means of providing information by government agencies is
discussed. The importance of the mission support bulletin board
systems is emphasized. The usefulness of the system operator is
examined. A listing of available bulletin boards is provided.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
AT&T Wins Pact to Build Kat'l LAN Internet for IRS
Messmer, Ellen
Network World v8n29 PP: 2, 6 Jul 22, 1991
In July 1991, the Department of the Treasury awarded a 7-year
contract to AT&T for networked computer systems that will automate
the bulk of the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) remote offices and
provide links to IRS data centers. The IRS will install local
area networks (LAN) in local and regional tax offices and link
them with a nationwide backbone net. The installations are part
of a broad information systems effort to embrace client-server
computing, which will facilitate the exchange of data between the
tax offices and IRS data centers. The Treasury Multi-User
Acquisition Contract (TMAC), with a potential value of $1.4
billion, is the single largest computer systems order AT&T has ever
received. The contract will be the basis for all IRS network
purchases during the next 7 years. Other Treasury agencies will
have the option of purchasing equipment and services through the
TMAC contract as well. The typical design envisioned under TMAC
will feature AT&T workstations networked to a Pyramid MISe
server, which would run a distributed database application.
(ABI/INFORM)
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6E Division Builds Global LAN Internet
O'Brien, Timothy
Network World v8n28 PP: 1, 88 Jul 15, 1991
General Electric Co.'s (GE) Nuclear Energy Division has awarded
a multimillion-dollar contract to Hughes LAN Systems for
deployment of an enterprise network linking local area networks
(LAN) and personal computers at its manufacturing sites and
offices worldwide. The divison will install Banyan Systems Inc.
VINES LANs throughout its campus facility. The global LAN
internetwork is expected to make GE more competitive by
streamlining operations and speeding the transfer of
information. The GE project team established a 4-phase
implementation plan that addressed cabling in its first 2 phases
and LANs and internetworking in the final 2. The enterprise net
will support many of the current mainframe applications that run
the business. GE is also planning to move some large systems
applications down to the LANs. GE's Sush Patel said that VINES
was selected because of its superior wide-area communications
facilities. (ABI/INFORM)
IBM Hail for '90s: "Free Jailed Data"
Orr, Ken
Software Magazine vlln9 PP: 51-57 Jul 1991
"Data in jail" is how some industry experts refer to the data
accessibility and integration problem. IBM's solution to the
data access problem is a new data strategy for the 1990s - the
Information Warehouse, which is a framework for data access for
all products and applications. This framework has 2 major
conceptual components: universal data access and informational
databases. Universal data access provides a common mechanism by
which any application can access any type of data format on any
hardware or software platform throughout the enterprise. This
common mechanism is called an application programming
interface. Developing a strategy for separating the support of
informational databases from the support for operational
databases is a key to the Information Warehouse framework.
Developing an enterprise-wide Information Warehouse involves
defining what data exist with the enterprise's key operational
system and then determining what specific end-user communities
require. A key technology in these activities is information (data)
modeling. (ABI/INFORM)
Power to the People
Roesler, Paula
Telephony v219n28 PP: 12-13 Dec 31, 1990
A case study on data integration. Pacific Gas and Electric
Co., which has more than 4.1 million electric and 3.5 million gas
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customers in northern and central California, handles enormous
volumes of information. Three years ago, the company began to
build a local area network-wide area network (LAN-WAN). Until
all offices are interconnected and voice and data integration is
completed, the company is complementing the LAN-WAN with its
mainframe-based computer system and PBX-based telephone
network. At present, between 60 and 70 offices are included in
the LAN-WAN. Mark Michaels, LAN-WAN project manager for the
business distribution unit, says the goal is to have 125, or about
50%, of the company's offices interconnected by 1992. The
company's distribution, electric supply, gas supply, nuclear
power and generation, and corporation shared power business units
will each have unique LAN-WAN applications. According to
Michaels, the LAN-WAN can address both current and future needs.
(ABI/INFORM)
Government Information Goes On-Line
Perritt, Henry H., Jr.
Technology Review v92n8 PP: 60-67 Nov/Dec 1989
As increasing amounts of government information are stored in
electronic form, policymakers are attempting to decide just how
far the government should go in making such information
available to the public. Information sellers and some
government officials argue that agencies should provide data
wholesale but leave retailing to the private sector, since
information companies are more responsive to consumer needs
than government bureaucracies. On the other hand,
public-interest groups feel that information technology could
greatly improve the public's ability to draw on government data.
However, neither faction appears to comprehend the complexities of
government information in the electronic era. It is suggested
that federal policy should promote public access to electronic
information, while the decision of whether government agencies or
private vendors would retail information to the public should
depend on the costs and benefits of particular electronic
information products. (ABI/INFORM)
Electronic information and freedom of information: moving toward
policy; a viewpoint.
Wise, Bob
Government Publications Review v!6 (5) Sept/Oct 89, 425-428
Discusses the relationships between government information in
electronic format and the Freedom of Information Act and the
implication it has for the formulation and implementation of US
federal information policy. Also explored are the inherent
tensions between the executive and legislative branches of
government in the enterprise of formulation and implementation of
information policy. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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Information drought: next crisis for the American farmer.
Kranich, Nancy C.
Library Journal vl!4 (11) 15 June 89, 22-27. illus. 26 refs
Since the Reagan administration began its war on waste in 1981
and the Office of Management and Budget promulgated guidelines
for managing federal information resources in 1985, farmers
and other citizens have had no alternative to buying their
information from the private sector at far steeper prices.
Cites as an example the EDI (Electronic Dissemination of
Information) data base of the US Department of Agriculture
(USDA) operated by Martin Marietta Data Systems under contract to
the USDA. P.B. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
National information policy: the broader context.
Day, Melvin S.
Government Information Quarterly v6 (2) 1989, 159-163. 1 ref
Contribution to a special section on the 1988 US Office of
Technology (OTA) assessment report: Informing the nation:
federal information dissemination in an electronic age. The
author works at Herner & Co., Arlington, Virginia. Argues
that the OTA report, concerned only with electronic
dissemination of information, should not be considered in a vacuum
and that there is an urgent need for the US leadership to
recognize that a national information policy is a fundamental
requirement if the USA is not to lose its world leadership role in
the information age. J.S. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
ABSTRACTS)
A basis for increasing public access to federal electronic
information.
Shill, Harold B.
Government Information Quarterly v6 (2) 1989, 135-141.
Contribution to a special section on the 1988 US Office of
Technology (OTA) assessment report: Informing the nation:
federal information dissemination in an electronic age. Briefly
assesses the OTA report, examines its strengths and weaknesses
and suggests some directions for information policy development by
Congress and the Bush administration. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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Electronic dissemination of federal information.
Sprehe, T.J. (Office of Management & Budget, Washington, DC);
Coyne, J.G. ; Jayne, E.; Kronich, N.; McDermott, J.
Managing Information and Technology, p. 217, 1989
The authors review developments since the October 1988 OTA
report, "Informing the Nation." Specific topics addressed are
executive branch initiatives, action on the congressional front,
private industry perspectives, public access concerns of
librarians, and agency management of federal information.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Draft policy of the U.S. Department of Commerce on the
dissemination of information in electronic format.
Government Information Quarterly v6 (1) 1989, 89-96
Reprints part of the draft guidelines on electronic data
dissemination issued by the US Department of Commerce on 11 Aug
88 under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circular A-130
issued at the end of 1985. The Department of Commerce is the first
department to issue such guidelines. Stresses that the guidelines
may be revised when OMB issues its revision of A-130 covering
electronic files. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Viewpoint: The Right to Access Information in an Information Age
Allen, Kenneth B.
Information Management Review v3n3 PP: 57-64 Winter 1988
The US government, in the name of national security, may seek to
restrict the right of citizens to acquire information. New
concepts of sensitive but unclassified information turned the
government's attention to the online private-sector information
industry in 1985. Concerned with foreign access to US public and
private databases, the government, in 1986, approved a "National
Policy on Protection of Sensitive, but Unclassified, Information
in Federal Government Telecommunications and Automated
Information Systems." The immediate public response to the
government's definition of "sensitive, but unclassified" was both
immediate and widespread. The information industry, librarians,
civil libertarians, among others, all expressed concern that
inappropriate restrictions on public access to information would
result from this decision. A series of conflicting statements
from Department of Defense (DOD) officials resulted in an attempt
by the information industry to meet with government officials to
clarify their concerns, but so far, the DOD has declined to do so.
(ABI/INFORM)
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THE FEDERAL PAGE - As Paperwork Declines, GPO Eyes Future;
Agencies Expected to Turn Increasingly to Electronic Dissemination
of Information.
The Washington Post, October 06, 1988, FINAL Edition Sec. A, p.A23
By: Bill McAllister, Washington Post Staff Writer
Computers may have a major impact on the way the federal
government handles information in the future, but for the
immediate future the nation's bureaucrats will remain awash in
paperwork. (NATIONAL NEWSPAPER INDEX)
Informing the nation. Federal information dissemination in an
electronic age.
US Congress, Washington, DC
32 pp., Oct 1988
This report summarizes a study conducted by the Office of
Technology Assessment which addressed the opportunities
offered by technological advances to improve the dissemination
of federal information essential to public understanding of many
issues facing Congress and the Nation. Two major problems are
highlighted: maintaining equity in public access to federal
information in electronic formats, and defining the respective
roles of federal agencies and the private sector in the
electronic dissemination process. The report focuses on current
and future roles of the US Government Printing Office (GPO)
and the Superintendent of Documents, the Depository Library
Program—administered by the GPO—and the National Technical
Information Service (NTIS). In addition, the report suggests
technical/management improvements and statutory/oversight changes,
and examines opportunities for the electronic dissemination of
congressional information. A list of related reports and general
information on the Office of Technology Assessment are attached.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Federal Agency Use of Computer Modeling and Decision Analytic
Support
Wood, Fred B.; Smith, Jean E.
Interfaces v!8n2 PP: 45-55 Mar/Apr 1988
The major US government agencies make widespread use of computer
modeling and computer-based decision analytic techniques. Survey
results indicate that about 60% of the responding agencies
reported such use as of mid-1985. However, the full extent and
actual effects of such use, especially with respect to federal
decision making, are not well understood. A coordinated,
modest research program could help identify which kinds of
modeling techniques and applications are working well and which
are not. Beyond further research on the use of computer modeling
and decision support, steps can be taken to help decision
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makers more fully realize the potential of information technology
to improve federal decision making. These steps are: 1. the
development of guidelines or standards for evaluating models, 2.
the establishment of a directory to major modeling applications,
3. the clarification of public access procedures, and 4.
further development of the decision conference technique.
(ABI/INFORM)
New Locks and Keys for Electronic Information
Anonymous
Computers & Security v7nl PP: 89-93 Feb 1988
A report titled "Defending Secrets, Sharing Data," recently was
issued by the Office of Technology Assessment of the Congress of
the US. The report points out the criteria needed to maintain an
objective balance between the need to safeguard important
information and the need to insure that citizens have free and
open access to unclassified information. The report examines: 1.
US federal government policies directed at protecting information,
2. the vulnerability of communications and computer systems, and
3. the trends in technology for safeguarding information in
these systems. The business community and the government agencies
that deal with the business community often have a different
outlook and different needs than defense and intelligence
agencies when it comes to safeguarding information. The report
examines the goals that specific federal government policies should
aim to achieve. (ABI/INFORM)
Policy perspectives on electronic collection and dissemination of
information.
