Should this stuff be free online?

[The Straight Story]

http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/eproducts.jsp

Electronic Products Catalog

A number of Government publications produced in electronic format can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents. These products are cross-listed in the U.S. Government Bookstore search results. For ordering information and assistance, see Electronic Products Ordering - Information and Specifications.

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR)

Publisher: National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register, and Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents

Description: (Issued As Updated) Codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. Divided into 50 titles representing broad areas subject to Federal regulation. To order any of these electornic CFR products, call 1-888-293-6498 (toll-free).

Code of Federal Regulations (File Transfer Protocol)

Publisher: National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register; and Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents

Description: Please call 1-888-293-6498 (Toll-Free) to inquire about FTP Service. 1 Year Subscription. Offered in a range of prices and formats:
$ 9,430.00 for ASCII;
$ 8,250.00 for SGML (text-only);
$ 17,325.00 for SGML (text and images);
$ 115.00 for Single Part of a Title.

Price: $9,430.00

Code of Federal Regulations (On-Demand CD-ROM)

Publisher:National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register, and Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents

Description: CD-ROMs are sold on demand as a single part of a CFR title. Price is $180.00 per part

Price: $180.00

CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Publisher: Congress and Government Printing Office

Description: (Issued every two years) Presents short biographies of each member of the Senate and the House, listed by States and Districts, respectively. Includes additional data such as his/her committee memberships, terms of service, administrative assistant and/or secretary, room and telephone numbers. Also lists officials of the courts, the military establishments, and other Federal departments and agencies, including the D.C. Government; Governors of States and Territories; foreign diplomats; and members of the press, radio, and television galleries. The Congressional Directory is available in ASCII format.

Price: $115.00

(Much more at link above)
I know one can find such things online with some searching, but the prices seem a bit steep....

[liberaltrucker]

1. Uh, didn't our tax dollars pay for this?

Public records should be free.

:grr:

[Southsideirish]

2. I agree. Can you go to a local library that is a "Depository" for Gov.

Docs? They will be free there. May be your local state university.

[greyl]

3. I think they are.

www.wbdg.org
http://www.gpo.gov/congress/106_pictorial/

[Trillo]

4. Probably. Taxpayers paid for producing it,

so how respective of property is it to sell it back to us?

I believe I recall that years ago, government booklets didn't even assert copyright.

[TheWraith]

9. No copyright on government docs.

It's the law: the government can't assert copyright on any reports, documents, booklets, etcetera produced by the government: it's public domain from the day it's written.

[NoSheep]

5. Absolutely it should be free.

I'd be willing to bet it is. Reminds me of those teaser mailings telling you a bizness has to pay for OSHA posters and the like. Complete bullshit. And if it isn't, there oughta be a law.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Maybe, BUT...

have you ever seen the Federal Register? Used to get it in a job I once had, it was 100-200 pages a day back then. The Register can be searched for free online if there's something in there you want to know about, but you don't really want to download every regulation the gummint has in effect.

These things are bought by corporate and lobbying types who use them to research regs that affect them. The same people we complain about who don't pay enough taxes.

The Congressional directory maybe could be free, but the information in it is also freely available, much of it at http://thomas.loc.gov, and this is just making it easier for lobbyists to keep their contact lists up to date.

OK, I'll admit our activist organizations have to pay these hefty fees, too, and it may keep many from getting them. But, they can still search for free online or use cheaper research services.

[The Straight Story]

7. Well I was thinking of something along the lines of

Being about to DL it using wget or rsynch (since it is an electronic format they are offering anyway) and being able to locally search and do analysis (and yes, I could use wget and such on thomas and such).

I just thought it interesting that they offer electronic copies at such a high price - and today I spent some time on Federal sites that offered free elctronic and physical things:

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/
and federal reserve
http://www.ny.frb.org/publications/result.cfm?comics=1

There are plenty of places, just found it odd this one charged so much (and if I can find them free anyway, why would one site charge and another not?)

[TreasonousBastard]

8. No idea why they charge for...

some stuff and give others away, just a few lame guesses. It's pretty much always been that way, even when it was all paper.

I suspect budget cuts have made some departments start charging, or charg more.

[KitchenWitch]

10. that is outrageous

What are they using our tax dollars for....oh that's right, they are using our money to "free Iraq". :eyes: