Draft policy of the U.S. Department of Commerce on the dissemination of information in electronic format

Abstract

On August 11, 1988, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued draft guidelines on electronic data dissemination. Although the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Circular A-130 at the end of 1985, Commerce is the first department to issue draft guidelines under the circular. This article reprints part of the draft guidelines. These guidelines were not widely disseminated but may be revised for additional public comment once OMB issues its revision of A-130 containing inclusion of electronic files. Given possible revision of the draft policy, this article only calls attention to the guidelines and encourages readers to be aware that the Department of Commerce has been working on a policy for the dissemination of Federal information in electronic format. Readers should check on the status of draft policy and seek every opportunity to comment on the provisions.