What's So Unique About Information?

In the introduction of "The Information Society Reader," Frank Webster argues that information has become central to current way of life whether or not people agree that "information society" should be the label. I agree with him.

In my mind, information has become so important and, sometimes, overwhelming for many of us because of its two unique features. First, it's non-physical. Usually it has to be attached to a physical medium (e.g. stone tablet, paper) to be passed around among people. Whoever controls the medium can control information. The Internet has cut away that attachment. Information can almost fly by itself. Freedom at last. No wonder it runs happily and wildly everywhere. Even when someone tries to control information's medium, it's a hard job because there are so many kinds of medium that information can sit on.

Second, unlike most commodities, when you sell or give away information to somebody else, you still have it. Maybe that's why so much of it is available for free. How do we value it?