Sprehe, J. Timothy
Government Information Quarterly v5 (3) 1988, 213-221. 16 refs
Discusses the relationship of OMB Circular No. A-130, the
Management of Federal Information Resources, to the Paperwork
Reduction Act. Information collection and dissemination are
treated unequally in the Act. OMB's proposed policy guidance on
electronic collection enumerated conditions favorable to
electronic collection, and criteria for design and development of
electronic collection systems. Issues raised by commenters
included the response burden for electronic collection, the
importance of benefit-cost analysis, and the advisability of
waivers. Policy issues to be treated in forthcoming proposed OMB
policy guidance on electronic collection include requirement of
agency inventories of information dissemination products and
services, the meaning of adequate notice prior to initiating
or terminating dissemination, and other general guidance.
(LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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Authorizing EDGAR: information policy in theory and practice.
Gellman, Robert M.
Government Information Quarterly v5 (3) 1988, 199-211. 72 refs
The Securities and Exchange Commission's new EDGAR (Electronic
Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) data base of
prospectuses, securities registration statements, and other
SEC filings was authorized by the Congress. EDGAR is the
first large Federal electronic information system authorized
at a time when both the legislative and executive branches
have been actively considering policies for electronic
information systems. The legislative conditions established
for EDGAR provide insight into the future direction for Federal
information policy. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Computerizing Uncle Sam's Data: Oh/ How the Public is Paying
Seghers, Frances
Business Week n2977 (Industrial/Technology Edition) PP: 102-103
Dec 15, 1986
Allowing the private sector to set up computer information
services for government data and reselling the data to recoup
costs is a process that was expected to result in less costly
services. However, prices for information have gone up in all
cases. While Administration officials defend the higher prices
on the grounds that the new sellers enhance the information or put
it in a more usable format, critics contend that, while the
information is easily affordable for big business, libraries,
students, and other users cannot pay such higher prices. The
raised prices are seen as a possible block to public access of
government information. For example, at the Agriculture
Department, the nonprofit University of Nebraska's Agnet database
charged an annual fee of $60 plus $40 per hour. Now that Martin
Marietta Corp. has exclusive rights to the database, charges are
$1,800 per year plus $12 per hour over 150 hours. While such
charges can be cost-efficient for heavy users, individuals and
occasional customers suffer. (ABI/INFORM)
Viewpoint: Government Automation Goes Public in Electronic Filing
Allen, Kenneth B.
Information Management Review vln4 PP:75-80 Spring 1986
A number of government agencies are beginning to implement
electronic filing systems in order to reduce paperwork and costs.
As the information flow between citizens and the state shifts to
electronic media, the relationship between the public and the
government could change. Therefore, both government and the
public need to participate in the development of policies. The
Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed to collect
information electronically using the Electronic Data Gathering,
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Analysis and Retrieval System. The SEC's proposal to fund the
over-$65-million system through the private sector has some
problems: 1. The executive branch would not be subject to
review and oversight. 2. It would promote inefficient resource
allocation. 3. It would reduce public availability of SEC
information. The Patent and Trademark Office has a similar
project, which will be funded through exchange agreements with
private-sector vendors. This action may diminish public
access to the information. The Information Industry
Association, along with the government, is addressing these
concerns. (ABI/INFORM)
Electronic collection and dissemination of information by federal
agencies.
US Congress, Washington, DC 599 pp., 1986
This document provides a complete record of testimony
presented at a series of hearings before the U.S. Congress on
the electronic collection and dissemination of information by
federal agencies. In looking at the effect of new computer and
communications technology on government information activities
and practices, the hearings considered such issues as the
capabilities and expense of modern computerized information
systems, and the consequent reevaluation of the role of
government agencies in the dissemination of public information. The
first day of hearings concentrated on the EDGAR (Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval) system developed at the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Testimony on the second day
considered the proposal of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to
establish an automated tariff filing and information system. To
explore potential conflict between the FMC and the private
sector, some of the companies offering tariff automation services
offered testimony. Other witnesses at the hearing represented
three agencies that have developed electronic dissemination
systems for press releases and other agency data — the Census
Bureau, Food and Drug Administration, and Department of
Agriculture. The final day of hearings focused on the National
Library of Medicine's Medlars system and on the trademark
automation activities of the Patent and Trademark Office. The
hearings were held to review those decisions and to compare and
contrast alternative approaches (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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LOCAL AND STATE CASE STUDIES
Panels Ruled Exempt from Disclosure Lav
New York Times (NY) Sec B, p 2, col 1 Jul 31, 1991
The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled on July 30, 1991 that
certain committees created by public agencies are exempt from the
Freedom of Information Act. The ruling stemmed from a case
involving the Eighth Utilities District, a public agency in
Manchester that created a study committee to review its election
procedures. At issue was whether the study committee was itself a
public agency subject to freedom of information laws. Writing for
the Supreme Court's 4-1 majority, Justice David M. Borden said the
freedom of information law is unclear about whether it covers study
or advisory committees appointed by public agencies. The case
began in May 1988 when the district — which is responsible for
fire and sewer services in the north end of Manchester -- appointed
an "elections review committee" to consider changes in how the
district conducts its annual meetings. A resident sought minutes
of the committee's meetings taking the issue to the Freedom of
Information Commission. (COURIER PLUS)
Editor of Bay Area Newspaper Wins Freedom of Information Award
Los Angeles Times (LA) Sec A, p 27, col I Jun 2, 1991
Bruce Brugmann, the editor and publisher of the San
Francisco Bay Guardian newspaper, received the California First
Amendment Coalition's Bill Farr Freedom of Information Award for
his extensive work to enhance freedom of information and public
access to government documents. Brugmann was recognized for his
work on behalf of free access to information. His newspaper
publishes an annual freedom of information issue and he testifies
frequently on legislation involving access to public records. The
award was named for Bill Farr, a Los Angeles Times reporter who was
jailed for contempt when he refused to disclose the identity of
sources for stories he wrote for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner
during the trial of mass killer Charles Manson. (COURIER PLUS)
A $46 Tape Becomes a $10K Print Job
Betts, Mitch
Computerworld v25n!7 PP:1, 121 Apr 29, 1991
Brownstone Publishers Inc. considered the database kept by the
buildings department in New York City a valuable source of
statistics that it could market to the local real estate
industry. The company planned to use the state's Freedom of
Information Act to acguire the data for just $46, the cost of
copying the database onto computer tape. However, the buildings
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department said it would only release the database in paper form.
This meant a 6-week, $10,000 printing job that would consume more
than one million sheets of paper and force Brownstone to
recoroputerize the data at an estimated cost of several hundred
thousand dollars. The resulting court battle over whether the data
should be released in paper or electronic form is a prime
example of growing tensions between government agencies and
parties that are trying to obtain computerized government
records under freedom of information laws. (ABI/INFORM)
Obstruction of Public Access?
Fitzgerald, Mark
Editor & Publisher (GEDP) v!24nll p!2, 51 Mar 16, 1991
In an open letter to Detroit MI Mayor Coleman Young, the
Michigan Freedom of Information Committee has protested what it
says has become a pattern of efforts by the city to obstruct
public access to government information. (COURIER PLUS)
How states utilize foreign evidence.
Bennett, Colin J.
Journal of Public Policy 11:31-54 Ja/Mr '91, bibl
This article examines how evidence about Program A in Country A
may be utilized in Country B, and thus how utilization may explain
the adoption of the same program. Elites and activists have a
number of interests in using policy evidence from another country:
to put an issue to a systemic or institutional agenda, mollify
political pressure, provide an exemplar, indicate the range of
options or reinforce conclusions already reached. The interests of
the importer dictate the nature, timing and origins of the evidence
injected into policy debate. This framework is applied to the case
of freedom of information policy. An analysis of how and why
evidence about the United States Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
was utilized in Canada and Britain reveals that FOIA was used as an
exemplar in Canada and the reverse in Britain. (PAIS)
Government Computer Files Open to Public/ Court Rules
Sullivan, Ronald
New York Times (NY) Sec 1, p 33, col 5 Oct 28, 1990
A New York State appeals court has ruled that public
access to government records granted under the state's Freedom
of Information Law applies to government computer tapes as well as
to paper files. The unanimous ruling by the Appellate Division of
State Supreme Court was hailed by freedom of information experts as
highly significant because public agencies and private industry
increasingly ask that they be given access to government documents
or computer tapes rather than in written records. The ruling
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upheld a March decision by Justice David B. Saxe of State Supreme
Court in the case of Brownstone Publishers Inc., which sought a
Buildings Department computer tape that contained statistical
information on virtually every piece of property in the city.
Although the state's Freedom of Information Law provides public
access to computer disks and tapes, Ms. Hehn, the assistant
corporation counsel, said individual agencies have the right to
decide in which form they can release their records. But the
ruling emphasized that the "underlying policy of the law is to
insure maximum public access to government records.: The panel
ordered the Buildings Department to comply with Brownstone's
request. (COURIER PLUS)
Bill Would Allow More Secret Talks
Harris, John F
Washington Post (WP) Sec C, p 6, col l Jan 19, 1990
Although the Freedom of Information Act in Virginia forbids
local governing boards to meet in private except in narrowly
defined circumstances, the state's General Assembly is
considering a bill that would allow city councils and county boards
of supervisors to go on three-day retreats that are closed to
reporters and the public. (COURIER PLUS)
Florida's Information Policy: Problems and Issues in the
information Age
Florida State Legislature, Tallahassee.
Apr 89 Pages: 273p
This report examines the major issues arising from the impact of
information technology on the creation of government information
and its storage, processing, and recordkeeping, based on
information gathered through a literature search, several mailed
questionnaires, and three public hearings. An outline of the
background of the information policy debate in Florida includes: a
brief history of public records law, general principles of access
in Florida, definitions of public records, exemptions, content and
format of access, the cost of access, and the enforcement of
sanctions. Findings of the study are outlined in nine chapters:
(I) Defining Reasonable Access; (2) Security Concerns; (3) Legal
Issues Associated with Optical Storage; (4) Dissemination of Public
Information; (5) Computer Software Issues; (6) Computer Matching;
(7) Fair Information Practices; (8) Technological Impacts on
Privacy; and (9) Records Management and Archival Concerns.
Conclusions and recommendations for state information policy are
outlined in the final section. Appended are the proposed
information policy legislation, copies of the questionnaires used
in the study, public hearing agendas, and laws and opinions related
to the copyright of public software. (NTIS)
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Boston's Leap Into the Information Age
Marantz, Steve
Boston Globe (BG) p 39, col 1 Mar 5, 1989
Boston's government is becoming one of the most computerized in
the nation, according to the director of the city's Management
Information Systems Department, but the public's access to much of
this information is in question. Parking meter repairs, street
cuts by utility companies, police details, handgun registration,
and traffic light management are just a few of the hundreds of city
government functions now managed by computers, a report soon to be
published by the department says. Yet, as the amount and nature of
information compiled by the city increases exponentially, so do
questions of public access to that information. The Flynn
administration, criticized in the past for keeping public
information from individuals, reporters and elected officials, is
facing untested public access issues stemming from computerized
information. "New data is being created about which government
will have to make responsible decisions," said Allan K. Stern,
director of the Management Information Systems Department, who
prepared the report. "Much of that data has not been put to the
test yet." State law requires the disclosure of all public
records, whether printed or computerized data, unless those records
are exempt. The law specifies numerous reasons for exemption,
including invasion of personal privacy. (COURIER PLUS)
Your right to know. Mew York State's open government laws.
