[jaytaylor]

Given that the FCC is funded by the taxpayers I find it frustrating that the FCC document archive is sitting behind a paywall-esque system. Is there a good reason for this?

With all the money it costs to physically store and maintain the documents, I would imagine that they could instead scan and index them, and then put them up online and make them available to taxpayers for free, since we (the taxpayers) have effectively already paid for it, and continue to pay for it continually.

How did the BCPI become the sole contractor to have access to these documents? How can I find out how this came to be?

http://bcpiweb.com/fcc.php:

> Our office is inside of the FCC building and we have full complete access to FCC files,

> FCC divisions, FCC bureaus and FCC archives! We are the official contractor given top

> priority by the Federal Government in handling FCC documents to benefit the public.

<sarcasm>Yes, what a boon for the public.</sarcasm>

FWIW, I hate being so negative about this. But as is often the case with governmental affairs, this seems like total bullshit.

[sliverstorm]

document archive is sitting behind a paywall-esque system. Is there a good reason for this?

Traditionally the reason is it requires somebody to go find the physical copy, scan it, and send it to you.

I would imagine that they could instead scan and index them, and then put them up online

Physical archival, once archived, is pretty low-maintenance. They could scan and index them, but that costs something. Yes, the information in the documents has already been paid for, but transferring that information has not.

<sarcasm>Yes, what a boon for the public.</sarcasm>

Well, at least you can get access if you need it. Compared to zero access, I'd say that's a boon. Also a good first step.

[jonknee]

They should have the policy that once someone requests a document it is made public (just the document, no the request). Bootstrap the digital index with the most interesting documents as suggested by public demand.

[anotherhue]

I don't know why these documents have been scanned, but this is where I've gotten all the online references so far. And no, there is no index :(

These can only be found by crawling through the top level directory, which I only found through Google. It's just not a priority for the FCC.

http://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Databases/docum...

http://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/OSEC/library/legislative_h...

[mburns]

The National Archives should have jurisdiction for storing the documents of all federal agencies, departments and commissions. Just like the NSA has jurisdiction to secure every federal computer network.

[seanalltogether]

And yet, if given the chance, I'm sure google would love to scan and distribute any and every document the government gave them access to.

[tingletech]

Their material seems to be in the national archives.

http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/17...

BCPI seems like some sort of copy service / a service for people who do not want to fly in and physically visit the archives.

[cmsmith]

It's the same reason that federally funded scientific research is only available in for-profit journals. Someone has to pay for the costs associated with publishing things, and the scientists/FCC don't want it coming out of their budget.

Of course, the money being paid to access papers in for-profit journals is also coming from the government, just in a less efficient way.

[wwwtyro]

The cost of publishing - especially written documents - has dropped to essentially free in the last two decades, though. I hear your argument from time to time, but it's a really hard sell these days.