Regulations Pertaining to Federal Government Web Sites

• The Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA)
  Provides the framework for securing the Federal Government’s information technology systems.
• 1998 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  Strengthens provisions addressing access to government information for people with disabilities (Section 508).
• The Government Paperwork Elimination Act of 1988
  Requires Federal agencies to offer electronic maintenance, submission, or disclosure of information, when practicable as a substitute for paper, and to accept electronic signatures when practicable.
• The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993
  Which strategic plans every three years and annual performance plans and reports.
• The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
  Seeks to minimize paperwork burdens and maximize public utility of information collected. Requires OMB approval before collecting information from the public.
• The Information Technology Management and Reform Act of 1996 (Clinger-Cohen Act)
  Gives OMB authority to manage Executive Branch IT resources.
• OMB Circular A-130, Management of Federal Information Resources
  Details the IT Capital planning process, Security Plan, Risk Management Plan, Privacy Plan, and the Enterprise Architecture framework, and calls for post implementation reviews.
• The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998
  Regulates unfair and deceptive practices in connection with the collection and use of personal information from and about children on the Internet.
• The President’s Management Agenda, of 2001
  Requires federal agencies to be more citizen-centered and results-oriented, and provide more electronic services to customers
• The Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001
  Mandates maximizing the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information disseminated.
• The Freedom of Information Act of 1966
  Grants anyone the right to request access to federal agency records or information.
• The E-Government Act of 2002
  Designates FirstGov as the official Web portal of the U.S. government. It also requires agencies to set up a process to determine what information will be accessible online and by other means, and to develop schedules for making that information available, and report on this progress regularly.
• Section 207(f)(2) of the E-Government Act of 2002
  Agencies must develop an inventory of information to be published on their websites, establish a schedule for publishing information, make those schedules available for public comment, and post the schedules and priorities on the website.
• Notification And Federal Employee Anti discrimination And Retaliation Act of 2002 (NO FEAR)
  Requires that Federal agencies be accountable for violations of anti discrimination and whistleblower protection laws; to require that each Federal agency post quarterly on its public Web site, certain statistical data relating to Federal sector equal employment opportunity complaints filed with such agency; and for other purposes.
• OMB Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites
  OMB issued Policies for Federal Public Websites on December 17, 2004. Under each section there are recommendations and best practices from the Interagency Committee on Government Information. As it said in OMB's cover memo, these recommendations and best practices will help you implement the OMB policies. The deadline to comply with the policies is December 31, 2005.
• Federal Order 13011, Federal Information Technology
  Establishes the CIO Council.

E Government Links

• Requirements and Best Practices Checklist for Federal Agencies
• Becoming a Citizen-Centered Government Through Best Practices in Web Management
• Citizens' Service-Level Expectations, Final Report
• How Americans Get in Touch With Government
• Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites
• Content Management Systems Used by Government Agencies

Federal Web Policies

• Department of Defense Web Policies and Guidelines
• Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Communications Standards and Guidelines
• Department of Housing and Urban Development Web Policies and Web Management Structure
• Interagency Committee on Government Information, Recommended Policies and Guidelines for Federal Public Web Sites

Usability Links

• 508 Compliance Tester
• P3P Toolbox
• Colorblind Web Page Filter
• Current Issues in Web Usability