New York State Committee on Open Government, Albany, NY
Jan 1987, 18p.
This brochure first discusses the make-up of the Committee
on Open Government and its responsibility for overseeing the
implementation of two laws: the Freedom of Information Law (Public
Officers Law, sections 84-90), which governs rights of access to
government records; and the Open Meetings Law (Public Officers
Law, sections 100-111), which concerns the conduct of meetings of
public bodies and the right to attend those meetings. An
explanation is given of the Freedom of Information Law, what
records are accessible, how to obtain records, and access to
court records; sample request and appeal letters are provided.
The discussion of the Open Meetings Law includes an explanation
of what a "meeting" is, what is covered by the law, notice
of meetings, closed meetings, minutes of meetings, enforcement
of the law, the site of meetings, and exemptions from the law.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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NREN & INTERNET
Challengers Rise to Internet
Anthes, Gary H.
Computerworld v25n38 PP: 49, 55 Sep 23, 1991
The US General Accounting Office (GAO) says that Europe and
Japan are closely watching the progress of the US' emerging
National Research and Education Network (NREN) and that a
gigabit-per-second, pan-European network patterned after it is a
possibility. Barriers to the deployment of such a network in
either region are more financial, political, and organizational
than technical. Recently, 3 of Europe's 4 big computer companies
Groupe Bull (France), Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG
(Germany) , and Ing. C. Olivetti & Co. (Italy) - announced that they
plan to jointly build a trans-European computer network called the
European Nervous System. Japan announced that it would invest
some $250 billion over 25 years to bring broadband ISDN to
homes and businesses via fiber-optic cables. (ABI/INFORM)/
Gov't Reports Could Undercut Plans for NREN
Messmer, Ellen
Network World v8n38 PP: 11 Sep 23, 1991
Two Government Accounting Office (GAO) reports that weaken
arguments calling for the federal government to spend millions of
dollars on development of a nationwide gigabit network have
been released. The reports came to light just as Congress
was in the final stages of appropriating funds for a new
program to build the National Research snd Education Network
(NREN). One report underscored the reliance of large domestic
companies in the oil, aerospace, automobile, and chemical
industries on daily Tl data transmissions. However, none of
the firms reported a need for transmission capacity beyond the
commercially available T3 speeds of today. The 2nd GAO report
presented the National Science Foundation Network as far advanced
when compared to other research networks abroad. The report
concluded that the US leads both Europe and Japan in the
development of high-speed computer networks for research and
education. (ABI/INFORM)
Gov't reports could undercut plans for NREN. (National Research and
Education Network)
Messmer, Ellen
Network World v8 pll(l) Sept 23, 1991
The governmental development of the National Research and
Education Network (NREN) may be in jeopardy because of two reports
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released by the Government Accounting Office (GAO). The reports
come when Congress has almost secured funding for the nationwide,
gigabit network. One report indicates that the need for
transmission speeds beyond those offered by T3 communications links
is not required by industry users. It states that speed is not
hampering the use of supercomputer technology as much as software
and other factors are. The other report cited that the current
National Science Foundation Network is already far more advanced
than those available to other industrial nations. (COMPUTER
DATABASE)
Congress gives nod to NREN. (National Research and Education
Network)
Mace, Scott
InfoWorld Vl3 p36(l) Sept 23, 1991
Congress has voted to fund the National Research and Education
Network (NREN), a high-speed computer network for scientific
research that will also have a portion reserved for commercial or
private use. The High Performance Computing Act of 1991 is unlikely
to be signed into law until 1992 due to differences between the
House and Senate versions. President Bush supports the $2 billion
plan, and many private companies are already preparing to bid for
contracts. The current precursor to NREN is the National Science
Foundation's Internet, which is limited to official use by
educators and researchers; commercial equivalents are taking shape;
however, through networks being established by ANS Core and UUNet
Inc. Many expect increasing corporate use of the Internet.
(COMPUTER DATABASE)
Despite Senate's endorsement, NREN still has long road ahead.
(National Research and Education Network)
Messmer, Ellen
Network World v8 p4(2) Sept 16, 1991
Senator Albert Gore's bill proposing establishment of the
National Research and Education Network (NREN) has passed through
the Senate. There are obstacles, however, that may impede
implementation of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991. The
bill outlines establishment of a national high-speed network
featuring transmission speeds up to one gigabit/second. NREN is to
be based on the existing National Science Foundation Network.
Differences between the Senate's and House's views on the role of
government in the national network may halt passage of the bill.
The executive office also disagrees with the extent of the
government's role in creation of the network, but Gore believes the
President will eventually sign the bill. (COMPUTER DATABASE)
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Planned super networks foreshadow 21st century, (includes related
articles on NREN fiscal and political prospects and following in
the footsteps of ARPANET)
Kobielus, James
Network World v8 pi(5) August 26, 1991
Five federally funded research projects will provide a glimpse
into the future of high-speed wide-area networks (WANs). The
Aurora, Blanca, Casa, Necta and Vistanet high-speed network test
beds will explore concepts for the proposed National Research and
Education Network (NREN). NREN will provide high-speed, real-time
communications between government, commercial and academic research
computers. The projects are taking different approaches, some are
focusing on network architecture issues, others are exploring
engineering and optimizing applications for multigigabit networks.
Research is currently in an exploratory stage at all five projects.
(COMPUTER DATABASE)
Interoperability and the body politic: connecting the TCP/IP world
of the Internet. (Special Report: Interoperability)
Romke, John
LAN Times v8 p56(2) August 19, 1991
Participants in Internet, the federally-funded TCP/IP-based
massive collection of LANs and long-haul networks, cannot fully
utilize the interoperability provided by the technology. NSF NET,
the backbone of Internet that succeeded Arpanet and that eventually
will be replaced by NREN (National Research and Education Network) ,
is prohibited by the US government from carrying business
transactions over NSFNET links. If the government continues this
policy with NREN, businesses connected to Internet will be limited
in the transactions they can conduct with some of their networked
customers. Businesses that can justify their use of the network by
supporting NSF NET-connected researchers who are their customers
are exempted. Commercial activity over Internet will grow
substantially during the early 1990s as corporations learn to
conduct business over a wire. Individuals can help shape the future
of Internet by writing to Congress or joining the Internet Society.
(COMPUTER DATABASE)
Beyond OPACS . . . The Wealth of Information Resources on the
Internet
Kalin, Sally W.; Tennant, Roy
: Database Vl4n4 PP: 28-33 Aug 1991
I
; The Internet is a collection of local, regional, and national
telecomunications networks. Primarily funded by the federal
government, its participants include educational institutions,
government agencies, and organizations that do research and
development for the federal government. Scholars with
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workstations connected to a campus network with appropriate
telecommunications infrastructure can link to the Internet and
exploit a growing number of open access databases found there.
However, there are still some problems that must be worked out
before the Internet truly is the research tool network
scholars expect it to be. For example, telecommunications
problems still arise. In addition, users must be taught the ethics
of using open access systems, and researchers need better and more
information on what is available on the Internet. Finally, it
is important that librarians evaluate what role they have in the
dissemination of information about Internet resources. Many people
do not know about the open public access catalogs (OPAC) and
other information resources available on the Internet.
(ABI/INFORM)
NREN, a fundamental turning point in networks? (National Research
and Education Network) (Telecommunications Insights)
Hargadon, Thomas J.
Office vl!4 p!8(l) July, 1991
The National Research and Education Network (NREN) may be the
most powerful telecommunications device ever developed. The
initiators of the NREN developed the network because they felt that
the telecommunications industry was not developing very high
bandwidth networks quickly enough. This meant that researchers and
scientists were not able to transmit their work to one another. The
SONET-based ANS has been selected as the backbone for the NREN. The
initiators of NREN, however, would have preferred an asynchronous
transfer mode system at speeds of 600M-bps to 1.6G-bps. The
fundamental issues of the 1990s include the provision of
international telecommunications services, compression
technologies, and personal communications services, but not the
NREN. (COMPUTER DATABASE)
Civilizing Internet
Churbuck, David
Forbes v!48nl PP: 90-91 Jul 8, 1991
Despite problems, Internet has enormous potential. It is the
place where electronic mail was born, and from it have sprung
most of the de facto computer networking standards used
commercially and abroad. Internet is financed by $20 million a
year in federal subsidies covering a high-speed cross-country
link managed by the National Science Foundation. Today, anyone
with a computer and modem can get on the system by paying one of
a half-dozen companies for an Internet access account. The
most compelling reason to pay for access to Internet is its
sheer size. Lotus Development Corp. founder Mitch Kaor foresees
a world in which Internet will connect millions of dissimilar
computers and become the prototype of a national public network.
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However, much remains to be done before that is achieved,
including creating a directory. Managing the network is a
troubling issue. The present grass-roots policing is full
of flaws, especially security flaws. (ABI/INFORM)
Whither NREN? (State of the Art; planning the National Research and
Education Network; includes related articles on Internet and by
Sen. Al Gore)
Fisher, Sharon
Byte V16 p!81(9) July, 1991
There is a two-sided debate on meeting the United States' future
networking needs. One side proposes a federally funded National
Research and Education Network (NREN), comparable to the
interstate highway system, to encourage commercial development of
networking services. Another side believes NREN-equivalent services
are already offered by existing commercial vendors. NREN's
forerunner is Internet, a government-sponsored network for
educational and research use. In the late 1980s, the National
Science Foundation gave money to establish a high-speed network
backbone, called NSFnet, that currently links 16 supercomputer
centers around the country. A 1989 White House Office of Science
and Technology Policy report said that the US lagged other nations
in high-technology development and that one way to overcome that
gap would be to build a nationwide education and research network.
(COMPUTER DATABASE)
Editing Down Our Ideas About NREN: The Present Dog Won't Hunt
Nelson, Milo
Information Today v8n6 PP: 37-39 Jun 1991
The information industry is overwhelmed with the magnitude of
problems associated with devising a national electronic network to
rapidly share data. The question still remains as to whether the
National Research and Education Network (NREN) is to be
primarily dedicated to education, linking secondary and higher
educational institutions together in a meaningful way, or
dedicated to linking university and research institutions, or
linking commercial and governmental entities. NREN cannot succeed
in any true educational role with its present complication of
roles. As presently conceived, NREN is an unworkable tangle of
political, technology, and education and research interests. NREN
can be an innovative way of binding together vast
educational activities. However, the connection needs to be
less complicated, less driven by the fear factor of
competitiveness, and less beguiled by the technology that
accompanies it. (ABI/INFORM)
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NREN: Your Tax Dollars at Work
Finneran, Michael
Business Communications Review v21n5 PP: 90, 92 May 1991
US Senator Albert Gore has introduced a bill that would fund
development of a multigigabit fiber-optic network for government
and educational users. The National Research and Education
Network (NREN) is part of the High-Performance Computing Act of
1991, intended to spur development in high-performance
supercomputers. Primary responsibility for development of the
NREN would lie with the Defense Advanced Research Poject
Agency. Other than acceleration of research, the bill seems lacking
in a goal or objective. The NREN is to be based on fiber, and it
would link researchers in government, industry, and universities
around the US. A lack of clarity and definition surrounds the
proposal. It is unclear whether all locations would have fiber
access. Further, the system would not even push the state of the
art in fiber communications. Politics seems to be the motivator
behind a vague and expensive proposal that would be largely
irrelevant to the daily lives of most people. (ABI/INFORM)
Users awaiting NREN. (National Research and Education Network)
Jackson, Kelly
CommunicationsWeek p!7(2) April 8, 1991
Sen Albert Gore, Jr (D-TN) has reintroduced legislation
promoting the creation of the National Research and Education
Network (NREN), a gigabit-speed computer network for linking
government users, researchers, institutions of higher learning, and
primary and high schools. Two major groups that are watching
development of NREN are narrowband users, such as primary and high
schools, and broadband users such as governmental agencies and
supercomputer users. The Bush administration has proposed an
allocation of $150 million for the NREN, but the money is only
earmarked for one year. Gore's proposed legislation would fund the
entire network, but is opposed by the White House, which feels that
Gore's proposed network is too restrictive for the needs of
high-speed networks and supercomputers. (COMPUTER DATABASE)
Five Steps to NREN Enlightenment.
