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Approved-By:  Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l
Date:         Fri, 2 Oct 1992 09:30:45 CDT
From:         "Peter Scott/Manager,
              Small Systems/U Sask Lib/5920" <SCOTT@sklib.usask.ca>
Subject:      Office of Technology Assessment on the FREE-NETS 2 of 2

----------------------------Original message----------------------------
<<< ISSUE #2: GOVERNMENT SERVICES FOR THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY >>>

   The general question in this area is:

   What should the federal policy be with regard to supporting
K-12 and other educational access to Federal Government information
using computers and modems connected to networks (such as the Internet),
and/or to community computer systems (such as this one).

   You are free, of course, to comment on anything you'd like, but
some specific questions or issues might include:

   * What computer-mediated network or information services could
      the federal government provide which would make our K-12
      schools better?

   * What services could they provide which would enhance the
      delivery of corporate training and education?

   * Could any of the above be improved by direct connectivity to
      federal agencies or programs and, if so, which ones?

   * Does the federal government have an obligation to provide
      more than access to services, must it also insure equitable
      access to these services for all schools?

   * Should the federal government have a responsibility to assist
      in corporate and business training programs, or should it
      stop at the K-12 or college levels.

   * Should "telecomputing literacy" be made a mandatory part of
      our K-12 and/or college curricula?

<<< ISSUE #3: NETWORK ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES >>>

   The general question in this area is:

   What should the federal policy be with regard to the develop-
ment and use of national networks--including the Internet, the National
Research and Education Network (NREN) and commercial networks--for
electronic delivery of Federal services?

   You are free, of course, to comment on anything you'd like, but
some specific questions or issues might include:

   * Should the government be involved in the construction and
      development of national networks, or should this be left
      to the private sector?

   * If you think the government should initially develop these
      networks, should they then later be turned-over for commercial
      re-marketing (where users would be charged for access,
      but the commercial company would be responsible for maintaining
      the network over time)?

   * Or should these networks be made available to any citizen--
      including businesses--to use at no cost (like our national
      highway system)?  If so, how then will these networks be
      supported and maintained over time?

   * If all users should NOT be charged, who should have to pay,
      and who should not?

<<< ISSUE #4: USAGE OF ELECTRONIC SERVICES >>>

   The general question in this area is:

   What is needed to get people online--to provide potential users
with the training, equipment, and motivation necessary to make use
of Federal (and other) information services, and should the Federal
government be involved in this?

   You are free, of course, to comment on anything you'd like, but
some specific questions or issues might include:

   * If the federal government provides its citizens with greater
      electronic access to government information resources and
      services (as outlined in the first three issues), must it then
      also insure that citizens have access to the networks
      necessary to make those connections?

   * If so, how should the government do this?  Should the government
      be involved in the wholesale distribution of equipment to it's
      citizens (as the French have done); or provide government funded
      public-access terminals in libraries and other locations; or what?

   * Should the Federal government be involved in the funding of
      public access community computer systems such as the one you
      are on?

   * Or should the government stay clear of this medium as they have
      (largely) done with radio and T.V.?

   * What should or could be done to get people to use these various
      governmental services if they were made available?

<<< ISSUE #5: FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, AND LOCAL COOPERATION >>>

   The general question in this area is:

   All of the issues so far have been about Federal involvement.
What are the possibilities and/or pitfalls of having all four
levels of government (federal, state, county, and local) involved
in the electronic delivery of information and services?

   You are free, of course, to comment on anything you'd like, but
some specific questions or issues might include:

   * Would having all four levels of government involved improve
      the electronic delivery of information and government services
      by, for example, providing economies of scale and convenience
      that would otherwise not be available.  (e.g. "one-stop" elec-
      tronic filing of income taxes for all levels.)

   * Or would having all levels of government involved likely
      lead to confusion and "terf" problems.

   * What kinds of roles should the state, county, and local governments
      be taking in the development of networks, government service
      delivery, and information service delivery.

   * What kinds of state, county, or local government services, or
      information resources, would you like to see developed.
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU