Developing a federal policy on electronic collection and dissemination of information

Abstract

Sprehe concentrates on emerging federal policy relating to electronic information resources and summarizes replies to a recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announcement. Government agencies are rapidly moving toward electronic collection of data, but dissemination plans are not well developed. Information is seen as a valuable commodity; some of it should be given away as a public good, some of it should make a profit for the government. Sprehe also addresses the issues of user charges, quality control, monopoly, and the effective and economical use of government resources.