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Public Access to Fed Info, June 27, 28

``` Date: Tue, 7 Jun 1994 10:48:34 -0400 (EDT) From: Richard Hill Subject: Public Access to Fed Info, June 27, 28

WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC TO ENSURE PUBLIC ACCESS TO FEDERAL INFORMATION IN AN ELECTRONIC AGE

Fifth Solomons Interagency Conference on Public Access June 27 and 28, Alexandria, VA

"The Administration will seek to ensure that Federal agencies, in concert with state and local governments, use the NII to expand the information available to the public, ensuring that the immense reservoir of government information is available to the public easily and equitably." The National Information Infrastructure: Agenda for Action

The National Information Infrastructure: Agenda for Action connects broad goals such as economic growth and democracy with the importance of public access to information. As technology enhances the Federal government's ability to produce, collect, and distribute information, so too does the desire and commitment to make this information more readily available to citizens. The Fifth Solomons Interagency Conference on Public Access, hosted by the Department of Health and Human Services and cosponsored by the American Society for Information Science, seeks to continue the tradition of previous Public Access Conferences by hosting an informative and productive dialogue on the issues and challenges of public access in an electronic age. The Solomons tradition will be further enriched by the participation of ASIS and its representatives from the library, civic, legal, and other communities committed to public access.

This two day conference will explore the ways that changes in technology, coupled with efforts to reinvent government, are redefining the policy and implementation issues associated with providing public access to federal information. Based on recommendations made by Vice President Gore in the National Performance Review, President Clinton has issued an Executive Order calling for agencies to survey their customers, determine their information needs, and set customer service standards by which to measure themselves. Efforts to build a nationwide information highway will dramatically change how Government conducts its business. Meanwhile, today's technologies are providing numerous opportunities now. How should Government agencies respond to these new developments? This conference will attempt to assist agencies in answering that question by information sharing among agency staff and active participation from the public the agencies are charged to serve. This will be a working conference. All attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an intensive working group developing recommendations on a specific issue related to public access.

Please read the attached agenda and the descriptions of the Working Groups. The Conference will be held June 27th and 28th at the Radisson Plaza Hotel at Mark Center in Alexandria, Virginia For more information please contact Lisa Pugh by calling (202)690-6712 or at LisaP@ospamm.ssw.dhhs.gov.

--- PAGE --- AGENDA June 27, 1994

8:15 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:15 a.m. Welcome

9:30 a.m. The Impact of the Changing Legislative and Regulatory Environment on Public Access to Government Information _ Bruce McConnell, Chief of Information the Policy Branch, Office of Management and Budget

10:30 a.m. Panel Discussion on The Impact of the Changing Regulatory and Legislative Environment

Moderated by Rick Weingarten, Executive Director, Computing Research Association

* A View from the Private Sector: Ken Allen, President, Information Industry Association* A View from the States: Lorraine Amico, Senior Policy Analyst, National Governor's Association* A View from the Public: Edwin Beller, Senior Editorial Specialist, Division of Public Outreach, American Association of Retired People (AARP)* A View from the Hill: David McMillen, Professional Staff, Subcommittee on Regulation and Government Information, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:30 p.m. Concurrent Working Groups (See Descriptions for Detail)

When The Public Talks Back The Role of Intermediaries in Public Access Restrictions on the Use of Data Cooperation Among Different Levels of Government* Meeting Customer Needs and Setting Customer Service Standards

5:00 Adjournment for the First Day

June 28, 1994

8:15-9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Workgroups Continue

12:00 p.m. Lunch

12:45 p.m. Using the Information Highway John R. Garrett, Ph.D., Director, Information Resources Corporation for National Research Initiatives

As Director of Information Resources for C.N.R.I., Dr. Garrett is responsible for developing and implementing research programs to study potential uses of electronically accessible information, and for building research alliances with publishers, universities, technical and scientific organizations, corporations, hardware and software producers, and other key partners in the emerging electronic information universe.

C.N.R.I. is a non-profit research and development organization formed in 1986, whose mission is to foster the development of the advanced infrastructure which will be required to exploit the economic, social, scientific and intellectual potential of electronic Information.

1:30 p.m. Panel Discussion on the Work Group Recommendations

3:30 p.m. Adjournment

----PAGE----

WORK GROUP DESCRIPTIONS

Because this is a working conference, attendees are asked to choose one working group with which to work during the entire conference. Each working group will be tasked to develop recommendations that will advance public access. Please indicate your working group preferences on the attached registration form.

Kathleen Eisenbeis, Ph.D., Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Visiting Scientist, Universities Earth Sciences Program Stan Prochaska, Special Assistant to the Director, USDA Office of Public Affairs

* The National Performance Review, the NII and the Executive Order on identifying customers and setting customer service standards, all place customers and their needs as the highest priority. This working group will address customer identification; customer needs; setting customer service standards; assessing customer satisfaction; and conducting surveys.