Weingarten, Fred
EDUCOM Review, V26 nl p26-30 Spr 1991
Discussion of NREN (National Research and Education Network)
focuses on balancing the needs of a wider user constituency
with those of the more technical scientific community. The flow
of information technology is discussed, including the roles of
schools, universities, and libraries; and issues of government
intervention and questions of funding are addressed. (ERIC)
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The Internet as an External Economy: The Emergence of the Invisible
Hand.
Brownrigg, Edwin B.
Library Administration & Management, v5 n2 p95-97 Spr 1991
Discusses the Internet, an interconnected array of scientific
research networks. The role of libraries in the Internet is
discussed; the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) and
Advanced Network Services (ANS) are described; and economic
issues of the Internet are raised, including external economy
and public good. (ERIC)
Riding the Internet
Coursey, David
InfoWorld v!3n5 PP: 48, 57 Feb 4, 1991
What most people think of as the Internet is really a jumble of
networks rooted in academic and research institutions.
Together, these networks connect over 40 countries, providing
electronic mail, file transfer, remote log in, software
archives, and news to users on the 2,000 networks. Because it is
not a single entity and given its roots in the UNIX world, many
people find the Internet to be shrouded in mystery. Uunet
Technologies provides Usenet feeds and other services to 1,800
subscribers. Usenet, although not strictly part of Internet,
is the heart of the connected system. Usenet, a giant
distributed bulletin board system, carries nearly 850 ongoing
discussion groups. Every day, Usenet serves more than 11
megabytes of news to as many as 1.5 million readers worldwide.
Internet is much more than a news feed and electronic mail.
Remote log in allows users on one system to access another host
across the network, while a file transfer program makes vast
archives of software available. (ABI/INFORM)
The NREM enigma: a new national network? (National Research and
Education Network)
Valovic, Thomas S.
Telecommunications v25 p!3(2) Jan, 1991
The political and educational communities are discussing plans
to expand the Internet network that presently connects US
universities, government facilities and research institutions. A
new network, the National Research and Education Network (NREN),
would supply high-speed links between academic and research
institutions and other areas of the US population, including the
educational levels K-12 and local and regional libraries. Some
proponents advise extending the network to residential subscribers.
The NREN proposal raises issues of regulation and accountability as
it combines the features of non-profit and commercial enterprises.
(COMPUTER DATABASE)
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Hub, Internet Firms Profit by Partnering
Brown, Bob
Network World v7n51 PP: 9-10 Dec 17, 1990
Intelligent wiring hub vendors have entered into a series of
strategic relationships with local area network (LAN)
internetworking suppliers over the past year to broaden the
capabilities of their products. By partnering with companies
that provide router and bridge functions, wiring hub makers are
able to offer users the ability to consolidate several LAN
functions into one site and manage them from a single network
management package. The agreements have become attractive
to internetworking suppliers because the suppliers get a
guaranteed base of users to whom they can pitch their
products. In exchange, the internetworking vendors develop a
board-level implementation of a bridge or router designed to fit
in a specific wiring hub vendor's hub. The spate of partnerships
crafted over the past year indicates that internetworking
vendors recognize user demands to centralize network devices in
the wiring closet instead of buying more expensive standalone
devices. The pacts also provide internetworking vendors with access
to a market that is expected to grow 50% annually through 1993.
(ABI/INFORM)
E-Mail Security System Developed for Internet Users
Scott, Karyl
Data Communications v!9n!5 PP: 18, 22 Nov 21, 1990
Nowhere is the threat of unauthorized access more present than
on the Internet, the nationwide network linking thousands of
users at US government facilities, research organizations, and
universities, mostly through electronic mail. In response to
growing concerns, the Privacy and Security Research Group of
the Internet Activities Board (IAB) has developed a set of
guidelines for secure e-mail. The group is conducting a test of a
technology called privacy enhanced mail, which it expects to have
adopted as an Internet standard early in 1991. The security
standard will provide end-to-end encryption of messages through
the use of public and private cryptographic keys. It will also
ensure that messages are not corrupted en route to recipients.
The architecture is similar to Open Systems Interconnection's
(OSI) 1988 standard for X.400. Privacy enhanced mail encryption
technology is designed by RSA Data Security Inc. (ABI/INFORM)
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Casting a New Net: Searching Library Catalogs via the Internet.
Birchfield, Marilee
8 Nov 1990
Noting that telecommunications technology is making it possible
to search library catalogs around the nation and the world via a
modem and a personal computer, this paper highlights some of the
reasons why a researcher would wish to search library catalogs
through the Internet, which is a network of networks with
connections to nearly 1,000 regional, government, and campus
networks. The paper also discusses some of the problems that
may be encountered by researchers who wish to use Internet to
retrieve information, and describes efforts being made in the
Northwestern University library's reference department to improve
the existing documentation on Internet for its users. Outreach
programs designed to increase faculty members' awareness and
use of remote catalogs are also described. The paper concludes with
a discussion of efforts being made on a national scale to extend
the outreach of the Internet, which will promote the provision of
information resources on existing networks and on proposed
interconnected networks. (ERIC)
The National Research and Education Network (NREN): Promise
of New information Environments.
ERIC Digest.
Bishop, Ann P.
ERIC Clearinghouse on Information Resources, Syracuse, N.Y., Nov
1990
This digest describes proposed legislation for the
implementation of the National Research and Education Network
(NREN). Issues and implications for teachers, students,
researchers, and librarians are suggested and the emergence of
the electronic network as a general communication and research tool
is described. Developments in electronic communications and
computing since the late 1960s are reviewed, including the
development of such networks as ARPANET, NSFNET, Internet,
BITNET, CSNET, and CREN. Implementation of the National High
Performance Computing Act of 1990 would provide for: (1) the
involvement of science agencies and national libraries in the
development of resources for the NREN; (2) the linking of federal
and industrial laboratories, educational institutions, and
libraries; (3) the development of electronic information
resources and services; and (4) the development of
supercomputers and advanced software to support scientific
and engineering research. However, before such a network can be
instituted, several issues need to be resolved, including how to
determine costs and management policies, guarantee universal
access, provide user support and training, overcome
organizational resistance to networking, maintain quality control
of information resources, and adapt network services to
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research and education norms. New initiatives for network
research, services, and advocacy have emerged as a result of
growing support for national networking; these include the
Corporation for National Research Initiatives, Reference
Point, the Coalition for Networked Information, and the
Electronic Frontier Foundation. One common goal of these
initiatives, one that educators and librarians share, is the
desire to shape the future of national networking in such a way
that its benefits are made available to a broad range of users.
(ERIC)
Using the National Networks: BITNET and the Internet.
Arms, Caroline R.
Online, v!4 n5 p24-29 Sep 1990
Provides guidelines on using two national networks,
BITNET and the Internet. The discussion covers electronic
mail, bulletin boards, collections of public files, downloading
files, logging into remote systems over the Internet, online
catalogs and local databases on the Internet, and future
applications. (ERIC)
Hitchhiker's guide to life on the Internet.
Bishop, K. A.
Proceedings - Petroleum Computer Conference, Denver, CO, USA, 1990
Jun 25-28
Proceedings of the Petroleum Computer Conf., p249-254, 1990
This paper provides a survey level introduction to the Internet:
the high speed communications network that provides access to
remote supercomputers, libraries, and other specialized information
services. In addition to describing the physical and logical
topology of the network, it describes the supercomputing and
network-oriented visualization capabilities offered by one node on
the Internet, the National Center for Supercomputing Applications.
Engineering studies are used as vehicles throughout the paper.
(COMPENDEX PLUS)
X-kernel: A platform for accessing internet resources.
Peterson, Larry; Hutchinson, Norman; O'Malley, Sean; Rao, Herman
Computer v 23 n 5 May 1990 p 23-33
X-kernel is an experimental operating system for personal
workstations that allows uniform access to resources throughout a
nationwide internet: an interconnection of networks similar to the
TCP/IP internet. This network is also called the National Research
and Education Network (NREN). The x-kernel supports a library of
protocols, and it accesses different resources with different
protocol combinations. In addition, two user-level systems that
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give users an integrated and uniform interface to resources have
been built on top of the x-kernel. These two systems—a file system
and a command interpreter—hide differences among the underlying
protocols. (COMPENDEX PLUS)
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COST
Selling Access by the Hour: Katten Muchin Hopes to Profit From EPA
Data
By Linda Hiroelstein
Legal Times, November 11, 1991, p. 6
A database designed and compiled by the Chicago Law firm of
Katten Muchin & Zavis of more than 2500 EPA policy documents,
internal memorandum and enforcement action was originally developed
for the firm's clients. There has been such a demand from outside
the firm that the database may prove to be a money making venture
for them. Before building the database, the firm relied on the
Federal Register for much of their information. The material was
not available in any organized form until the firm set about
compiling the database. Now they use the computer and charge back
the time to clients. There has been a tremendous amount of
interest in the database from clients, other firms, and the EPA
itself. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Towards 2001: An Examination of the Present and Future Roles of
Libraries in Relation to Economic and Social Trends.
Moore, Susan; Schauder, Donald
Journal of Library Administration 14 (1) 1991, 19-33.
In Australia, the government is actively pursuing the principle
of the user paying, at least in part, for services, including
libraries and education. Librarians have to look at alternative
sources of funding, but also try to convince government of the need
for subsidizing information services as part of an investment in
human capital. By 2001 all library services might be priced but
with a system of exemptions and subsidies to ensure access to
information for all citizens. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
Discussion Forum: Initiation of a User Fee Program by Federal
Agencies
Government Information Quarterly 6 (2) 1989, 113-126. illus.
Analyses legislation, court decisions, and administrative
guidelines issued by the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB),
on the charging of user fees for information by US government
agencies. Discusses factors to consider in determining the
feasibility of institution charges. Concludes that costs of
establishing and maintaining a system of user fees mean that they
are not in the best interests of all agencies. (LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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Byting the Hand that Feeds Them
Gross, Daniel
Washington Monthly v23nll p37-41 Nov 1991
Since 1981, the federal government has privatized much of the
distribution of public information, such as the weather; as a
result, private contractors have begun charging for information
that was once free. Examples of the information industry's several
monopolies are cited. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Federal Data Goes Private
Rowe, Jonathan
Christian Science Monitor p 15, col 2 Sep 24, 1990
The privatization of federal information, letting private
vendors sell information the US government used to distribute at
little or no cost, has caused the price of much information
to skyrocket, and is costing US taxpayers more money. (LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Crown copyright and the privatization of government information
in Canada, with comparisons to the United States experience.
Hubbertz, Andrew
Government Publications Review 17 (2) Mar/Apr 90, 159-165. 23 refs
Government information enjoys a quite different status in
Canada than it does in the USA. In the first instance, Crown
copyright in Canada reserves copyright of government information to
the government, while in the USA there is no copyright of
federal government information. Consequently, privatisation of
government information in Canada occurs only with the consent of
government. The legal and administrative structure of
privatization is discussed. At times, it has been proposed that
Crown copyright be eliminated for the sake of freer access to
government information. However, it is argued that the
elimination of Crown copyright would be inconsistent with
parliamentary government as it has developed in Canada, and that
the elimination of Crown copyright would also have undesirable
practical consequences, possibly including reduced access to
goverment information. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Does privatization affect access to government information?
Caponio, Joseph F.; Geffner, Janet
Government Information Quarterly 5 (2) 1988, 147-154. 2 refs
Defines and discusses privatization of government information
and notes that privatization is effective when it is used
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appropriately, and ineffective when it is applied as a panacea to
all management problems. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
Government for sale: the privatization of federal information
services.
Levin, Marc A.
Special Libraries 79 (3) Summer 88, 207-214. 15 refs
Privatization, as a concept and as a political movement, is
profoundly altering the federal information landscape. Explores
the ideas and issues engendered by privatisation; the distinctions
between the public and private sectors in the delivery of
services; and the effects this policy may have upon the
future federal role in the library/information arena. Federal
experience with contracting out of agency libraries and the
proposed sale of the National Technical Information Service
are examined to raise critical questions respecting the
limits on privatisation as a strategy for delivering tax-supported
library and information services. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
Putting a Price on Information
Washington Post (WP) Sec A, p 22, col 1 Mar 22, 1990
Editorial comments on a court decision by which government
information has been made more easily available to the news media
and the public. (COURIER PLUS)
Making the case for access: ALA needs you!
Glass Schuman, Patricia; Schuman, P. Glass
RQ, v29 (2) Winter 89, 166-172. 9 refs
For almost a decade the American Library Association (ALA) has
been fighting to protect the public's access to government
information. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
has classified federal libraries as a commercial activity that
can be privatized. This reflects attempts to reverse the
growing federal budget deficit and close to 100 federal
libraries are now run by commercial firms. The private sector is
under no obligation to make government information available to the
public at an affordable price. Discusses the dangers posed by a
monopoly of government information by a handful of corporations
and conglomerates many of which are foreign-owned. Calls on
ALA members to help build safeguards for the public into the new
version of the Paperwork Reduction Act now before Congress.
(LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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Articulating a compelling reason to take action.
Heim, Kathleen
Government Information Quarterly v6 (2) 1989, 149-152. 2 refs
Contribution to a special section on the 1988 US Office of
Technology (OTA) assessment report: Informing the nation:
federal information dissemination in an electronic age. Argues
that the OTA report, despite its affirmation of public access to
information, is unlikely to cause a redeployment of resources
unless librarians argue vociferously that there is a real need for
this information, and that denying funding for electronic
dissemination will create an unbridgeable chasm between those
with the resources to buy information products and those without.
J.S. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
The privatizing of government information: economic considerations.
Kent, C.A. (Baylor Univ., Waco, TX)
Government Publications Review, Vol. 16, Issue 2, p. 113-132, 1989
This article discusses the privatization of government
information. It begins by delineating the cases for and
against privatization and the various forms that privatization
can and has taken, both in the United States and in other
countries. The theory behind the government's provision of
information services is presented. It concludes that the economic
case for government activity in the information services area is
to be found in the concept of merit goods. Since government
information is a merit good providing external benefits that the
market will not consider, government activity is justified. Major
studies and positions taken regarding the privatization of
government information are evaluated, including those of the
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and
the Information Institute of America. A critique of the
current government policy as contained in OMB Circular A-130 is
provided. Finally, the article presents 10 conclusions and
recommendations for further action and discussion.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Fee or free. Public interests and the Freedom of Information Act.
O'Hanlon, N.
Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 1, Issue 4, p. 365-378, 1984
This examination of agency fee waiver guidelines for public
interest groups within the context of the Freedom of Information
Act found that the lack of consistent guidelines inhibited the
use of the act by public interest requesters. Efforts to limit
types of information available under the act are described.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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ACCESS MECHANISMS
Government Printing Office Dissemination of Government Documents on
CD-ROM: Report from the Govdoc-L Discussion List
Kovacs, Diane K.
CD-ROM Professional v4n4 PP: 36-38 Jul 1991
In accordance with Title 44 of the US Code, the Government
Printing Office (GPO) acts as the clearinghouse for and central
printer of government documents. Also created by Title 44 is the
Depository Library System, which provides public access to
government information. Some of the problems and solutions
identified by depository librarians on the electronic
mail-based discussion list - Govdoc-L - are provided. Govdoc-L has
been described as one of the best modes of transmitting accurate
and useful information about documents on CD-ROM to depository
librarians and of providing feedback to the GPO about how
libraries are coping with depository CD-ROMs. The policy of the
federal government has been to avoid developing truly useful
search software so as not to compete with private industry. This
policy has prevented the compact disc products distributed by the
GPO from being as useful as they could be. (ABI/INFORM)
Documents to the people: access through the automated catalog.
Bolner, M.S. (Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA); Kile, B.
Government Publications Review, Vol. 18, Issue 1, p. 51-64, Jan
1991
This paper examines the unfulfilled promises of the GPO/MARC
tapes that were intended to improve the bibliographic control of
government publications. Problems associated with the tapes
that have prevented libraries from taking advantage of the
cost-effectiveness of the tapes are reviewed. A project
involving document librarians at Louisiana State University,
Rice University, and Texas A&M University is described, which is
intended to reverse this situation. The use of a commercial
vendor by the librarians, corrections to the records on the
GPO/MARC tapes, and measures taken to clean up the retrospective
tapes and make them available to depository libraries are reviewed.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
A quiet revolution: community online systems.
Maciuszko, K.L.
Online, Vol. 14, Issue 6, p. 24-28,31-32, Nov 1990
A community computer network is described. Coin-Operated
public terminals are explored. Services that interconnect with
local government information networks are described as ideal for
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mass market penetration. Non-profit, community online systems are
emphasized. The possibility of local governments setting up
commercial databases is suggested. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Office of Technology Assessment perspectives on current D.8.
federal information issues: the "Government Printing Office
Improvement Act of 1990"; the "Federal Information Resources
Management Act of 1989"; modernization of the National Technical
Information Service.
Wood, Fred B.
Government Publications R 17:281-300 Jl/Ag '90
Three statements before US House and Senate Committees,
Feb.-Mar., 1990. Includes evaluation and suggestions regarding the
distribution and sale of public documents, the depository
library program, and the Paperwork Reduction Act. (PAIS)
The Defense Technical Information Center: a wealth of information
for the public
Johnson, S.
Information Retrieval and Library Automation (US), Vol. 25, Issue
10, p.1-4, Mar 1990
This paper reviews the history and present operating status of
the databases of the Defense Technical Information Center. These
include the R&T work unit information system, the technical report
database, the independent research and development, an manpower and
training research information systems. Special collections and
other services and products are examined. Project summaries are
provided for several research and development efforts. The
Scientific and Technical Information Library Automation System
(STILAS) is also described as accommodating government libraries
that deal with both MARC and COSATI. Machine translations are also
reviewed. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Access to electronic government information through the GPO's
depository library program: an update.
McClure, C.R. (Syracuse Univ., Syracuse, NY)
In Online/CD-ROM '90 Conference Proceedings, p. 117-124, 1990,
Online, Inc., Weston, CT
An overview of recent policy initiatives that may affect the
Government Printing Office's (GPO) Depository Library Program
(DLP)'s role in the dissemination of electronic government
information is provided. Trends that could affect the public's
access to electronic information through the DLP are identified.
Decentralization of electronic dissemination of government
information is suggested. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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Depository Libraries in the 1990s
Garner, D.
Paper presented at Annual Conference of the American Statistical
Association (Washington, D.C., October 6-10, 1989)
The assumption is made that what the 1990s have in store for
users of depository libraries will hinge on three crucial areas:
(1) the reform and development of government information policies;
(2) changing technology; and (3) the willingness and ability of the
depository libraries to accommodate these changes. The uncertain
role of the government as information disseminator is discussed,
and the question is posed whether it is enough to make information
available, or whether the government should be actively involved in
promoting accessibility to its use. Effects of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1980 are assessed in this context. Also discussed
is the Office of Management and Budget's proposed revision to
Circular A-130, which states that government agencies should
publish materials in electronic format in preference to traditional
formats where appropriate, and that publishing agencies should rely
on the private sector for dissemination. Potential roadblocks to
making available government information in CD-ROM and online
formats—in addition to their being an additional expense to
depository libraries—are then discussed, including the lack of
standardization. Examples of progress being made by depository
libraries in combatting these difficulties are offered, e.g.,
through resource sharing and user education. (NTIS)
Is government information in your library's future?
Shill, Harold B.; Peterson, Sandra K.
College & Research Libraries News 50 (8) Sept 89, 649-656. 23 refs
Since many of the critical decisions involving electronic
dissemination of government information may be made very shortly
in the USA, it is vital that academic and research librarians
understand the issues and stakes involved. Explores the
background of the electronic dissemination of information
controversy, examines the issues and initiatives which have
emerged in 1989, and suggests actions which might be taken by
concerned librarians to affect the outcome of the controversy.
(LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Privatization and the availability of federal information in
microform: the Reagan years.
Snowhill, L.
Microform Review, Vol. 18, Issue 4, p. 203-209, Fall 1989
Reviews the factors influencing the political and information
climate related to privatization during the Reagan administration,
and describes some of the resulting microform products and services
that provide federal information. The effects of privatization and
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related information policies on the availability of federal
information are evaluated and discussed. (INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
Public access to government document microforms.
Stratford, J.
Microform Review, Vol. 17, Issue 5, p. 292-294, Dec 1988
The author examines criteria for the coordination of the
administration of government document microcopy collections.
Limitations to the integration of these collections are examined.
Special problems of public access to these less than fully
integrated collections are analyzed, including bibliographic access
and physical access. Recommendations are made which would improve
the public access. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
GPO's depository library program: building for the future
Hernon, Peter; McClure, Charles R.
Library Journal vl!3 (6) 1 Apr 88, 52-56
The Government Printing Office's (GPO) depository library
program (DLP) is an important mechanism for public access to
government information, in effect acting as a safety net. Nearly
1,400 libraries participate in the DLP, 2/3 being academic
libraries. Both the government and member libraries benefit
from the cooperative relationship and share expenses. The GPO
acquires, classifies and catalogues titles and offers support
services. In return member libraries house, service and provide
access to depository materials. The vast majority of depository
libraries are grossly understaffed and receive inadequate resources
from their host institutions to carry out their responsibilities.
Describes the DLP's dimensions, costs and benefits and examines
the criticism of the DLP as a costly anachronism (LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Scientific and technical information policy and the future of
NTIS: hearings before the Subcommittee on Science, Research
and Technology.
Paul, James H.
Government Information Quarterly 5 (2) 1988, 137-146
Summarizes the key policy issues, relating to the National
Technical Information Service (NTIS), raised in the hearings
on 'Federal Information Policy Mechanisms' held 14-15 July 87
by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Subcommittee on Science, Research, and Technology. (LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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The National Technical Information Service: a federal resource for
health information and services
Bracken, Darcia D.
