Fee or free: Public interest and the freedom of information act |
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| Authors: | Nancyanne O&#x;hanlon |
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| Institution: | Nancyanne O''Hanlon is a Reference Librarian at the Undergraduate Library, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA |
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| Abstract: | This article examines Executive agency fee waiver guidelines for public interest requesters, including scholars, the media, and public interest groups, within the larger context of F.O.I.A.'s costs and benefits to the public. Information transmitted to the public by these requesters enhances citizen oversight of government activities and assists Congress in formulating public policy. However, arbitrary interpretation of the statute's fee waiver provision and the lack of standard and consistent fee waiver guidelines clearly inhibit use of the Act by public interest requesters. Continuing efforts by some Members of Congress and Executive agency personnel to further limit certain types of information available under the F.O.I. A. prompted renewed consideration of the economic aspects of Federal information policy in general and, in particular, the Freedom of Information Act. |
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