1 Interagency Committee on Government Information (ICGI) and the Web Content Standards Working Group Sheila Campbell, GSA / FirstGov Records Administration Conference (RACO) May 11, 2004

2 Overview Overview ICGI has extensive agenda from E-Gov Act Creates blueprint/framework for: –Information Policy –FirstGov.gov and All Government Websites –Search and categorization of information Web Content Management one of 3 working groups Web Content Standards Group formed to meet requirements of Section 207(f)(1) of the Act

3 Goals and Objectives Goals and Objectives GOAL: U.S. Government websites will be the most citizen-centric and user friendly in the world OBJECTIVES: Make it easier for all Americans to find and use the government information and services they want and need on the Internet; Provide more standardization and higher overall quality of federal websites; Allow agencies to identify and share web content best practices that exist across government.

4 Where We Are Working group of content managers and others from cabinet and independent agencies working since January Researched existing laws, regulations, and policies Identified common content practices Researched what the public wants Sought input from stakeholders and experts Focused on content, not technical, recommendations Prioritized based on benefit to the public Reviewed recommendations as a whole Drafting recommendations to ICGI and OMB

5 Deliverables Develop recommendations for web content policies and submit them to ICGI and OMB Create web-based “Toolkit” for Web Content Managers Recommend ongoing structure and process for determining future web content policies

6 Agency Information U.S. Government Web site

7 Policy 1 AUTHENTICITY, BRANDING, AND TIMELINESS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WEB SITES: Every public federal agency web site must be clearly identified as an official source of timely and accurate federal government information.

8 Policy 1 Recommendations Every federal public website must: be established in the.gov,.us, or.mil domain display agency and U.S. government sponsorship Follow basic linking practices Include date stamps for all pages

9 Policy 2 FEDERAL WEB SITES MUST PROMOTE CITIZEN-CENTRIC INFORMATION AND SERVICES: Under the President ’ s Management Agenda and Electronic Government strategy, federal agency web sites must be “ citizen-centered, not bureaucracy or agency-centered. ” Federal agencies must continue to strengthen their web sites to meet the expectations of an increasingly wired citizenry.

10 Policy 2 Recommendations Every federal public website must: Organize content in ways that make sense to citizens Have homepages that meet citizens’ needs Not be used for internal, employee information Use basic common content and terminology (“Contact Us,” “About Us,” “Website Policies”) Measure customer satisfaction and usability

11 Policy 3 FEDERAL WEB SITES MUST BE DESIGNED AND WRITTEN TO ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY AND USABILITY : All federal public websites must be designed and written to ensure that the audiences for whom they are intended can access and use those sites easily. Agencies must consider the needs of the general public, specialized audiences, people with disabilities, those without access to advanced technologies, and those with limited English proficiency.

12 Policy 3 Recommendations Every federal public website must: Ensure common access to technology Ensure access for People with Disabilities Have general information written in plain language Provide access for those with Limited English Choose appropriate File Formats Allow access to Data

13 Policy 3 Recommendations (cont.) Every federal public website must: Implement consistent navigation Have a search engine and minimum search standards Use standard metadata Notify the public about major changes Have procedures for operating during emergencies

14 Policy 4 TO PROMOTE SEAMLESS GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL AGENCIES MUST WORK TO SIMPLIFY AND UNIFY INFORMATION ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT: Agencies must practice—and take advantage of—the principle that information and services are created once and used many times.

15 Policy 4 Recommendations Every federal public website must: Avoid duplication Link back to Home Page Link to FirstGov.gov

16 Policy 5 AGENCIES MUST CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH EXISTING FEDERAL LAWS, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES: This guidance reiterates existing federal laws and regulations, general directives from previous Presidential and OMB memoranda, and other policies regarding federal agency web sites. Agencies should continue to follow these requirements.

17 Policy 5 Recommendations Every federal public website must comply with: Privacy Policy Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Information Quality Guidelines Records Management -- incl. EGov Act, Section 207(e) Digital Rights Management Section 508 Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) Notification and Federal Employee Anti-discrimination and Retaliation of 2002 (No FEAR Act) Executive Order (Limited English Proficiency) Prohibition of Lobbying Online Methods of Collecting Information Categorization of Information

18 What's Next Incorporate Comments Finalize definitions and identify exceptions Recommendations to ICGI and OMB by June 1 OMB will revise and circulate for formal agency comment OMB will issue guidance by December 2004 Toolkit Website - September Web Content Managers Workshop - September 28

19 Questions? Working Group Co-Chairs: Candi Harrison x228 Sheila Campbell More info: