The Center for Technology in Government released this new report based on a survey of all fifty states: Preserving State Government Digital Information: A Baseline Report By Theresa A. Pardo, G. Brian Burke, and Hyuckbin Kwon. According to the press release, the authors identify six major barriers to the sucessful preservation of state government digital data:

1. Capability for preserving state government digital information is low.
2. There is no consistent approach to addressing “at-risk” information.
3. Authority for setting standards and responsibility for providing digital preservation services is dispersed.
4. Executive, legislative, and judicial agencies operate parallel digital preservation efforts.
5. Digital preservation and Enterprise Architecture initiatives are not well-connected.
6. Efforts to develop strategic digital preservation programs are hampered by problem focused practices and funding and staffing models.

I look forward to reading the entire paper and might have some more to say about it. If you've read the paper, please leave a comment or drop us a line. In addition to the paper, the CTG staff also published a set of state profiles that includes information on specific projects. Hopefully in the coming weeks we'll be able to highlight some states whose initiatives seem especially promising. Continue reading →

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In my last installment of Nonlawyer's Journey through Title 44, I stated:

"In an age of paper, the Sales Program helped provide some of the funding needed to make publications freely available to the public through Federal Depository Libraries."

I was wrong about this. Thankfully Superintendent of Documents Judy Russell caught wind of this entry and sent me the comment below:

----- Original Message ----- From: "Russell, Judith C. (SuDoc)" To: "'Discussion of Government Document Issues'" Cc: Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2006 5:05 AM Subject: RE: New Discussions at FGI: July 24, 2006 In his most recent analysis of Title 44, Dan Cornwall states: "In an age of paper, the Sales Program helped provide some of the funding needed to make publications freely available to the public through Federal Depository Libraries." The GPO Sales Program is by statute a self-sustaining program. Revenue from the Sales Program has never been used to fund the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), which receives its funding from annual Congressional appropriations. By providing a means for individuals and organizations to purchase copies of Federal government publications, the GPO Sales Program complements free public access through tangible depository collections and free online access. It will continue to serve the public by providing an alternative to using tangible Federal publications in libraries or downloading/printing copies from the Internet. Judy Russell Judith C. Russell (jrussell@gpo.gov) Managing Director, Information Dissemination (Superintendent of Documents) U.S. Government Printing Office Phone: 202-512-0571 Fax: 202-512-1434

Judy also made a comment on the mistaken entry which I've now incorporated into my commentary as an update. I do regret the error and hope others will be as willing and quick as Judy to correct mistakes as they come up. Thanks Judy! Continue reading →

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Another unusual venue that net neutrality popped up in today was on show 76 of the Celtic Music News Podcast during an interview with Newfoundland musician Jim Fidler. His short remarks on how the end of Net Neutrality would doom musical creativity and political diversity show up around the 15 minute mark. Be warned that a good chunk of the interview is NOT work safe if profanity isn't smiled upon at your place of work. Net Neutrality. It's not just a good idea, it SHOULD BE the law. Update: July 25, 2006 to reflect correct spelling of Mr. Fidler's province. Thanks to the anonymous alert reader. Continue reading →

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People across the country are beginning to understand what is at stake with preserving net neutrality. The July 24, 2006 edition of American Catholic Radio has an interview with Michael Copps, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission starting roughly at the 20 minute mark. He talks about the need to avoid Internet toll booths and how the loss of network neutrality would hurt minority non-commercial voices including Catholic media. Also some good discussion of how media consolidation has made it harder to hear local voices and new music. Net Neutrality is sometimes presented as a liberal issue, but the reality is that it cuts across ideology, and based on the above interview, religious lines as well. Continue reading →

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