Franking and Web Use Restrictions

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Franking and Web Use Restrictions in the House and Senate

Roll Call's Paul Singer on Issa, 9/22/2010 http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_28/news/50104-1.html

"Anderson dismissed the notion that there are not rules for videos, pointing out that the guidelines are printed in the Committee Handbook."

Authority

Committee on House Admin http://cha.house.gov/

franking commission http://cha.house.gov/franking.aspx

Member Handbook http://cha.house.gov/members_handbook.aspx

Committee Handbook http://cha.house.gov/committee_handbook.aspx

Guidelines quoted from the Committee handbook:

COMMUNICATIONS

Advertisements

General

Ordinary and necessary expenses related only to the following types of advertisements are reimbursable:
a. notice of committee employee and internship openings
b. notice of official committee events (i.e., forums, field hearings) Advertisements may not include the name, picture or likeness of any Member of the committee. Advertisements must receive an Advisory Opinion from the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards (Franking Commission). Contact the Franking Commission at x59337.

Disclosure

Committees must disclose, within the text of a television, radio and internet advertisement, the source of payment for the official advertisements. Committees may use any of the following:
a. "Paid for with official funds from the Committee on [committee name]."
b. "Paid for by funds authorized by the House of Representatives for the Committee on [committee name]."
c. "Paid for by official funds authorized by the House of Representatives."
Internet Committees are authorized to purchase banner advertisement on Web pages. The banner advertisement may contain only text. The banner may link to a secondary page that contains only text relating to a category of authorized advertisement, and the secondary page may contain a link to the committee's home page.

Web Site Regulations

General

Web sites are a series of centrally maintained Web pages, accessible to the public via the Internet and stored on a specific host paid for with official funds. The home page is the first accessible page for that site.
1. Ordinary and necessary expenses associated with the creation and continued operation of Web sites in support of official committee business are reimbursable.
2. The minority and subcommittees shall be entitled to a separate page that is linked to and accessible only from the committee's Web page. For any Web pages created under this policy, the Chair (committee or subcommittee) or Ranking Minority Member (committee or subcommittee) responsible for its content must be identified on the introductory page.
3. Web sites must be located in the HOUSE.GOV host-domain and may be maintained either by House Information Resources (HIR), the committee office, or a private vendor.
4. Committee Web sites may link to Member Web sites, but Member Web sites may not be located on Web sites paid for by committee funds.
5. HIR will display an exit notice stating that users are leaving the House of Representatives, prior to linking to a non-House of Representatives Web site. The exit notice will include a disclaimer that neither the committee nor the House is responsible for the content of linked sites. Committees maintaining their sites on the Public web server are required to incorporate the exit notice into their external links.

Content

The content of a committee Web site may not:
a. Include personal, political, or campaign information.
b. Be directly linked or refer to Web sites created or operated by campaign or any campaign related entity, including political parties and campaign committees.
c. Include grassroots lobbying or solicit support for a Member's position.
d. Generate, circulate, solicit or encourage signing petitions.
e. Include any advertisement for any private individual, firm, or corporation, or imply in any manner that the Government endorses or favors any specific commercial product, commodity, or service.

Guidelines quoted from the Member handbook:

Internet

Members are authorized to purchase only advertisements within the five authorized categories on web pages that serve the Member's district. The advertisements may contain only text, and may link to a secondary page that contains only text relating to a category of authorized advertisement, and the secondary page may contain a link to the Member's home page.

Electronic Communications

Ordinary and necessary expenses related to electronic communications (Internet, fax machines, etc.) are reimbursable. All official electronic communication content must comply with the Franking Regulations.

Web Sites

World Wide Web sites paid for with official funds (Web sites) are a series of centrally maintained Web pages, accessible to the public via the Internet and stored on a specific host. The home page is the first accessible page for that site. Ordinary and necessary expenses associated with the creation and continued operation of Web sites, in support of the Member's official and representational duties, are reimbursable. Member's Web sites must be located in the HOUSE.GOV host-domain and may be maintained by either House Information Resources (HIR), the Member's congressional office, or a private vendor. Member's Web sites may link to Committee Web sites, but Committee Web sites may not be located on Web sites paid for by the MRA. Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs) may not create or operate independent Web sites. Members may include information within their Web site about CMO issues and activities. All CMO references within a Web site must relate to the Member's official and representational duties. HIR will display an exit notice stating that users are leaving the House of Representatives prior to linking to a non-House of Representatives Web site. The exit notice will include a disclaimer that neither Members nor the House are responsible for the content of linked sites. Member offices maintaining their sites on the Public web server are required to incorporate the exit notice into their external links. Web sites should be ADA compliant. See Contractors (7).

Content

The content of a Member's Web site: May not include personal, political, or campaign information. May not be directly linked or refer to Web sites created or operated by a campaign or any campaign related entity including political parties and campaign committees. May not include grassroots lobbying or solicit support for a Member's position. May not generate, circulate, solicit, or encourage signing petitions. May not include any advertisement for any private individual, firm, or corporation, or imply in any manner that the government endorses or favors any specific commercial product, commodity, or service. Name (URL) The URL name for an official Web site located in the HOUSE.GOV domain must be recognizably derivative or representative of the name of the Member or the name of the office sponsoring the Web site. The URL name for an official Web site located in the HOUSE.GOV domain may not: Be a slogan. Imply in any manner that the House endorses or favors any specific commercial product, commodity, or service.