Sustaining Democracy in a Digital Age

A version of this piece originally appeared on SSRC's Data Drip blog.

Further evidence that this seemingly obscure corner of the communications policy field continues to have greater and greater resonance: Last week, the Federal Communications Commission announced the launch of what it is calling its Data Innovation Initiative.

The goal of this Initiative is to “modernize and streamline how [the Commission] collects, uses, and disseminates data.” As Chairman Genachowski stated in connection with the launch: “Smart policies depend on quality data, and public data should be accessible to the public in meaningful ways using modern digital tools.” Couldn’t agree more. What is particularly impressive about the Data Innovation Initiative is the way that the Commission’s Media Bureau, Wireline Competition Bureau, and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau are each conducting their own proceedings. The Media, Wireline, and Wireless Bureaus each have issued their own Data Inventories in Excel spreadsheets that contain information about each form of data each bureau currently gathers. These spreadsheets include information on the form the Commission uses to gather the data; the uses of the data; whether the data collection is voluntary or required; the type of entities that submit the data; and the format in which the data are gathered. Those interested in submitting comments in the proceeding are thus able to start with a fairly complete picture of the nature of the data that the Commission currently gathers.

The Commission is seeking comment on: a) the utility and rationale for each of its existing data collections; b) additional data that the bureaus need; c) how to improve the collection and analysis process for existing collections; and d) how to improve dissemination of reports and analyses the Commission produces.

Each of the bureaus has issued its own separate public notice seeking comment. The filing deadline is August 13th. So much for a lazy July.