Information to users

The Evolution of Information Issues within US Politics
Explanations about the motivations which drive
information policy making maintain that the United States has promoted information flows for both economic and
political reasons. The rationale, on the whole, follows one or both of the following arguments: a) the 'free flow of information among nations strengthens democracy and
political liberty" or b) 'free enterprise in open,
competitive markets is the most efficient, productive means to foster innovations,"7 that is, the continuation and
expansion of capitalistic norms and values, which includes, somewhat paradoxically, advocacy and protection of
businesses based within its borders.
Economically, information has been considered a 'golden cow." In other words, it is increasingly conceptualized as a commodity8 that, if used wisely, results in profit.
Politically, information has meant power in the form of
7 Harriet Culley, ed. 'US International Communications and
Information Policy," GIST (Washington, D.C.: Bureau of Public Affairs, US Department of State, December 1988), p. 1.
8 See, for example, Edward A. Comor, 'Governance and the
Commoditization of Informtion" Global Governance 4, no. 2 (Spring 1998):217-233; and Comor, Communication, Commerce and Power: The Political Economy of America and the Direct Broadcast Satellite, 1960-2000 (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998).
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control of and access to information content. The more
information available to political elites and the more they control the access to that information, the better they are able to increase their political power and influence.9 This method of using information has been applied both
domestically and internationally (bilateral and multilateral relations). These are the environments in which the place of the United States in international flows of information over time can be understood.
In a domestic setting, the making of information
policy10 comes in the form of, first, research and
development, that is innovations in information and
communications technology as well as improved methods of manipulating the gathering, storage, retrieval and analysis of data. The desire is both to make money as well as reflect the positive position of the United States relative to other countries. Second, governmental intervention in the
distribution of information technologies and content at a domestic level, which, as will be explained, had an effect on US international relations.
9 For example, the entire US intelligence community is based
on the idea that whoever has the most - and the most relevant - information is in a position to have greater influence on both one's companions and one's enemies.
10 Some of the following is adapted from John M. Eger 'Law
and Policy in International Business." in Leonard Lewin, ed., Telecommunications in the US: Trends and Policies (Dedham, Mass.: Artech House, Inc., 1981), p. 391.
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Bilateral and multilateral settings have the common denominator of international relationships, but of two different types. The bilateral approach would be one-on-one interactions. In these interactions, the United States has often remained within the boundaries of trade negotiations, principally with developed countries. Discussion surrounding the openness of markets for information and
telecommunications products has dominated this area, such as the tariff reduction rounds of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
On the other hand, with developing countries, the United States has participated in many international institutions and multilateral agreements. A principal characteristic of this environment has been that alternative perspectives presented in these multilateral fora have been antagonistic to the principles espoused by democracy and/or a free market society.
Table 3.1