------------------------------------------------------------------------- *This message is 64 lines.* **************************************************************************** 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 (jpolly@nysernet.org) or John Iliff (publll@nysernet.org.) This notice must appear as part of the file. ***************************************************************************** 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 info@ace.esusda.gov ***************************************************************************