In this response to the issues and alternatives for the proposed privatization of the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) as presented in the "Federal Register" of April 28, 1986, the Special Libraries Association (SLA) rejects outright the proposal to privatize all of its functions, and expresses its preference for keeping NTIS intact. Responses to individual points made in the proposal emphasize the strengths of NTIS as a one-stop source for government information and the nation's major source point for the acquisition and dissemination of government research and development reports. Some of the implications of privatization are also discussed, e.g., the issue of copyright versus public domain for government reports, the prerogative of agencies to make the initial distribution of reports, and the availability of government publications through the depository library program. Additional issues discussed include public access to information created or collected using public funds, the role of NTIS as a coordinator for cooperative efforts among the major technical reports processing agencies, and the need for continuity in the monitoring of federal research in progress. (KM)