Journal of the American Society for Information Science v38 (1)
Jan 87, p65-67
Paper in a collection reviewing the Federal government's
involvement in and support of medical information. The
National Technical Information Service (NTIS) addresses the
issue facing all government information providers-justification
of the activity on a cost/benefit basis; by being self-supporting.
The user pays for the information provided on a cost-recovery
basis. Within the NTIS a new program adds to the resources
available to the health professional and/or consumer. The Center
for the Utilization of Federal Technology (CUFT) links
information, Federal technology resources, and new technologies
to new users, including the private sector, to facilitate
commercialization. Individual products and examples of
successful projects addressing the health community and its
concerns are described. The CUFT program is increasing its
on-line availability to deal with the increasing volume of
information available and the growing number of users in
health-related fields as well as in other areas of Federal
scientific and technical information (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
The new publishers
Drexel Library Quarterly
SOURCE: 20 (3) Summer 84, 1-103. refs. bibliog
Issue devoted to the changing values applied to publishing by
commercial pressures acting through the agency of computer
and telecommunications technology. The following papers are
presented: From pride to profit: one hundred years of American
trade publishing, by Taylor Hubbard; Publishers, technological
change, and copyright: Maintaining the balance, by Meredith A.
Butler; Impact from US government printing on public access
to government information, by Peter Hernon and Charles R.
McClure; The changing world of scholarly publishing, by Naomi B.
Pascal; Electronic delivery of scientific information, by Karen
A. Hunter; Implications of New Publishing for library schools, by
G. Edward Evans (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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CONGRESS AND OMB
Leislation
This section presents a brief overview of public access
requirements in current federal laws and OMB Circulars; and is
followed by legislation pending before the current 102nd Congress.
The pending legislation affects one or more of the laws currently
in existence. Two major public access laws, the Freedom of
Information Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act; and the Office of
Management and Budget Circulars, the directives that govern Federal
information policy are also reviewed.
Selected Federal Legislation and OMB Circulars
Administrative Procedures Act of 1966. Requires agencies to make
available to the public all substantive rules and statements of
general policy and to give notice of proposed rulemaking to provide
an opportunity for interested persons to participate in the
rulemaking.
1988 Trade Bill. Requires information to be made available to the
public in electronic format.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 1966, last amended 1978.
Provides access to records unless one of nine exemptions can be
invoked .
Government in the Sunshine Act 1976. Allows citizens to attend
Federal government meetings unless an exemption is met.
Paperwork Reduction Act 1980. Restricts the government to obtain
only that information from citizens which will be used by the
government to the fullest extent possible.
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 1972. Allows individuals to
go to FAC meetings and obtain meeting records unless one of the
exemptions from the Government and the Sunshine Act is met.
OMB Circular A-130 1985. Forbids Federal agencies initially from
developing any electronic systems which duplicated those available
in the private sector. This philosophy has since been reversed,
and OMB is now encouraging diversity of private and government
distribution systems.
OMB Circular A-3 1922, last revised 1985. Requires agencies to
implement a periodicals control system to eliminate unnecessary
publications and institutes and annual review of periodicals by
OMB.
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OMB Circular A-25, 1959. Provides general policies for developing
charges (cost-reimbursable) for certain government services and
property and requires agencies to annually report these charges.
Relevant Legislation Pending Before The 102nd Congress As Of
December 1991
HR280. Collins (D-IL), "Individual Privacy Protection Act of
1991,"102nd Cong.,1st session," Referred to the House Committee on
Government Operations (CR p.H78), January 3, 1991.
The purpose of this legislation is to amend the privacy
provisions of title 5 United States Code to improve the protection
of individual information and to re-establish a permanent Privacy
Protection Commission as an independent entity in the Federal
Government.
HR656. Brown (D-CA), "High-Performance Computing Act of 1991,"
102nd Cong, ,1st session, introduced and ordered to be reported by
the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, January 28,
1991. (CR s. CR p. H701-H702). Related measure, S272 introduced in
Senate, January 24, 1991. Passed in House with amendments, July
11, 1991 (CR p. H5413-H5424). Amended in House, July 11, 1991 (CR
p. H5424). Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation, July 15, 1991 (CR p. S10039). Passed in Senate,
September 11, 1991. (CR p. Sl2750-sl2751).
A bill to provide for a coordinated federal research program to
ensure continued United States leadership in high-performance
computing.
HR685. Wise (D-WV), "Data Protection Act of 1991," 102nd
Cong.,1st session," January 29,1991 Introduced (CR p. H755-H757)
and Referred to House Committee on Government Operations (CR p.
H780).
Amends the Privacy Act of 1974 to establish the Data Protection
Board as an independent agency of the executive branch. Requires
the Board to develop guidelines and regulations to implement the
Privacy Act of 1974 and the Freedom of Information Act. Directs
the Board to assist Federal agencies in implementing such Acts.
Allows the Board to: (l) issue advisory opinions; (2) investigate
compliance with such Acts; (3) report violations of such Acts to an
agency, the President, the Attorney General, and the Congress; and
(4) file comments with the Office of Management and Budget and any
Federal agency on any proposal regarding such Acts.
HR1423. Kleczka (D-WI), "Freedom of Information Public Access
Improvement Act of 1991," 102nd Cong.,1st session, Introduced (CR
p. H1726-H1727) and Referred to House Committee on Government
Operations (CR p. H1757-H1758) March 13, 1991.
The Congress finds that the Freedom of Information Act has
served an essential role in informing the public on the activities
of the Federal Government; identifying and deterring government
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waste, abuse, wrongdoing, and mismanagement; and disclosing
significant information regarding public health and safety, and the
environment. Amendments are needed to make the Freedom of
Information Act simpler and less expensive for noncommercial
interests and news organizations to use, to provide for more
meaningful sanctions for its violation, to minimize delays in
processing requests under the Act, to discourage misuse of the
Act's exemptions by agencies and agency personnel, to eliminate
exemptions from the Act that serve no legitimate governmental
purpose and to provide for more effective Congressional review of
proposed exemptions to the Act.
HR1989. Valentine (D-NC), "American Technology Preeminence
Act of 1991," 102nd Cong.,1st session, Referred to House
Committee on Science, Space and technology, April 23, 1991 (CR p.
H2467) . Passed with amendments by House, July 16, 1991 (CR p.
H5459-H5490) (CR p. H5489-H5490). (Related Bill S1034 introduced
in Senate, May 9, 1991.) Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science & Transportation. July 17, 1991. Unanimous consent that
the Senate strike all after the enacting clause of HR1989 (House
companion bill) and insert in lieu thereof the text of S1034, as
amended, by the Senate, agreed to by unanimous consent. (CR p.
S18776) November 27, 1991. Measure as amended, passes Senate by
unanimous consent. (CR p. S18776)(WR pp. 3579, 3601) November 27,
1991.
Congress finds that in order to help United States industries to
speed the development of new products and processes so as to
maintain the economic competitiveness of the Nation, it is
necessary to strengthen the programs and activities of the
Department of Commerce's Technology Administration and National
Institute of Standards and Technology.
HR2772. Rose (D-NC), "GPO Wide Information Network for Data
Online Act of 1991," 102nd Cong.,1st session, Referred to Committee
on House Administration, June 26, 1991 (CR p. H5209).
Agency possession of public information in electronic form has
stimulated interest in public accessibility of that information
through electronic networks.
S272. Gore (D-TN), "High-Performance Computing Act of 1991,"
102nd Cong.,1st session, Introduced and Referred to House
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation January 24, 1991.
(CR p. S1198-S1203). Related measure (HR656 introduced in House,
January 28, 1991. Passed by Senate with amendments September 11,
1991 (CR p. s 12744-S12746). Senate Speech by Simon supporting the
High Performance computing Act. (CR p. s!2996-s!2997). Considered
and amended by the House. (CR p. H10688-H10697) November 20, 1991.
Brown (D-CA), substitute amendment, agreed to by voice vote. (see
CR p.H10697) (CR p. H10688-H10697) November 20, 1991. Measure, as
amended, passed in House by voice vote (title amended) (CR p.
H10697) November 20, 1991. Submitted to the president (CR p.
S18689)(WR p. 3525) November 27, 1991. Signed by the president,
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December 9, 1991 (PL 102-194 105 Stat. 1594).
Amends the National Science and Technology Policy, Organization,
and Priorities Act of 1976 to direct the President to develop and
implement a National High-Performance Computing Plan. Provides
for: (1) establishment of a National Research and Education Network
(NREN); (2) establishment of an advisory committee on high
performance computing; (3) standards and guidelines for high
performance networks; and (4) the responsibility of certain Federal
agencies with regard to the Network. Directs each Federal entity
involved in high-performance computing to submit, as part of its
annual budget request, a report on the role of its activities with
regard to the plan and relevant budget requests. Requires
specified agencies to plan and relevant budget requests. Requires
specified agencies to provide for the establishment of the Network
by 1996 to link research and educational institutions, government,
and industry in every state.
8343. Johnston (D-LA), "Department of Energy High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991," 102nd Cong.1st session Introduced and
referred to Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
February 5, 1991 (CR p. sl559-s!564). Reported to Senate as
amended by Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, May
23, 1991 (CR p. S6652).
Directs the President to develop a National High-Performance
Computing and Communications Program; and establish a high-speed
computer network, to be known as the National Research and
Education Network (NREN). Provides for the establishment of High-
Performance Computing Research and Development Collaborative
Consortia. Requires NREN to link Federal departments and agencies,
research and educational institutions, and industry.
81034. Hollings (D-SC), "American Technology Preeminence Act of
1991," 102nd Cong.,1st session , Introduced and referred to Senate
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CR p. 5614-5615)
(CR p. s5646-s5648) , May 9, 1991. Reported to Senate as amended by
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, September 24,
1991. (CR p. S13577) . (Related Bill HR1989 introduced in the House
April 23, 1991). Unanimous consent that the Senate strike all
after the enacting clause of HR 1989 and insert in lieu thereof the
text of S1034, as amended, by the Senate. (CR p. S18776) November
27, 1991. Unanimous consent to return the bill to the Senate
Legislative Calendar. (CR p. S18776)(WR p.3579) November 27, 1991.
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for
activities relating to technology. Amends the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act, the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980, the National Science and Technology Policy,
Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976, the National Technical
Information Act of 1988, and other Acts to modify various
requirements. Establishes: the High-Resolution Information Systems
Advisory Board; and the Commission on Technology and Procurement.
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81044. Glenn (D-OH), 'Federal Information Resources Management
Act, "102nd Cong.,1st session, Introduced and referred to Senate
Committee on Governmental Affairs, May 14, 1991 (CR p. s5752) (CR
p. S5967-S5974).
Amends the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 to reduce further the
burden of Federal paperwork on the public. Outlines guidelines for
review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of
agency rulemaking. Requires agency records management programs to
comply with Federal law governing records disposal. Authorizes the
United States Archivist to examine agency records for historical
preservation value. Authorizes appropriations to OIRA.
81139. Nunn (D-GA), "Paperwork Reduction Act of 1991," 102nd
Cong.,1st session, Introduced and referred to Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs, May 22, 1991 (CR p. s6401-s6411). Speech by
Senator Kasten in support of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1991
September 12, 1991, (CR p. S12847-12848).
Identifies any agency initiatives to reduce the burden of the
Federal collection of information associated with businesses,
especially small businesses and those engaged in international
competition; state and local governments; and educational
institutions.
HR3459. Owens (D-NY), "The Improvement of Information Access Act,"
102nd Cong.,1st session, Introduced and referred to House
Committee on Government Operations, October 1-3, 1991 (CR p.H7198)
(CR p. E3241- E3245).
The public should have timely, complete, equitable, and
affordable access to government information. Federal agencies
should use modern information technology for the benefit of
citizens of the United States. Each executive department, military
department, and independent establishment shall prepare by not
later than February 1 of each year, and make freely available to
the public upon request and at no charge, a report which describes
the information dissemination policies and practices of the
department or establishment, including plans to introduce new
information products and services or discontinue old ones.
HR3458. Owens (D-NY), "The Educational Research, Development,
and Dissemination Excellence Act," 102nd Cong.,1st session,
Introduced and referred to House Committee on Education and Labor,
October 1, 1991 (CR p. H7198) (CR p. H7160-7161).
Establishment of this act would improve education in the United
States by promoting excellence in research, development, and the
dissemination of information. This establishes the National
Educational Research Policy and Advisory Board. The Board shall
make a report to the President which identifies administrative and
legislative changes necessary to improve the coordination and
dissemination activities carried out without the Federal Government
and to enable greater interaction among all entities engaged in
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such activities, including the Environmental Protection Agency.
This shall be done no later than 18 months after the establishment
of the Act.
81939. Leahy (D-VT), "Electronic Freedom of Information
Improvement Act of 1191," introduced November 7, 1991, referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary.
The purpose of this bill is to improve public access to agency
records and information. Documents shall be furnished without any
charge, if disclosure of the information is in the public interest
because such disclosure is likely to contribute directly or
indirectly to public understanding of the Government and other
matters of public interest.
81942. Glenn (D-OH), "Regulatory Review Sunshine Act of 1991,"
introduced November 7, 1991, referred to the Committee on
Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported by Senate Govermental
Affairs Committee by yea/nea vote: 8-3. (CR p. D1498)
November 22, 1991. Senate speech by Sen. Glenn urging passage
(CR p. S17995) November 23, 1991.
A reviewing entity shall establish procedures to provide public
access to information concerning each agency rulemaking activity
under its review. Such information shall include a copy of all
written communications, regardless of format, between the reviewing
entity and any person not employed by the Federal Government.
Freedom of Information Act
Computer Friendly FOIA?
Washington Post, Nov 11, 1991
Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Hank Brown (R-CO) sponsored
two new bills to "improve" the Freedom of Information Act. They
were introduced before the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on law and
technology on November 7, 1991.
S1940, "The Electronic FOIA Improvement Act of 1991," would
define a "record" as "all books, papers, maps, photographs, data,
machine-readable materials, digitized and electronic information
regardless of physical form or characteristics." This would allow
the requestor to decide whether he wants information in paper of
electronic format, if the information exists in both forms.
To encourage agencies to respond faster to FOIA requests,
another section of this bill would allow the requested agency to
keep half the fees. The money, which now goes to the Treasury,
would have to be used to fund FOIA operations.
The second bill, S1939, "The FOIA Improvement Act of 1991,"
proposes extending coverage to the offices of the president, the
vice-president and Congress. It would also tighten several
exemptions, including the one for national security information.
It would permit withholding of classified information only if
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disclosure would cause "identifiable damage" to national security.
These two new bills differ from HR1423, Freedom of Information
Act Public Access Improvement Act of 1991. If passes it would
strengthen simplify and tighten restrictions of FOIA. It is more
general than the Senate FOIA bills, which if passed would extend
coverage to the executive branch and Congress and allow those
requesting information to select a paper or electronic format.
HR1423, the house bill to reauthorize FOIA, was introduced March
13, 1991 and is currently stalled in the Government Operations
Committee. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
There Goes the FOIA
Greer, Edward
Progressive (GTPR) v54n9 p!6-17 Sep 1990
The Federal judiciary seems disposed to do away with the
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by interpreting it out of
existence. Several lawsuit cases that illustrate this point are
discussed. (COURIER PLUS)
Bush to Look at FOIA
Anonymous
Editor & Publisher (GEDP) v!23n!7 p8 Apr 28, 1990
An editorial argues that if President Bush is sincere about
wanting to improve public access to information under the Freedom
of Information Act, he should support bills that will extend the
act to cover electronically stored information. (COURIER PLUS)
Paperwork Reduction Act
Cutting Paperwork for Small Business
Times Mirror Company, 1991
The Paperwork Reduction Act (SB 1139) would reauthorize similar
legislation from 1980, which required, among other things, that
before requesting information from businesses, a government agency
must conduct a thorough review to ensure that its requests are
necessary and practical. Nunn will set an initial goal of 5%
reduction in the forms that the federal government requires small
businesses to complete. New reviews will be established for
information requests and agencies will be required to use
information more efficiently.
"The cumulative effect of the government's information
requirements is drowning the small-business community," Nunn said.
"Of the $330 billion in estimated annual paperwork costs to
business, one-third are borne by small businesses, which have the
least resources for handling the paperwork load."
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Labor fears that new reductions will impede the free flow of
information required to monitor business. But a large coalition of
business groups are supporting Nunn's proposal. "Red tape has a
real economic cost," said Leslie Aubin, a lobbyist for the National
Federation of Independent Businesses. "It is not just an esoteric
concept." (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Nunn Needs Help in Battle to Cut Federal Paperwork
By: Durwood McAlister
Atlanta Journal, July 2, 1991, p. A6
Columnist Durwood McAlister praises efforts by Sen. Bob Kasten
(R-Wis.) and Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn to push a bill reaffirming the
purpose of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980.
A little more than 10 years ago, Congress took a hard look at
the unbelievable mountain of paperwork imposed by federal
bureaucrats on the general public and decided to do something about
it. The result was the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980. It was an
attempt to curb a bureaucracy run amok and it did at least slow it
down. The Act gave the White House Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) the power to monitor and review paperwork demands imposed on
the public by federal agencies.
Subsequently, bills have been introduced that would curb OMB's
authority. A 1990 Supreme Court decision has removed about one-
third of all government paperwork requirements from OMB's review.
Sen. Kasten and Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn have joined forces to push
a bill reaffirming the purpose of the original act and
strengthening OMB's authority to attack government red tape. Among
other things, their bill requires government forms to display an
estimate of the time spent and the cost involved in filling out the
form. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Stop Daydreaming About Deregulation
Glenn, John
Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Sec A, p 13, col 1 Jul 10, 1991
Sen John Glenn (D-OH) responds to the Jun 17, 1991
editorial "The Reregulation President," and argues that the
American people will be paying for the deregulation policies of
former President Ronald Reagan for the next 50 years. Glenn
explains his policies on the Paperwork Reduction Act and the OMB
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. (COURIER PLUS)
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Restraining the Regulatory Herd
Hasten, Robert
Washington Times (WT) Sec G, p 3, col 3 Jun 27, 1991
Sen Robert Hasten (R-WI) says the federal regulatory bureaucracy
has run amok, with red tape hitting small business owners the
hardest. He discusses the Paperwork Reduction Action of 1980,
which empowers the OMB to monitor paperwork demands federal
agencies impose on the public. (COURIER PLUS)
Trends in the legislative environment of records managers.
Allen, D. P.
Proceedings of the ARMA International 35th Annual Conference,
San Francisco, CA, November 1990, p. 840-849, 1990, ARMA
International, Prairie Village, KS
Legislation affecting records management is discussed. The
Paperwork Reduction Act is defined. Creation and duties of the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) are described.
Records management technology and legislation are examined.
(INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
OMB Circular A-130
OMB Delays Release of Proposed Changes in A-130
By: Kevin Power
Government Computer News, November 11, 1991, p. 10
OMB will wait until January to issue their latest proposal for
updating Circular A-130. They issued the first set of changes in
January 1990. Agencies rebuffed that proposal, charging its
definitions were unclear and it hands the private sector too big a
role in distributing government information.
Unnamed OMB officials said they are reluctant to make final
changes in the government's basic IRM policy document until
Congress clarifies its IRM views with a revamped Paperwork
Reduction Act and reauthorizes the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs. However, neither Senator Glenn's (D-OH) S1044,
Federal Information Resources Management Act (often referred to as
the Paperwork Reduction Act) or Senator Nunn's (D-GA) S1139,
Paperwork Reduction Act has yet to pass the Senate.
OMB's latest reform proposal called for strengthening A-130's
notification requirements, limiting development of agency
electronic-dissemination products and maintaining agency
inventories on such products.
As for other circulars, A-3 on agency publications, and A-114 on
audiovisual activities, will be incorporated into A-130. A-123 and
A-127, which deal with agency internal controls and financial
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management systems, will be updated after OMB officials obtain more
experience in carrying out requirements of the Chief Financial
Officers Act. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Circular Game: OMB Readies Another Round
By: J. Timothy Sprehe
Federal Computer Week, Nov. 4, 1991, p. 15
OMB has announced the elimination of 11 or its 43 active
circulars and the revision of another 20. As Director Richard
Darman said "Duplicative, occasionally incomprehensible, OMB
circulars have in some cases impeded, rather than facilitated,
management of the federal government. We owe federal agencies and
the public a much more straightforward, simple and serious system
of OMB directives."
OMB has stated it will issue a revision of OMB Circular No.
A-130, the management of Federal Information Resources, January 31,
1992. Into A-130 OMB will fold Circular A-3, Government
Publications, and Circular No. A-114, Audiovisual Activities.
In 56 Federal Register (FR) 42, P. 9026, March 4, 1991, OMB
announced plans to revise Circular A-130. 56 Federal Register (FR)
190, p. 49824, October 1, 1991, OMB announced plans to rescind some
circulars. Among then A-3 and A-114, which will be folded into No.
A-130. In this article OMB stated "proposed revisions to Circular
No. A-130,..., will be published for public comment on or about
January 31, 1992." During confirmation hearings on October 30,
1991, Mr. Frank Hodsoll, Deputy Director of Management, restated
the revision conversation, Perter Wise, OMB contact person for
A-130, confirmed OMB's commitment to the revision of A-130 "on or
about January 31 of next year." (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
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TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Helping America Compete: The Role of Federal Scientific and
Technical Information
Office of Technology Assessment, Washington, DC., Jul 90
The special report assesses how Federal scientific and technical
information (STI) can contribute to a more competitive America and
what actions are needed to realize the potential. The report
identifies and discusses a range of actions that can help the U.S.
compete in the worldwide marketplace of ideas, products, and
services, and to provide leadership on global issues like the
environment. The report discusses the possibility of a
presidential initiative on STI that would include a strengthened
role for the Office of Science and Technology Policy, new
mechanisms for STI leadership in the Federal research and
development agencies, and the application of Federal STI to improve
science education. The report also addresses government wide
information policy issues relevant to STI, including the roles of
the National Technical Information Service and Government Printing
Office in electronic dissemination. (NTIS)
Federal Scientific and Technical Information in an Electronic Age:
Opportunities and Challenges; staff paper
Performing Organization: Office of Technology Assessment,
Washington, DC. Oct 89
The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology asked the
Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) to examine the opportunities
and challenges facing the Federal Government with respect to the
dissemination of scientific and technical information (STI). The
paper presents the results of OTA's inquiry. OTA found that the
government does not have an overall strategy on dissemination of
STI. An overall strategy would help maximize the return on the
substantial Federal research and development investment, and meet
other national goals to which STI can contribute, such as improving
the education of U.S. scientists and engineers, the international
competitiveness of U.S. industry, and the strength of the U.S.
civilian technology base. (NTIS)
Federal information policy and U.S. competitiveness.
