What if everyone in the United States were to have instant electronic access to their elected, appointed and career government officials? Interested parties could participate in the drafting of regulations and engage directly in debate on government action. While several million Americans have electronic mail capability, with a population of more than 250 million, such access is still relatively limited. More and more agencies are advertising that they are now "on-line" and are soliciting citizens to contact them at their electronic mail address. It is also the case that more and more of our elected officials are establishing e-mail addresses or Web sites.
There is little dispute that using information technology to support government rulemaking can reduce costs for both agencies and the public. And, as a practical matter, electronic rulemaking is more efficient and can possibly reach a greater number of interested parties than by merely publishing in the Federal Register, corresponding by mail, talking by telephone and traveling to hearings and meetings. This same technology also enables interested parties to interact with other interested parties, consider and devise new and better ways of doing things, all prior to or without governments' involvement. For example, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunication and Information Administration recently used electronic rulemaking to gather responses to a report on reallocating the Federal radio spectrum. The report was placed on-line and was made available through an electronic bulletin board system and via the Internet by Telnet. Sixty organizations responded to the report. These sixty responses were then placed on-line for everyone to see and discuss.
A related effort is making available to the public the rules and regulations they are expected to follow. Also relevant are legislative materials and supporting documents, such as Congressional committee reports. The ultimate issue is how we can make it possible, more practical, and more attractive for Americans to participate in government at all levels.
Questions regarding participatory democracy.