Overview
Title
Release of Waybill Data
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Surface Transportation Board has been asked by a railway group for permission to look at some secret train and shipping data from 2019, and they are checking if anyone has a problem with this. People who might not like this have 14 days to say something, and for more details, they can talk to Alexander Dusenberry.
Summary AI
The Surface Transportation Board received a request from the Association of American Railroads for permission to access data from the Board's 2019 Masked Carload Waybill Sample. This data includes confidential railroad and shipper information, and the Surface Transportation Board is seeking input from those who might object to this request within 14 days from the notice date. The process for releasing this data is governed by federal regulations. Interested parties can contact Alexander Dusenberry for more information.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document under review is a notice from the Surface Transportation Board regarding a request from the Association of American Railroads. This request concerns access to the 2019 Masked Carload Waybill Sample, which contains sensitive data about railroads and shippers. Stakeholders have been given 14 days from the notice date, January 12, 2021, to submit any objections. The process for handling such data requests is regulated under federal guidelines.
Summary and Purpose
The core purpose of this document is to inform the public about the Association of American Railroads' request to access specific waybill data and to invite objections from any concerned parties. This process is intended to ensure transparency and to prevent unauthorized or preferential access to confidential information.
Issues and Concerns
Several significant issues are associated with this notice:
Lack of Abstract and Clarity: The absence of an abstract limits the reader's quick understanding of the document's intent and contents. An abstract could provide a concise summary, promoting better public understanding.
Favoritism and Fair Access: The request by a specific association to access sensitive data raises concerns over potential favoritism. Ensuring equitable access to data is critical, as this information could influence competitive dynamics in the rail industry.
Costs and Expenditures: The document does not address potential costs related to granting access to this data. Clarifying this aspect is necessary to assess whether granting this request might result in wasteful expenditures of resources or funds.
Objection Process and Criteria: While the document specifies a window for objections, it lacks detail on how objections will be evaluated or what criteria will be used to make decisions. This lack of transparency can undermine trust in the decision-making process.
Data Protection Measures: There is no mention of how the confidentiality of the data will be maintained once it is released. Ensuring robust data protection measures is crucial to prevent misuse or unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Impact on the Public
For the general public, this notice highlights the processes in place for data request and release within federal agencies and the checks that ensure data security and equity. This kind of transparency is important to maintain trust in public institutions.
Impact on Stakeholders
For specific stakeholders like railroad companies and shippers, the outcome of this request could have significant implications. Access to detailed waybill data could affect competitive strategy, pricing, and operational decisions. Ensuring that data is used fairly and securely is vital to safeguarding stakeholders' interests.
Overall, while the document serves as an important notification about a data access request, improving the clarity, fairness, and transparency of the process is essential to addressing public and stakeholder concerns adequately.
Issues
• The document does not provide a clear abstract, which might be helpful for summarizing the contents accurately.
• The request for waybill data from the Association of American Railroads may raise concerns about favoritism unless transparency and equality in access to data are ensured.
• The document should specify any costs or expenditures associated with granting access to waybill data, to assess potential wasteful spending.
• The requirements for objections are mentioned, but the document does not specify the process or criteria for evaluating these objections.
• There is no mention of how the confidential data will be protected from misuse or unauthorized access.