Discusses geospatial info. (GI), which is data referenced to a place -- a set of geographic coordinates -- which can be gathered, manipulated, and displayed in real time. A Geographic Info. System is a computer system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced info. In 1990 the Fed. Geographic Data Comm. (FGDC) was estab. to promote the use, sharing, and dissemination of GI. There are questions about FGDC fulfilling its mission. Has this organizational structure worked? Can the fed. gov¿t. account for the costs of acquiring, coordinating, and managing GI? How well is the fed. gov¿t. coordinating with the state and local entities that have an increasing stake in GI? What is the role of the private sector?