Noting that some 40 million US citizens now have access to the Internet, the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday proposed allowing the public to use the Web to file comments on regulatory matters.
"Right now commenting is a fairly arduous, archaic process," said Kevin Werbach, the FCC's counsel for new technology policy. "Remarks have to be submitted on paper, in multiple copies. So we're simplifying with a Web page form that will include a searchable database."
The proposed rule would also make public comments available online.
For now, the FCC is limiting electronically filed commentary to rulemaking proceedings other than broadcast allotments.
"The volume of email comment on per-minute Internet access charges raised the question of practicality," Werbach said in an interview Thursday, referring to a February incident in which netizens flooded the FCC with some 340,000 email messages and temporarily shut down the commission's computer system. "It's a question of whether we have the manpower to deal with compiling and summarizing so many comments."
Although the agency has tentatively settled on the Web as the medium for filing comments, it is also seeking input on the use of CD-ROMs and bulletin boards. Paper commentary likely will remain an option.
The FCC has had DynCorp under contract developing the electronic-filing process since last fall. Werbach estimates the final cost of wiring the commission will fall somewhere between US$500,000 and $1 million.
Werbach said the agency will take comment on the proposed rules for 45 days and that an order instituting the system would come two months after that.
