Subject: Re: ACE

From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1993 21:35:52 -0800

I'm passing this along as potentially interesting.
------------
>From uucp Sun Oct 31 19:40 PST 1993
>From freenet.victoria.bc.ca!pgordon  Sun Oct 31 17:04:55 1993 remote from cdp.igc.org
From: [email-masked] (Peter Gordon)
Subject: Re: ACE
To: [email-masked]
Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1993 17:09:21 -0800 (PST)
Cc: [email-masked] (Clyde Forrest), [email-masked]
Content-Length: 14099     

So, what I want to know is are these ACE folks actually going to
provide the MUCH NEEDE FUNDING to local civic/community networks
or are the just going to gather information endlessly while slowing
the progess of the folks (like ourselves and all the other freenets)
who are actually DOING SOMETHING?

Peter

Sorry for including the text, but read it over, just WHAT
exactly are these guys proposing.  We really don't need to
investigate this issue any more than it already has been.
And we sure don't need another "clearing house" of information;
or another mailing list for that matter!
> 
> >Date: Thu, 28 Oct 93 08:40:25 EDT
> >Errors-To: [email-masked]
> >Errors-To: [email-masked]
> >Reply-To: [email-masked]
> >Originator: [email-masked]
> >Sender: [email-masked]
> >Precedence: bulk
> >From: [email-masked] (Garth Graham)
> >To: Multiple recipients of list <[email-masked]>
> >Subject: ACE
> >X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0b -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
> >Status: O
> >
> >
> >>From [email-masked]  Wed Oct 27 10:07:57 1993
> >Return-Path: <[email-masked]>
> >Received: from mercury.house.gov by freenet.carleton.ca (4.1/SMI-4.0)
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> >        27 Oct 1993 10:00:10 EST
> >Message-Id: <[email-masked]>
> >Date: 27 Oct 1993 10:00:10 EST
> >From: "T.BLAKE" <[email-masked]>
> >Subject: VIEWPOINT EDITED VERSION
> >To: [email-masked]
> >
> >Garth more info.  The paper has been well received at the
> >White House.  Where do we go from here?
> >  Its anybody's guess.
> >Regards,
> >Ted Blake
> >[email-masked]
> >CC: T.BLAKE
> >TO: INTERNET.JGILL
> >FROM: HR.DALBISTO         POSTED: OCT 26, 1993 AT 5:47 PM  221 LINES
> >SUBJECT: Viewpoint Version 6 - edited copy 10/26/93 5:16pm
> >
> >       THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK PROGRAM:
> >      BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
> >
> >______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >In a recent press release, concerning The Freedom of Information Act
> >(FOIA), President Clinton stated that the FOIA is a vital part of the
> >participatory system of government.  He further stated that the statute
> >was enacted based upon the fundamental principle that an informed
> >citizenry is essential to the democratic process and that the more the
> >American people know about their government the better they will be
> >governed.  Mr. Clinton concluded by strongly encouraging the use of
> >electronic information systems to enhance public access to government
> >information.  These statements are consistent with the White House
> >Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-130 document, which
> >promotes the application of information technology to improve the use
> >and dissemination of government information by Federal agencies.  They
> >are also consistent with Vice President Al Gore's Report of the National
> >Performance Review (NPR) which recommends the use of information
> >technology to improve customer service, to integrate service kiosks, and
> >to implement a government-wide electronic bulletin board system.
> >
> >In a similar effort of openness, the construction of an advanced
> >National Information Infrastructure (NII), a seamless web of
> >communications networks, computers, databases, and consumer electronics
> >is in motion, including the establishment of a much needed group,
> >Americans Communicating Electronically (ACE).  ACE membership is diverse
> >and represents private and public organizations and individuals who wish
> >to promote interactive communications between federal agencies, state
> >and local governments, private businesses, public libraries, public
> >schools, rural cooperatives, public and private universities, community
> >arts and theater,voluntary associations, job training services, and
> >health care organizations with the application of information
> >technology.
> >
> >In order to accomplish the development of interactive communications
> >between federal and local governments and communities, ACE is
> >recommending the issuance of an Executive Directive assigning
> >responsibility to all Federal Departments and Agencies for the
> >establishment of information access programs to help create and foster
> >an "inter-active citizen-government communications system".  ACE does
> >not recommend a new layer of bureaucracy.  ACE is however, urging
> >Federal departments and agencies to fully adhere to the OMB A-130
> >circular utilizing existing funds and resources and, to respond to a new
> >culture with new directions and a commitment to openness in government.
> >
> >GOALS OF THE INFORMATION ACCESS PROGRAMS
> >
> >The goals of the information access programs would be to foster and
> >facilitate interactive communications between the public and their
> >government, and to broaden public participation in the development of
> >government communications policy.  Citizens would be provided with
> >access to a wide range of public databases containing electronically
> >stored information accessible through an electronic gateway.
> >
> >NATIONAL ADVANCES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
> >
> >Recognition of the nation's advances in computer science and technology
> >is vital for future prosperity, national and economic security,
> >industrial production, and scientific advancement.  However, further
> >research and development, expanded educational programs, improved
> >computer research networks, and more effective technology transfer from
> >government to the American people are necessary for the United States to
> >reap fully the benefits of high-performance computing.  All Americans
> >have a stake in the construction of an advanced National Information
> >Infrastructure (NII), a seamless web of communications networks,
> >computers, databases, consumer electronics that will allow citizens to
> >access vast amounts of information through their personal computers.
> >The development of the NII can help unleash an information revolution
> >that will change forever the way people live, work, and interact with
> >each other.  With the principles and objectives of the NII in mind,
> >federal departments and agencies should promote technological innovation
> >and commit research programs and grants to help develop the applications
> >needed to establish and maintain an electronic gateway to provide online
> >access to federal government electronic public information.
> >
> >To fulfill the NII vision of making the vast quantity of government
> >information available to the American people, it is imperative that a
> >coordinating body be established to secure a balanced public-partnership
> >and effective agency information management.  Initially, the
> >coordinating body, in cooperation with the federal government membership
> >of the NII Task Force, would encourage the community to be responsible
> >for the development of networking technologies.
> >
> >INFORMATION LOCATOR SYSTEM
> >
> >ACE recommends the development of strategic plan to promote the
> >coordination and establishment of a standard agency based Information
> >Locator System to help the public access a wide range of  databases,
> >inventory of publications, library services/systems, databases, bulletin
> >boards, multi media systems, clearinghouses, and hotlines.
> >
> >DELIVERY OF SERVICES
> >
> >The coordinating body would promote the development of inter-active
> >Citizen Participation Centers and Kiosks where citizens could get
> >information to revitalize local economies, form partnerships, mobilize
> >the resources of state and local governments, boost public voluntarism,
> >and allow citizens to communicate with the Executive Branch, Congress,
> >and federal agencies.
> >
> >COMMUNITY-BASED CITIZEN DEVELOPMENT/FREE CIVIC COMMUNITY NETWORKS
> >
> >With the participation and support of federal departments and agency
> >information access programs, the coordinating body could support
> >community-based citizen development of free civic/community networks
> >with a focus on creating broad-based community participation and
> >opportunities.  In time, this would lead to the innovative development
> >of nation-wide community computer systems and use of the national
> >communication technology for economic development opportunities.
> >Citizens could learn new issues, gain a sense of accomplishment, build
> >new relationships and develop evidence that every individual matters.
> >In addition, the coordinating body would  foster and promote
> >understanding of the social benefits to be gained from community-based
> >inter-active communication applications.
> >
> >COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT COOPERATION
> >
> >Community and government cooperation is critical to the success and
> >balance of this major undertaking.  The participation and contribution
> >of federal staff resources would ensure a more useful information flow
> >with greater ease to providers of free community networks, citizens,
> >information architects, community activists, public policy analysts,
> >facilitators, and administrators through computer-mediated
> >communication, such as; email, bulletin boards, electronic conferencing
> >that forms a direct link between the public and government, which is the
> >centerpiece of ACE.  Finally, the coordinating body would be responsible
> >for conducting periodic studies to gauge the information needs of the
> >public and compiling an annual report of the findings and goals of the
> >organization.
> >
> >__________________________________________________________
> >References:
> >
> >The National Information Infrastructure: Agenda for Action, U.S.
> >Department of Commerce (Washington, D.C.): September, 1993
> >
> >Creating a Government that Works Better and Costs Less, The Report of
> >the National Performance Review, Office of the Vice President,
> >(Washington, D.C.) September 1993
> >
> >Helping People and Communities in the Information Age: The Morino
> >Institute, The Morino Foundation: (Great Falls, Virginia) September 1993
> >
> >A National Strategy for Civic Networking: A Vision of Change; The Center
> >for Civic Networking: October, 1993, (Charlestown, Massachusetts)
> >
> >Community Computing and the National Public Telecomputing Network;
> >August, 1993 Dr. Thomas M. Grundner, President: The National Public
> >Telecomputing Network, (Cleveland, Ohio)
> >
> >Federal Information Resources Management (Circular A-130) Revision
> >Notice: Office of Management and Budget, (OMB), Office of the
> >President,: (Washington, D.C.) July, 1993
> >
> >ACE Vision Statement: Americans Communicating Electronically,
> >Washington, D.C.: September 1993
> >____________________________________________
> >
> >All critiques, suggestions and recommendations are welcome. Please send
> >to:
> >Ted Blake, U.S. House of Representatives, House Information Systems,
> >Ford HOB, Room 643, Washington, D.C. 20515, Voice Mail: 202.225.9276
> >Fax: 202.226.3482
> >e-mail: [email-masked] Subject: VIEWPOINT  Version:6 4:00pm
> >October 27, 1993
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >ABOUT AMERICANS COMMUNICATING ELECTRONICALLY (ACE)
> >
> >_____________________________________________
> >
> >
> >ACE is a team of volunteers both private and public citizen dedicated to
> >open access to information and learning from every home and community
> >across the nation.
> >
> >Who Are ACE Members
> >
> >The pioneering members
> >of ACE included the White House, Department of Agriculture, U.S. House
> >of Representatives, National Archives, Department of Commerce, Defense,
> >Education, Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Senate,
> >Government Printing Office, General Services Administration, Department
> >of Health and Human Services, Interior, Justice, Labor, Transportation,
> >National Science Foundation, Small Business Administration, numerous
> >associations, community-based public groups, universities and colleges.
> >
> >What Kind of Information is Available from ACE
> >
> >The ACE experiment is coming online in stages.  During stage one,
> >selected agencies in the Departments listed above will participate.  A
> >single electronic mail address will be used to receive incoming messages
> >from citizens.  These messages will be forwarded electronically to the
> >appropriate ACE agency contact for action.  Citizens will receive
> >responses either electronically or through conventional means within "48
> >hours" of their request.
> >
> >During stage two, a directory of U.S. Government agencies and online
> >databases which can be accessed directly by electronic mail will be
> >accessible by citizens.  Also available online, will be frequently asked
> >questions, policy and issue papers, and speeches.  Citizens will be able
> >to browse at leisure.
> >
> >Future stages will build upon learning experiences.  Final plans to
> >pilot test "Interactive Citizen Participation Centers" are currently
> >underway in local communities where citizens can electronically access
> >U.S. Government information when they shop or visit local libraries.
> >
> >To Join ACE
> >
> >To join ACE, send an electronic mail message to:
> >[email-masked]
> >
> >
> >________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >-- 
> >        Garth Graham                    [email-masked]
> >    <<< NGL/CANIS (Community Access Network Information Services) >>>
> >        Box 86, Ashton, Ont., K0A 1B0                613-253-3497
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Gareth R. Shearman                     [email-masked]     
>                                                                            
>                          
>                                         [email-masked]
> 
> 
>

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From: Miles R Fidelman <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1993 13:36:41 -0800

> who are actually DOING SOMETHING?

The key thing about ACE is that it is a group of information resource 
managers inside the Federal Government (all branches, I believe) who are 
committed to making the information they generate/control available 
electronically, and they are committed to doing it in useful, 
standardized ways (i.e. via gopher, WAIS, etc., rather than through 
sweatheart deals with vendors who have proprietary systems).

Since ACE is an informal organization, with no money of its own, it will 
not be funding anything -- but the agencies who come to meetings have 
various programs underway that could fund things.

The more important thing is that through ACE's efforts, more and more 
Federal information will become available at no cost, through the 
Internet.  Seems like a benefit to freenets.

**************************************************************************
Miles R. Fidelman                   [email-masked]
Executive Director                  91 Baldwin St. Charlestown MA 02129 
The Center for Civic Networking     617-241-9205 fax: 617-241-5064

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