In a public information disclosure request, who bears the cost of disclosing and mailing the information, and how far does that burden reach?
General information · Not legal advice
Material to check
For this exercise, the practice file to read is the written request for disclosure, which identifies the person who made it as the requester, and any notice of charge or receipt of payment the agency issued, since those papers show which costs were passed on and to whom.
These are types of material to look for, not evidence already verified by PRO SE.
Where readings differ
One reading takes the provision at face value: the costs of disclosing the information and of mailing it, and the like, are borne by the person who requested disclosure, so the burden follows the requester rather than the agency handling the request.
Another reading stresses the ceiling the provision attaches — the costs are borne 'within the range of actual cost', so a charge reaching beyond what the disclosure and mailing actually cost does not sit inside what this provision places on the requester.
Your judgment
Which papers in the file would show that the amount charged was the actual cost and not more?
PRO SE does not make this decision or keep a case record on this public site.When to reconsider
We look at this again if the provision is amended to change who bears the costs or the ceiling on them, or if the rules and presidential decree that set the items of cost and their collection are revised to alter what may be charged.