[508] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
GOREs GATEWAY TO GOVERNMENT - the bill (S 2813)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (James P Love)
Wed Jun 17 12:25:54 1992
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 1992 11:12:41 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
From: James P Love <LOVE%PUCC.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@RICEVM1.RICE.EDU>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
102ND CONGRESS; 2ND SESSION
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
AS INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE
S. 2813
1992
SYNOPSIS:
A BILL
To establish in the Government Printing Office an electronic gateway to
provide public access to a wide range of Federal databases containing
public information stored electronically.
DATE OF INTRODUCTION: JUNE 4, 1992
DATE OF VERSION: JUNE 6, 1992 -- VERSION: 1
SPONSOR(S):
Mr. GORE (for himself, Mr. FORD, Mr. SARBANES, and Mr. SIMON) introduced
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Rules and Administration
TEXT:
A BILL
To establish in the Government Printing Office an electronic gateway to
provide public access to a wide range of Federal databases containing
public information stored electronically.
* Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United*
*States of America in Congress assembled, *
SHORT TITLE
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the "GPO Gateway to Government Act
of 1992".
FINDINGS
SEC. 2. The Congress finds that-
(1) Federal agencies increasingly receive, generate, and handle
public information in electronic form;
(2) agency possession of public information in electronic form has
stimulated interest in public accessibility of that information
through electronic networks;
(3) for substantial numbers of Federal electronic databases, public
access is limited by the difficulty and high cost of locating and
accessing the data;
(4) public access to public electronic information will be greatly
enhanced by creating electronic gateways that can provide access to
many different databases;
(5) public access to government electronic information would be
enhanced by increased coordination between the Government Printing
Office and other Federal agencies in setting standards and formats
for databases, in selecting database software, and in networking
different databases;
(6) the Office of the Superintendent of Documents at the Government
Printing Office is the appropriate Federal organization to establish
and maintain an electronic gateway to provide online access to
electronic public information of the Federal Government; and
(7) information available through the Government Printing Office's
online access program should be provided without charge to depository
libraries, as designated under chapter 19 of title 44, United States
Code, and priced at the incremental cost of dissemination for other
subscribers.
AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 44, UNITED STATES CODE
SEC. 3. (a) Title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following new chapter:
CHAPTER 40-GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: ONLINE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT
ELECTRONIC INFORMATION
Sec.
4001. Establishment of program for access to electronic information.
4002. Duties of Superintendent of Documents.
4003. Fees.
4004. Request for public comment; annual report.
4005. Authorization of appropriations.
4001. Establishment of program for access to electronic information
The Superintendent of Documents, under the direction of the Public
Printer, shall establish a program for providing to the public access to
public electronic information. The program (in this chapter referred to
as the 'GPO Gateway') shall provide the public access to a wide range of
government electronic databases in accordance with section 4002 of this
title and shall be established and maintained after consultation with and
consideration of comments from Federal agencies, potential users, and
others likely to be affected by the program.
4002. Duties of Superintendent of Documents
In establishing and maintaining the GPO Gateway, the Superintendent of
Documents, under the direction of the Public Printer, shall-
(1) within one year after the date of enactment of this chapter,
provide electronic access to the Congressional Record and the Federal
Register;
(2) provide access to such agency databases as are reasonably
appropriate, based upon input from Federal agencies, database users,
libraries, and others likely to be affected;
(3) rely, to the maximum extent feasible, upon agency computer and
data storage systems and retrieval software for accessing agency
databases;
(4) enable agencies to utilize Government Printing Office computer
systems, retrieval software, and data storage or contract for such
facilities and services through the Government Printing Office;
(5) provide for access to the GPO Gateway through a wide range of
electronic networks, including the Internet and the National Research
and Education Network, to allow broad, reasonable access to the data;
(6) permit depository libraries to connect to, access, and search
and retrieve information through the GPO Gateway without charge; and
(7) facilitate the adoption of compatible standards for electronic
publishing and dissemination throughout the Federal Government.
4003. Fees
(a) Superintendent of Documents, under the direction of the Public
Printer, may (except as provided in section 4002(e) of this title) charge
reasonable fees for providing access to databases through the GPO
Gateway. The Superintendent shall set such fees on the basis of
subsection (b) of this section.
(b)(1) The fee charged under this section for databases maintained by
the Government Printing Office should approximate the Government Printing
Office's incremental cost of dissemination of the data, without regard to
section 1708 of title 44, United States Code.
(2) The fee charged under this section for databases maintained by
agencies and accessed through the GPO Gateway should approximate the
incremental cost of dissemination of the data, which shall include the
incremental costs incurred by the agencies to provide access through the
GPO Gateway. Such costs shall be reviewed and approved by the
Superintendent and the Superintendent shall reimburse the agency from the
sales revenue received.
4004. Request for public comment; annual report
The Superintendent of Documents, under the direction of the Public
Printer, shall each year publish a notice in the Federal Register
requesting public comment on the services, prices, and policies relating
to the GPO Gateway and on such other issues as the Public Printer shall
determine. On or before March 1 of each calendar year the Public Printer
shall publish an annual report on the GPO Gateway describing the program;
specifying the number of users, total revenues collected, and expenses
reimbursed to each Federal agency; summarizing public comment on the GPO
Gateway; and stating the steps the Public Printer has taken to address
the comments received. Such report shall be submitted to the Committee on
Administration of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Rules
and Administration of the Senate, and the Joint Committee on Printing.
4005. Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Government Printing
Office for the purposes of this chapter only, $3,000,000 for fiscal year
1993 and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, to be expended by the
Superintendent of Documents.
(b) The table of chapters for title 44, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following new item:
40. Government Printing Office: Online Access to Government Electronic
Information
*=======================================================================
James Love, Director VOICE: 609-683-0534
Taxpayer Assets Project FAX: 202-234-5176
7-Z Magie, Faculty Road bitnet: Love@pucc.bitnet
Princeton, NJ 08540 internet: Love@pucc.princeton.edu
