IP: FCC Turns Away Mail Amid Anthrax Fears

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
>
>
> FCC Turns Away Mail Amid Anthrax Fears
>
> Summary:
>
> The FCC and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) debuted 
> plans to move more interactions with citizens to the Internet. The FCC's 
> action comes in response to the threat of anthrax exposure through the 
> mail. Until further notice, the FCC will not accept documents delivered by 
> hand or by messenger at its Washington, D.C., headquarters. As of 
> yesterday, it only will accept such deliveries at a Maryland facility. In 
> lieu of delivery, the FCC encourages people to use its Web site to file 
> documents. Meanwhile, OMB's plan to move to the Internet is to allow 
> greater public examination of its regulatory and review processes. The 
> agency plans a multiyear expansion in the amount and scope of information 
> it discloses to the public through the Internet. Reported by Newsbytes.
>
> Full Article:
>
> WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 2001 OCT 19 (NB) -- By Patience Wait, Washington 
> Technology. The Federal Communications Commission and the White House 
> Office of Management and Budget have unveiled plans to move more 
> interactions with citizens to the Internet. The FCC's action comes in 
> response to the threat of anthrax exposure through the mail.
>
> The FCC announced new guidelines Oct. 17 for document delivery. Among the 
> changes, until further notice, the FCC will not accept documents delivered 
> by hand or by messenger at its Washington headquarters. It will accept 
> such deliveries at its Capitol Heights, Md., facility as of Oct. 22.
>
> "The commission finds it necessary at this time to make these changes to 
> its procedures to protect the health and safety of its employees," the 
> announcement said. The commission encourages its customers to use its 
> electronic systems to facilitate filing documents.
>
> OMB's plan to move to the Internet is to allow greater public examination 
> of its regulatory and paperwork review processes. The agency's Office of 
> Information and Regulatory Affairs plans a multiyear expansion in the 
> amount and scope of information it discloses to the public through the 
> Internet.
>
> The goal "is to increase public understanding of OMB's regulatory review 
> responsibilities, thereby allowing public scrutiny, criticism and praise 
> of what we do," said John Graham, OIRA administrator, in an Oct. 18 
> statement. "If OMB is to be a credible advocate of e-government, we must 
> practice e-government ourselves."
>
> By Nov. 1, OMB intends to provide greater access to information on 
> regulatory review through its Web site and through the government's portal 
> at www.FirstGov.gov. This includes:
>
> - Lists of regulations under review, updated daily;
>
> - Monthly statistical summaries on reviews by the agency and the economic 
> significance of the rule;
>
> - Copies of review-related letters from OMB and OIRA to agencies;
>
> - Information on meetings with outside parties required to be disclosed by 
> executive order.
>
> In the long term, funds have been committed to developing a new 
> computerized tracking system to manage the reviews of both regulations and 
> information collection requests. The system will replace a 20-year-old 
> tracking system with electronic capabilities for submission of public 
> comments and dissemination of OIRA documents.


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