Public Online Info. Act

In a recent article found through freepress, it was revealed that Congress if going to be pushing forward a Public Online Information Act. This act would require that all information that is deemed public within the Executive Branch and its agencies must be posted on the Internet within the next three years. The information would have to be searchable and accessible to anyone with an Internet service in America. The point of the act is to move all information, "out of the metal file cabinets and into the sunlight of the Internet". Currently most public federal records can be found in paper form or on federal computers but those facilities are usually only open from 9a.m. until 5p.m. which makes access by the public nation-wide difficult if not impossible. Of course there would be exceptions for agencies with information that could "reveal sensitive material".

The point of creating this Bill is to simply keep our Nation accountable as a government made for the people by the people. I personally believe that this is a big step in making Americans more confident in the own government by using such a powerful mass media form as the Internet. In an age where public information is available to the entire populace through a web browser, the American government needs to join the party and let its citizens in. A government that is transparent with its people is an excellent and sometimes difficult step that could hold great effects in the long run.

The approval of a Bill such as the Public Online Information Act could and will effect the American public directly. Students hundreds of miles away from Washington D.C. could have access to information for reports. Americans can have a growing confidence in their relationship with their own Nation. Various other positive outcomes could arise from approving such a Bill. It is extremely encouraging to finally see the American government not only working to regulate mass media such as the Internet. Creating a Bill that utilizes Mass Media in such a positive and creative way incurs many implications about the public's relationship with Mass Media. Possibly not only a greater trust in our government but in the media that provides us with information.

Any thoughts?