Changes to NTIS

We agree with you that the National Technical Information Service “does important work that should be continued.” That is why our proposal--contrary to what your March 1 editorial suggests--does not completely eliminate NTIS. We propose to shut down the parts of NTIS that duplicate other government programs or compete with the private sector. But we do not propose to eliminate the core clearinghouse function, which collects and disseminates federally funded science and technical information. And, contrary to your editorial, I believe our plan would provide the public better access to scientific and technical information.

As the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science found, the current business model of NTIS is fundamentally flawed. In an Internet age, this small agency cannot support itself. We must do something this year to ensure that this agency does not go bankrupt.

Our proposal is a “good government” measure; it gets rid of the unnecessary and outmoded parts of NTIS and puts the important information collection and disseminating function at an organization that specializes in information collection and dissemination.

WILLIAM M. DALEY

Secretary of Commerce

Washington