Owens, C.T.
Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 6, Issue 1, p. 43-46, 1989
Reviews the National Science Foundation's (NSF) activities in
gathering and disseminating foreign scientific and technical
information. Activities described include information processing
by domestic and overseas offices; a pilot study to determine
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effective dissemination methods; online services; a program
of survey visits to foreign facilities; and the development
of NSF's Science and Technology Centers. (INFORMATION SCIENCE
ABSTRACTS)
Federal technical information and US competitiveness.
Meeds, opportunities/ and issues.
Hill, C.T.
Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 6, Issue 1, p. 31-38, 1989
Discusses the importance of competitiveness to the American
economy and examines three areas where federal information
policies affect American competitiveness: providing the private
sector with technical information; making federal information
resources available to industry; and restricting foreign access to
those resources. For each area, current policy and issues needing
resolution are discussed. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Federal information: foundation for national competitiveness.
Clark, J.E.
Government Information Quarterly, Vol. 5, Issue 4, p. 353-368, 1988
These seven papers address issues related to the
dissemination of federal information to the private sector. General
topics addressed include the impact of federal information
policy on the flow of scientific and technical information (STI),
business needs for STI, and the role of the National Technical
Information Service. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
Support for information technology in science: the federal role.
Bortnick, Jane.
Government Information Quarterly 3:233-50 no 3 '86, tables chart
Based on a report prepared for the Task Force on Science Policy,
Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives.
Federal funding of R&D in information technologies; funding
and tax credits allowed for purchase and donation of information
technology equipment; funding database development. (PAIS)
Improving access to Japanese scientific and technical literature
in the United States: the role of the federal government.
Rosenbaum, Howard
Government Information Quarterly v5 (1) 1988, 5-26.
Currently, the USA lacks a clear and consistent information
policy defining and regulating the Federal role in collection
and dissemination of Japanese scientific and technical
information (STI) to users in the public and private sectors. One
long-term consequence of this situation involves negative impacts
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on American scientific and technological innovation and on
competitiveness in the global economy. After a discussion of the
existing legislative and regulatory environment shaping the
Federal government's approach to Japanese STI activities, presents
5 policy options, each of which describes a different role for
the Federal government. Recommends a combination of 2 options that
will create the basis for a Federal information policy designed to
support a self-sustaining STI infrastructure in the USA. That
infrastructure will efficiently access and disseminate Japanese
STI to public and private sector users. (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
The international flow of scientific and technical information
Meredith, Barba J.(ed)
Government Information Quarterly v3 (2) May 86, 163-178
Reprint of 'The international flow of scientific and technical
information: a summary of the proceedings' prepared by Barbara
J. Meredith from tape recordings of the 2nd Federal
Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) Forum on
Federal Information Policies held at the Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C., 27 Feb 1985. The following topics were
discussed: an understanding of what drives federal information
policy; international influences on federal information
policies; the ferment in international telecommunications; and
international influences on the flow of scientific and technical
information (LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
Sharing Data for Environmental Results: Report of a conference
Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Governor's Association, 1989
The goals of the conference are to build and maintain the
infrastructure needed for effective environmental data management
and sharing (Phase I), and to develop and support the strategies
necessary to integrate data across media and programs (Phase II).
During the three-day conference, discussion covered the state of
environmental data, the tools used to manage and analyze this
information, and the strategies to spur data sharing and
integration across all environmental programs. The conference
represented a continuation of the three-year-old partnership
between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
states. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Report Outlines Waste Dumping by Tankers on West Coast
Coughlin, William P
Boston Globe (BG) p 41, col 1 Aug 29, 1991
A report obtained by an Alaska state senator under the
Freedom of Information Act says that oil tankers operated by some
major oil shipping firms routinely pump toxic sludge and oily
ballast water into the ocean from Panama to Alaska. (COURIER PLUS)
Toxic Chemicals: EPA's Toxic Release Inventory is Useful but Can Be
Improved
U.S. General Accounting Office Report to Congress, June 27, 1991
The Toxic Release Inventory, available since 1989, is a valuable
source of environmental information. Federal and state governments
have used the data to enact laws designed to control and reduce
toxic emissions, and the public availability of the data has
prompted some companies to set emissions reduction goals. The
inventory is an important source of environmental data and is
available to the public through an online data base, a national
report, a computer diskette, and other formats. Environmental and
public interest groups use the data extensively. (HEADQUARTERS
LIBRARY)
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Environmental Protection: Meeting Public Expectations With Limited
Resources
U.S. General Accounting Office Report to the Congress, June 18,
1991
Drawing on past GAO work and a symposium held in June 1990, as
well as analyses prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and others, this report discusses ways in which the federal
government can achieve environmental goals more efficiently and
effectively. As the 102nd Congress takes up legislation to create
a Cabinet department for the environment, it may also wish to
consider creating (1) a commission to study the desirability of a
unified environmental statute and (2) a center for environmental
information to help in the collection and application of data on
environmental conditions and trends. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Hazardous Waste: Data Management Problems Delay EPA's Assessment of
Minimization Efforts
U.S. General Accounting Office Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee
on Transportation and Hazardous Materials, Committee on Energy and
Commerce, House of Representatives, June 13, 1991
GAO recommends that the Administrator, EPA, work with the states
and industry to define data requirements to meet current and future
information needs for b .irdous waste minimization. As part of
this effort, GAO also recommends that EPA set out how these data
requirements will be met; who will be responsible for data
collection, analysis and management; and what the time frames and
resources for completion of these tasks will be. To ensure that
this new approach to measuring waste minimization meets
congressional needs and expectations, the plan should be made
available to the cognizant congressional oversight committees,
which many want to explore the approach and options in more detail
With EPA. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Pentagon's Toxic Waste Denounced
Shepard, Scott
Atlanta Constitution (ATC) Sec A, p 2, col 1 Mar 14, 1991
The Pentagon has created "thousands of points of blight," the
Boston-based National Toxic Campaign Fund charged on Mar 13, 1991
in a report compiled from Pentagon documents obtained under the
Freedom of Information Act that uncovered evidence of 14,401
pollution sites at 1,579 military bases. (COURIER PLUS)
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Information, Please
Fricker, Richard L
ABA Journal (GABA) v76 p56-61 Jun 1990
Presents numerous cases of problems with the Freedom of
Information Act. Requestors, including lawyer Larry Johns
representing 220 plaintiffs exposed to radiation, have had FOIA
requests denied or delayed. In many of these cases, the government
claims national security would be endangered if the information
were released. There is open speculation that the delays are meant
to serve not "national security," but rather administration or CIA
"image security." Public-interest groups calim the public's access
to information is limited so that the government won't be held
accountable for waste and violations. (COURIER PLUS)
Exposure to radiation, (public access to government information)
The Washington Post, November 29, 1989, Sec A, p. A25
By: Ann Devroy and Bill McAllister
Independent researchers should be given access to secret
government files on worker exposure to radiation at federal
nuclear weapons plants, an advisory panel to Energy Secretary James
D. Watkins has recommended. (NATIONAL NEWSPAPER INDEX)
Romer Demands Flats Risk Data
Kowalski, Robert
Denver Post (DP) Sec A, p 6, col 1 Sep 14, 1989
Colorado Gov. Roy Romer has asked Energy Secretary James Watkins
to make public information obtained in a continuing federal
investigation of alleged illegal waste dumping at the Rocky Flats
nuclear weapons plant so the state can deal with any health hazards
that might have resulted. (COURIER PLUS)
EDAAS: An Expert System At The US Environmental Protection
Agency For Avoiding Disclosure of Confidential Business Information
Feinstein Jerald L., Siems Frederick
Booz, Allen & Hamilton, MD,
Expert Systems, Apr 85, v2, n2, p72(13)
EPA uses an expert system designed to help screen freedom of
information act (FOIA) requests. The design and operation of said
system, entitled expert disclosure analysis and avoidance system,
are discussed. Specifically, the system aids public information
specialists to determine which information concerning the
manufacture and distribution of toxic chemicals may be released to
the public without compromising other sensitive company data
which the EPA is legally bound to protect from public disclosure.
(ENVIROLINE)
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Confidentiality and Freedom of Information for Epidemiological
Data in Governmental Research.
Nehls, G.J.; Hayes, C.G.; Nelson, W.C.
1981, 5 P.,Health Effects Research Lab., Research Triangle Park, NC
The issues of confidentiality and freedom of information are
discussed for studies involving health surveillance around
point sources of pollution. The problems discussed are related
to protecting data after a study has been initiated. Research
studies describing the impact of confidentiality on response
rates are discussed. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's
current and proposed procedures for handling and releasing
these data are presented. These can be used by other agencies in
defining their security procedures. (INFORMATION SCIENCE ABSTRACTS)
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EPA/OARM CASE STUDIES
Policy on Public Access to EPA Information (draft)
Office of Administration and Resources Management - U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 1991
This policy establishes the principles governing public access
to and dissemination of information gathered and maintained by EPA.
Information that is restricted by Federal or State requirements for
confidentiality, privacy, national defense or enforcement
sensitivity shall be assembled to provide access while meeting
requirements for restriction. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Recommendations for EPA's Public Access Strategy (Draft)
Office of Information Resources Management - Information Access
Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, January 23, 1991
The demand by the public to access information maintained by the
government, particularly environmental information, has increased
greatly within the past few years. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) has experienced this intensifying demand through
receipt of increasing numbers of requests for its information from
members of the public. Congress has also been responding to the
public's desire to obtain environmental information through
proposing legislation that contains public access requirements for
the Agency. These factors combined with a desire by EPA to use
public education campaigns to facilitate the attainment of stated
Agency goals (e.g, risk reduction and pollution prevention)
highlight the importance of public access efforts within the EPA.
(HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Public Access Manual (Draft)
Office of Information Resources Management - Information Access
Branch, Environmental Protection Agency and Booz Allen, & Hamilton,
Inc., 1991
The manual provides information on EPA's Public Access Program
& Strategy, its roles and responsibilities, goals and objectives.
The Public Access Manual presents the steps to take to identify an
audience and their information needs, and the media to use when
delivering the message. Access points are discussed that can be
used to disseminate the information gathered such as hotlines,
clearinghouses, libraries, bulletin boards, dockets, and public
information centers. Other distribution mechanisms to take into
consideration are EPIC (EPA Publication and Information Center),
EPA's Public Information Center (PIC) the Government Printing
Office (GPO), the National Technical Information Center (NTIS).
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Partnership opportunities with states, other federal agencies,
private interest groups and corporations are also mentioned.
(HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
Interagency Conference on Public Access: A Summary Report
Office of Information Resources Management, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Solomons, MD, May 20-21, 1991
The conference offered departmental and agency officials an
opportunity to discuss issues surrounding public access to
government information, particularly that which is collected or
generated and maintained in electronic format; and to share
experiences to date. Congress is increasingly requiring that
specific databases generated by an agency for its own use be made
available to the general public electronically, as with the EPA
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). In addition, departments and
agencies are more aware of their obligations to make information
available in the format in which they are using it. Public
interest groups, professional associations, academia, libraries and
the press are demanding access to government information in
electronic format. There is concern that movement to electronic
media will eventually limit access to those with the means of
accessing it. This in turn raises a fear that citizens may not
have access to the information necessary to effectively exercise
their rights in a democratic society. (HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY)
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