The above discussion has focused on governmental units at the state, tribal, county, city, or local levels. However, it should not be assumed that these jurisdictions bear the full responsibility for extending the Framework. There are at least two roles for private industry and nonprofit organizations in the creation of an extended Framework:

1. Performing the actual data capture and database creation under contract to governmental units; and

2. Involvement in consortia of private firms, nonprofit organizations, and governmental units in collecting and maintaining necessary data.

Examples can be cited at all levels of government of the use of private industry to convert analog geographic information into digital form. This arrangement is likely to continue: it does not make economic sense for governmental units in most instances to carry out the conversion of existing data, since this is a large one-time operation that can be carried out efficiently in the private sector. On the other hand, if the governmental unit does some comprehensive planning that includes provisions for maintenance prior to conversion, it makes economic sense for governmental operations to perform the maintenance and update functions. Unfortunately, to date much conversion has been accomplished without sufficient concern for maintenance and update, and it can therefore be expected that private firms and nonprofit organizations will also be needed for the initial update of the converted analog data.

More important to the long-term maintenance and health of Framework data is the recognition by private industry that its future lies in providing services for individuals and firms that utilize the extended NSDI. Once that realization occurs, we will find that it is in the best economic interests of industry, nonprofit organizations, and government to form consortia to ensure continued availability of the data needed for a robust extended NSDI. The long-term role of private industry in an extended NSDI is to provide spatial data services to

consumers, including individuals, corporations, governmental units at all levels, and nonprofit organizations. The Committee envisions the extended NSDI data to be a public asset. Ideally, the creation and development of useful information from these data, provided by service-oriented businesses, will constitute a lucrative marketplace. The private sector will also continue to have a major role in developing and maintaining the data. It will also provide valuable software tools that will enable communities to better serve their citizens.

We are fortunate in the United States that some of the leaders in the geospatial business community are already adopting this mode of thinking and implementation. The New York State Office of Technology has a Data Sharing Cooperative Agreement that recognizes the benefits of data remaining in the public domain (distributed at no more than the cost of reproduction and shipping), enabling access to those data for all users, including value-added information-service marketing firms. There are certainly firms that still try to generate profits by selling digital data that are available to anyone. Once they understand the future, these firms can easily migrate to providing a useful service by enhancing a customer’s use of digital data rather than by selling the data themselves.

The creation and maintenance of spatial data represents a substantial investment by a community. It must be recognized that there is a great disparity among local governments across the country in their ability to support an extended framework from both technical and financial perspectives. While many communities have devised creative ways to finance such systems, others will never be in a position to do so. Regional or even statewide consortia will be required to develop a consistent level of spatial data. Furthermore, in some parts of the country, mechanisms such as Geographic Information Block Grants will be required to overcome this “spatial digital divide.”