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Dissertation Information for Rebecca R. Pressman

NAME:
- Rebecca R. Pressman

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- Florida State University (USA) (2002)

ADVISORS:
- Kathy Burnett

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Marcy P. Driscoll
- Jane B. Robbins
- Gary Burnett
- Steven G. Gey

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: Classification, description and comparison of state laws related to the Internet

Abstract: Society sometimes responds to new information and communication technology by making public policy in the form of law. The research area explored this response though the classification, description and comparison of laws related to the Internet passed by state legislatures between 1993 and 1999. This research area was also chosen because the federal government's role in regulating the Internet is emphasized, and state governments' role is overlooked, and when not overlooked, criticized.

An online search of all state legislative databases was performed to identify 911 statutory sections related to the Internet. The statutes were then classified into one of 15 categories based on a classification scheme developed by Benkler (2000) and analyzed to determine how the statutory section was enforced and how the state's statutory code was changed to include the statutory section.

The data set was used to investigate five research questions. For the first research question, categorization of statutory sections, the data indicated that states enacted the most statutory sections in the Access to Government Information category and the least in the Intellectual Property category.

For the second research question, terms used separately and together to refer to the Internet, the data indicated that the most common single term was Internet, followed by electronic mail; the most common combination of terms was Internet and the "World Wide Web." For the third research question, similarities and differences among states in number of laws, categories and topics, the data suggested more difference than similarity among the states with respect to the number of statutory sections and statutory sections in each category but suggested similarities in the enactment of laws on specific topics. The results of the fourth, differences in type of enforcement mechanism and change to statutory code and categories of laws, and fifth research questions, pattern over time in categories of laws enacted, require further follow-up testing. In addition to demonstrating the complexity of the relationship between new information and communication technology and legal policy change, the results suggest that states are Internet policy actors in areas that are not discussed in the literature on "Internet federalism."

MPACT Scores for Rebecca R. Pressman

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:05:50

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