Congress should require utility providers to provide consumers access to their consumption data at no cost, in a timely manner, using an open standard.

To Do: Let Consumers Access Utility Data

Congress should pass legislation requiring that all states collect corporate beneficial-ownership data and make it easily accessible to regulators and the public by publishing it online in open and machine-readable formats.

To Do: Require Corporate Data Transparency

Congress should explicitly allow utilities, telecommunications companies, and landlords to report on-time payments to credit-reporting agencies.

To Do: Promote Alternative Credit Data

Businesses, government agencies, and researchers often avoid sharing data that would be mutually beneficial due to concerns about its sensitive or proprietary nature. Federal agencies can remedy this by establishing a framework of “data trusts” with clearly defined rights and responsibilities.

To Do: Develop and Pilot “Data Trusts”

To Do: Develop and Pilot "Data Trusts"

Policymakers should do more to spur data-driven innovation in both the public and private sectors.

Data Innovation 101

ITIF's Center for Data Innovation has submitted written testimony to the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch regarding ways to improve the accessibility of legislative data.

Comments to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Data

Congress should establish a National Data Foundation to make robust data collection and sharing the norm, not the exception.

To Do: Establish a National Data Foundation

Congress should codify providing open data to the public as an official responsibility of the federal government to secure and expand the benefits for the years to come, writes Joshua New of the Center for Data Innovation in Computerworld.

Dear Congress: Save Open Data

The administration should engage with its trade partners to establish international legal standards for government access to data.

To Do: Permit USDA to Release Common Land Unit Data

Recommendation

Details

Editors’ Recommendations

10 Steps Congress Can Take to Accelerate Data Innovation

Related

To Do: Let Consumers Access Utility Data

To Do: Require Corporate Data Transparency

To Do: Promote Alternative Credit Data