Wally Finch, Associate Director, Office of Business Development, NTIS James Terragno, (invited)

* The Federal government can cultivate partnerships with intermediaries that will allow for even greater, and often easier, public access. There are many issues surrounding previous Agency attempts to establish intermediaries as partners in information dissemination. This working group will address when to use intermediaries; what kind to use (value-added, libraries, community networks); and how they can help assure equity in socio-economic, geographic, and cultural terms.

Bonnie Carroll, President, Information International Elliot Siegal, Associate Director for Health Information Programs Development, National Library of Medicine

* Successful public access is dependent upon the resolution of a range of issues specific to the data itself or the relationships under which the data are produced. This working group will discuss the issues surrounding restrictions on data access and restrictions on ease of use. Issues include rights and restrictions in copyright, licenses, security classifications, and non-disclosure agreements; the balance between efficiency and privacy; data quality; and the cost of access as a barrier.

Abby Pirnie, Director, Office of Cooperative Environmental Management, Environmental Protection Agency Ann Prentice, Dean, University of Maryland College of Library and Information Services

* State and local governments can be invaluable partners with the Federal government in issues of public access. This working group will discuss how various levels of government can work together to facilitate public access to government information.

Richard Civille, Center for Civic Networking Frank Lally, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Resources Management, Department of Veteran's Affairs

* Communication technology now permits feedback and the ability to enter into a dialog with the citizen. This working group will address interactions between the government and the public including public response to government information dissemination; public submission of data; and customer inquiries and document ordering.

---PAGE---

BACKGROUND ON SPONSORS

Working Group on Public Access (Solomons) For those who have been involved in the so-called Solomons Group, the interest in information access and dissemination is not new. It began in 1990 with the planning of the first interagency conference on public access sponsored by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and held May 20-21, 1991 in Solomons, Maryland. The first interagency workshop was an attempt to identify issues surrounding public access to government information, particularly that which is collected or generated and maintained in electronic form, and to share experiences that agencies have had in implementing public access programs. The second workshop (hosted by the Agriculture Department) focused on issues surrounding public access to government computers, and ended in an agreement to develop a policy framework to assist agencies in preparing their individual policies. The third workshop (hosted by the Department of Commerce) considered the draft framework, and again discussed specific issues of major concern to the agencies in attendance. These issues were refined and grouped into five categories: framework revision, client based services, user support, pricing and budgeting, and locator and standards. The fourth conference (hosted by the Department of the Interior) focused on the recommendations of the working groups formed at the third workshop. Solomons continues to be involved with issues surrounding public access and this year plans to co-host its fifth conference with the American Society for Information Science.

American Society for Information Science* ASIS is a non-profit professional association organized for scientific, literary and educational purposes and dedicated to the creation, organization, dissemination and application of knowledge concerning information and its transfer. Since its founding in 1937 it has become the leading and most representative national professional organization for those concerned with designing, managing, and using information systems and technology. It leads the information profession in the search for new and better theories, techniques, and technologies to improve access to information through storage and retrieval advances; as well as reflecting the frontiers and horizons of the dynamic field of information science and technology. --- PAGE ---

REGISTRATION FORM Fifth Solomons Interagency Conference on Public Access June 27 and 28, 1994 Radisson Plaza Hotel at Mark Center, Alexandria, VA

Name Badge Nickname Title Organization Address Phone ( ) Fax ( )

Government

____ ASIS Member/ Private Sector

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT:

The $95 registration fee will include materials, continental breakfast and lunch for both days. Enclosed is my:

___ Purchase Order /Government Agency Training Form. Indicate that payment should be sent to the Council of Federal Data Center Directors. ___ Check/Money Order made payable to the Council of Federal Data Center Directors

Cancellations must be received in writing (via letter or FAX) no later than June 7, 1994. All individuals who register and do not meet the cancellation deadline will still be obligated for payment whether or not they attend.

While we will make every effort to accommodate your working group preference, space is limited in each group. Please rank your first three preferences for working groups:

___# Meeting customer needs and setting customer service standards.

___# The role of intermediaries in public access.

___# Restrictions on the use of data.

___# Cooperation among different levels of government.

___# When the public talks back.

Do you have any accommodation needs that we should be aware of (e.g., physical access, special meals)?

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Pugh at 202/690-6712 or at LisaP@ospamm.ssw.dhhs.gov.

LOCATION The Radisson Plaza Hotel at Mark Center is located in Alexandria, VA. From Washington, take 395 South to Seminary Road (Exit 4), go west on Seminary road and take the first left into the hotel drive. Parking is available in the ramp behind the hotel for $3.50 per day. If you require overnight accommodations, reservations may be made at 703/845-1010. No specific block of rooms has been reserved for the Solomons Conference.

This completed form, the training form/purchase order or check, and the completed questionnaire may be mailed to:

Fifth Solomons Conference c/o Lisa Pugh Office of Information Resources Management Department of Health and Human Services HHH Building 531H 200 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20201

Registrants may fax the registration form, the completed questionnaire, and, if possible, a copy of the completed and approved training form, to (202) 690-8715. Please make sure you have indicated your working group preference.

Space is limited. Please register promptly to ensure attendance.

Thank you for your quick response. ```

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