From: sean@sdg.dra.com
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD ON-LINE
Date: 6 Sep 92 17:37:15 CDT
Organization: Data Research Associates, St. Louis MO

In article <YW0JCL5@taronga.com>, peter@taronga.com (Peter da Silva) writes:
> In article <21778.2AA9BC4B@puddle.fidonet.org> Claude.Vanhorn@f69.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Claude Vanhorn) writes:
>>            2)    Mandate that every publicly accessible comput-
>>                  er network provide a quantity of node connec-
>>                  tions to this computer so that any person
>>                  accessing the network would be able to type "C
>>                  RECORD" or some simple identifier and be
>>                  connected to this archive.  The FCC could
>>                  mandate this, though I suspect the networks
>>                  might actually cooperate without it.
> 
> I don't care for this sort of government interference.
> 
> Here's another alternative: simply publish the CR on CD-ROM, through the
> usual low-cost government publication channels. Then sit back and watch
> the fun.

There are a variety of efforts underway to increase the availability of
government information in electronic format.

Unfortunately they are often weaved together with other various nasty agendas.
Yes, I work for a company that buys, and resells government information.  I'm
in favor of more, and easier access to government information, but I'm
skeptical of centralized control.  One of the proposed changes is making GPO
the single source for Government printing by prohibiting the funding of any
agency printing plant not established by law.  In the age of copier machines,
laser printers, and computer networks, just what is a printing plant?  Does
that mean NASA won't be able to distribute all those nice images from Voyager
by anonymous FTP anymore?

Sorry, enough paranoia, back to the point.


Looking at the Congressional Record...

The daily Congressional Record is available for purchase in electronic form on
1600bpi, 9-track, ASCII, magnetic tape at $175 per tape (yearly subscriptions
cost around $30,000).  Three commercial vendors, Legi-Slate, Mead Data, and
Congressional Quarterly provide on-line access.  CQ, and Legi-Slate charge
a single yearly fee, while Mead Data charges an hourly connect fee.  I haven't
been able to find out exactly how many copies the GPO sells in electronic
format, but if it is typical of most government electronic information I
suspect it is less than a dozen total.  Then there is the added aggravation
that the electronic form isn't considered "official," and the printed copy
often has changes made that aren't reflected in the electronic form.

GPO, Library of Congress, and the House Information System Office (HIS) have
their own in-house systems with the Congressional Record full text (or
abstracts) on-line.  Over two-thirds of the Senate of purchases private
sector services (mainly Legi-Slate), while the House relies main on HIS.
Public access is through terminals at the Library of Congress.

GPO has experimented with providing the Congressional Record on CD-ROM.  In
response questions from the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Printing,
Robert Houk reported that 57% of library staff and users judged that this
CD-ROM made their work more difficult rather than easier.  Sixty percent
of librarians found the software "generally" to "very" difficult to learn.
GPO's on-line system had a similar experience when members of congress
tried using it.  Most found the system unusable.

But fear not, despite the evidence of considerable dissatisfaction with the
CD-ROM software, about 60 percent of the librarians and users nevertheless
supported the ideas of issuing the Congressional Record in CD-ROM format.  GPO
is also continuing to pursue their online version of the daily Congressional
Record.

GPO/2001 (a GPO strategic vision document) calls for the establishment of
an online daily Congressional Record by the end of FY 1993.  It also calls
for the remainder of time-sensitive and research-oriented Congressional
products and services -- such as bills, resolutions, and amendments, as well
as hearings, committee reports, committee prints, business calendars, and
documents  -- to be made available by the end of FY 1996.

GPO has requested $3.2 million to partially fund the start-up costs of the
system that will enable Congress to receive the daily Congressional Record
online.  GPO is also requesting $2.2 million to develop CD-ROM versions of
the 1986-1993 editions of the bound Congressional Record.

For comparison, the daily paper Congressional Record is $210 per subscription.
Of the 20,000+ daily printed copies, most are distributed without direct
charge to Congresspersons, other government departments, depository libraries
members of the press, former representatives, courts, and other designated
organizations and individuals.  There are about 3,000 paid subscribers to
the daily Congressional Record. 

Previous studies by the GPO reported that the private sector vendors would
be willing to provide online access to the daily Congressional Record for
every depository library for $300 per year per depository library (1248
libraries * $300 = $374,000).

The other alternative is to do it like the Audio, and Television coverage
of the House and Senate.  The Government buys, installs, and runs the cameras,
microphones, etc and provides a free feed to any news media (including cable,
where do you think C-SPAN gets it).
-- 
Sean Donelan, Data Research Associates, Inc, St. Louis, MO
Domain: sean@sdg.dra.com, Voice: (Work) +1 314-432-1100

Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk