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This is a special edition of the PUBLIB Interview.  A couple of months ago we
noticed Senator Edward Kennedy was posting news releases and other
information on USENET and on BBS's in Massachusetts.  We contacted Senator
Kennedy's office, and this interview is the result.  We are honored that
Senator Kennedy took time out of his busy schedule to respond to our
questions.  Much appreciation to Chris Casey, Kennedy staffer, for
coordinating the interview.  Chris also provided the information at the
close of the message.  Thanks also to Steve Cisler for input on the
interview.

Distribution of The PUBLIB Interview, in part or whole, is permitted only
for free educational or other non-profit purposes unless otherwise granted by
the editors of PUBLIB.  For information on PUBLIB, the Internet forum for
public library issues, contact Jean Armour Polly ([email protected]) or
John Iliff ([email protected].) This notice must appear as part of the file.
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January 28, 1994

                PUBLIB Interview: Senator Kennedy



PUBLIB: Why did you decide to start providing information on a BBS system in
       Massachusetts as well as providing information on USENET?


Senator Kennedy:

When my office made the commitment to make information available to
constituents electronically, I wanted it to be as widely available as
possible. The Internet can be described as an information highway, and the
tens of thousands of computer bulletin boards can be thought of as cities
and towns. Through USENET news groups and computer bulletin boards, we are
making information available at all levels.



PUBLIB: Will you be involved in the Senate pilot project for e-mail on the
       Internet?


Senator Kennedy:

Yes.  But in order to provide direct e-mail access to my office, procedures
are needed for handling the high volumes of e-mail and to protect the office
computer network from overload.  I am learning from the White House's
experience in this area, and a solution for the Senate is in the works.



PUBLIB: Are other members of the Senate discussing ways they can be in
       contact with constituents electronically?


Senator Kennedy:

Yes.  Several other Senators currently have or are close to having systems
in place and the Senate Computer Center recently announced the availability
of Internet access for all Senate offices.  Not long ago, fax machines seemed
exotic, but now they are everywhere.  Constituent e-mail and electronic
distribution of information are likely to become routine on Capitol Hill in
the near future.

Numerous other efforts are underway to develop and improve electronic
communications between government and the public.  The electronic delivery of
government information and services are key parts of Vice President Gore's
National Performance Review and the Clinton Administration's plan for a
National Information Infrastructure.  Earlier this year my office participated
in forming a group called Americans Communicating Electronically (ACE).  Its
members are mostly, but not exclusively, drawn from a wide spectrum of federal
agencies.  ACE is seeking to help the public communicate with government
electronically.  It has made information such as the President's Health Care
Plan and NAFTA available to the public electronically, and in doing so it has
demonstrated the demand for such access.



PUBLIB: As the handling of e-mail is worked out, will it garner greater
       attention than, say, postal mail ?


Senator Kennedy:

No.  Electronic mail will open a new avenue for communications between
constituents and my office.  It will not replace or distract from more
traditional means of communication.  As the White House does, I'm asking
constituents to include their postal address in their e-mail.  They'll get an
electronic acknowledgment, but the detailed reply will be sent by traditional
mail.  As the practice evolves, we'll obviously adapt to whatever changes
make sense to facilitate all communications.  We also need to see that the
new services are as widely available as possible to all Americans.



PUBLIB: Do you see public libraries being involved in developing electronic
       democracy?


Senator Kennedy:

Very much so.  Public libraries are a vital information link between the
government and the public.  Access to computer networks for all citizens is
essential.  Whether information is made available through books or computer
networks, libraries must continue to play a critical role in providing broad
access to the public.  Librarians can guide citizens of all ages through the
world of computer networks.  As more government information and access are
available on-line, libraries will make the government less remote and more
responsive to the needs of individual citizens.



PUBLIB: On a somewhat unrelated topic, have public libraries ever played an
       important role in your life?


Senator Kennedy:

President Kennedy was also my godfather, and he took a special interest in
me when we were growing up.  Some of my happiest memories are of the books he
used to borrow from the public library for me to read.  Today in Washington I
couldn't function without the Library of Congress and its immense resources
on all the policy questions we're debating.

________________________________________________________________

Accessing Senator Kennedy Releases On-line

Computer Bulletin Boards
The following computer bulletin boards carry the "Sen. Kennedy Releases"
conference and the "Press Release Comments" sub-conference.  These boards each
use the FirstClass BBS software, and can be accessed with standard
telecommunications software, or in their graphical interface via Macintosh or
Windows client software available for downloading on-line.

Computer Bulletin Boards:

North Shore Mac     508/921-4716  User ID: visitor, Password: visitor
Conspiracy          508/478-1714
Quantum             508/443-4644
BMUG Boston         617/721-5840
Fire on the Hill    617/629-9739
Reflections         617/593-7228

On the Internet:

Anonymous FTP
Releases are also available via anonymous FTP at the following sites:

ftp ftp.ai.mit.edu ,login: anonymous, cd incoming/Kennedy
and
ftp ftp.senate.gov , login: anonymous, cd member/ma/kennedy


USENET

Releases can be found in the following USENET news groups:
ne.politics and talk.politics.misc

ACE
[email protected]
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