----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Russell Guy" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Maps-L" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 4:02:05 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: OS policy proposals on free mid-scale map data, etc.

Hi;

As most of you know, the British Ordnance Survey charges for their
data - no free downloads, etc.  The OS is tasked to be 100%
self-sustaining financially, receiving no funds from the national
government.  There is a proposal before Parliament to force the OS to
provide mid-scale map data, postal code boundaries, and electoral and
local authority boundaries for free.

The OS has put out a policy questionnaire about this issue which
makes for interesting reading, especially the parts on how do you pay
for all the data compilation/distribution without charging for it, if
you are self-sustaining.  You can download the questionnaire and
policy statement .pdf here -
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/ordnancesurveyconsultation.
A "option paper" of the options available to the OS can be downloaded
at http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1415416.pdf

Cheers
Russell Guy

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Russell Guy                             [log in to unmask]
Omnimap.com                             http://www.omnimap.com
P.O. Box 2096                           Tel.:  800-742-2677 (USA only)
1004 South Mebane St.                        Tel.:  336-227-8300
(International)
Burlington, NC 27216-2096 USA            Fax:  336-227-3748
       Past President (1996), International Map Trade Association
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