Honolulu's ads sparked little stir locally, but lots of phone calls from states and cities contemplating ads to raise money to improve Web sites and expand online services. Salt Lake City is accepting ads, though selling few. Florida's Miami Dade County was hoping to do so until its partner walked away. Iowa is soliciting proposals for selling ads on the state site. Massachusetts recently decided not to.
Debate usually begins with likening the Internet to something else.
City buses have ads. City parks generally don't. If auto makers can't post ads in the lobby of the motor-vehicle department, don't let them advertise on the department's Web site, argues Robert Atkinson of the Progressive Policy Institute, the centrist Democrats' think tank. There are practical issues. And there are worries that the First Amendment prevents government from rejecting any advertisement.