> ...and finally, a post wrapping up what happened. I think this is
> finally a situation we can call an unqualified victory! :)
> http://www.theopenhouseproject.com/2008/10/03/franking-reform-a-happy...
> Franking Reform: A Happy Ending
> October 3rd, 2008 by John Wonderlich · No Comments
> Yesterday, after months of negotiations and proposals, the House
> joined the Senate in updating the arcane guidelines that govern how
> Members of Congress use the Internet.
> In May of 2007, the Sunlight Foundation released the Open House
> Project report, which included an entire chapter on the issue of
> Franking Reform. That chapter, prepared by David All and Paul
> Blumental, has guided our advocacy and discussions of web use
> restrictions since then.
> Those discussions simmered until earlier this summer, when tensions
> between Members of the Franking Commission briefly escalated (the
> part of the Committee on House Administration that handles Web
> restrictions). This summer's discussion caught some media
> attention, and unsettled some web-savvy Representatives, and
> ultimately engaged both parties' leaders in the House.
> The Sunlight Foundation capitalized on the chaos, creating the first
> twitter-based petition in the site letourcongresstweet.org, which
> amassed twitter-based signatures, and displayed vigorous support for
> updated rules from online communities across the political spectrum.
> While House officials maneuvered publicly, the Senate passed similar
> reforms with a bit less fanfare. As recently as last week,
> agreement looked unlikely from the House committee, with Roll Call
> reporting that an attempt at negotiations ended in "an emotionally
> charged hearing and a breakdown in negotiations."
> That's why we were suprised and delighted to get word from the
> Committee on House Administration that a new agreement had been
> reached. This measure wasn't just a slight rewrite, however. The
> new guidelines represent an enormous change, one which has new media
> staff from both parties glowing.
> Speaker Pelosi's statement calls the revisions a "significant step
> forward toward bringing the House rules into the multimedia age and
> allowing for members to effectively communicate with their
> constituents online… I also thank citizen initiatives such as the
> Open House Project for their thoughtful recommendations and
> continued efforts to encourage Members to engage their constituents
> through internet technologies."
> Ranking Member Vern Ehlers was similarly laudatory of the new rules,
> and of Chairman Brady's leadership: "Mr. Brady recognized the need
> to allow enhanced constituent communication, and demonstrated
> outstanding leadership that enabled this Committee to adopt a long-
> overdue change," Ehlers stated. "It is imperative that Members have
> the ability to use whichever web services they feel will best inform
> their constituents about the important issues facing this country."
> The new rules, as written, make a very important distinction, and
> one we're delighted to see considered: Member web use will be
> evaluated based on the "official content," and not the venue in
> which the materials are posted. This puts new media communications
> on similar footing to traditional media, where Op-Eds and TV
> interviews are proximal to commercials without causing a conflict of
> interest.
> The revisions should cause a renaissance in official political Web-
> use, with eager new media staff and savvy Members now able to
> confidently engage with their constituents. We can't wait to see
> what they come up with, and can only hope that all government reform
> arguments have such happy endings.
> Tags: openhouseproject
> On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 11:56 PM, John Wonderlich <johnwonderl...@gmail.com
> > wrote:
> ...and a post from the Speaker, thanking this community in
> particular. (congrats, all!)
> Speaker Pelosi Applauds Committee on House Administration Action on
> Web Rules
> October 2nd, 2008 by Karina
> Speaker Pelosi released the following statement on the Committee on
> House Administration's adoption of new web regulations that will
> permit posting of official content outside the house.gov domain:
> The rule revisions adopted by the Committee on House Administration
> today are a significant step forward toward bringing House rules
> into the multimedia age and allowing for Members to effectively
> communicate with their constituents online.
> I commend Chairman Brady for his leadership and for the committee's
> bipartisan efforts to modernize the antiquated franking regulations
> to address the realities of communications in the internet age. I
> also thank citizen initiatives such as the Open House Project for
> their thoughtful recommendations and continued efforts to encourage
> Members to engage their constituents through internet technologies.
> In the 110th Congress, the House has made significant progress to
> increase transparency through technology – from webcasting more
> committee hearings to posting lobbying disclosure forms online.
> Openness, transparency, and accountability are the hallmarks of the
> New Direction Congress. We will continue our efforts to be a web 2.0
> House in the 111th Congress.
> From Chairman Brady:
> October 2, 2008 (Washington, DC): House Administration Chairman
> Robert A. Brady announced that the Committee has approved revisions
> to rules governing the use of web video on Member websites. The rule
> revisions largely parallel changes introduced by the Senate and
> create an environment in which Member offices have expanded options
> for posting video content on their official websites.
> "I am happy to report that the Committee has approved revisions to
> the rules governing the use of web video on Member websites. The new
> rules reflect a greater recognition of the need to provide flexible
> solutions to the opportunities and challenges presented by new and
> emerging technologies. I applaud Speaker Pelosi for being a leader
> in implementing these new technologies and for establishing that as
> a priority."
> The new rules allow Members to place web content on sites outside of
> the house.gov domain, ending a longstanding restriction that had
> grown more difficult to comply with as new communications and
> outreach technologies emerged.
> "Over the past several years, we have witnessed an incredible pace
> of technological innovation and development," said Brady. "Today, we
> have taken an important step in ensuring that we can utilize these
> and future innovations to the benefit of our constituents."
> The new web video rule language:
> In addition to their official (house.gov) Web site, a Member may
> maintain another Web site(s), channel(s) or otherwise post material
> on third-party Web sites.
> The official content of any material posted by the Member on any Web
> site must be in compliance with Federal law and House Rules and
> Regulations applicable to official communications and germane to the
> conduct of the Member's official and representational duties.
> When a link to a Web site outside the Member's official cite is
> imbedded on the Member's official site, the Member's site must
> include an exit notice advising the visitor when they are leaving
> the House. This exit notice must also include a disclaimer that
> neither the Member nor the House is responsible for the content of
> the linked site(s).
> Chairman is authorized to make technical and conforming changes to
> facilitate inclusion into the Committees and Member handbooks.
> Posted in What's Happening | No Comments »
> On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 2:38 PM, John Wonderlich <johnwonderl...@gmail.com
> > wrote:
> I'm told that the following is the new reg, which looks great! -
> based on the official content of the outside site.
> NEW REG:
> In addition to their official (house.gov) Web site, a Member may
> maintain another Web site(s), channel(s) or otherwise post material
> on third-party Web sites.
> The official content of any material posted by the Member on any Web
> site must be in compliance with Federal law and House Rules and
> Regulations applicable to official communications and germane to the
> conduct of the Member's official and representational duties.
> When a link to a Web site outside the Member's official cite is
> imbedded on the Member's official site, the Member's site must
> include an exit notice advising the visitor when they are leaving
> the House. This exit notice must also include a disclaimer that
> neither the Member nor the House is responsible for the content of
> the linked site(s).
> Chairman is authorized to make technical and conforming changes to
> facilitate inclusion into the Committees and Member handbooks.
> On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 2:21 PM, David All <da...@davidallgroup.com>
> wrote:
> Good news.
> Congratulations to The Open House Project team that made these
> recommendations and helped pave the way in the Committee for action.
> However, I believe it took the Senate's leadership on this issue to
> move the ball forward in the House.
> David
> __________________________________
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> David All Group, LLC
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> __________________________________
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> On Oct 2, 2008, at 2:15 PM, John Wonderlich wrote:
>> Looks like the Committee on House Administration has come a long
>> way since the recent Roll Call article citing discord:
>> Sounds like a great step forward! Can't wait to find more
>> specifics...
>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, October 2, 2008 FOR MORE
>> INFORMATION, Contact
>> Salley Collins, Press Secretary
>> (202) 225-8281 E-mail: salley.coll...@mail.house.gov
>> Press Release: Committee Adopts New Web Regulations Committee on
>> House Administration Adopts Proposal Permitting Members to Utilize
>> Outside Websites to Communicate with Constituents WASHINGTON – The
>> Committee on House Administration adopted new web regulations that
>> will permit Members to use outside websites like YouTube to
>> communicate with constituents. The new regulations, which are
>> based upon a proposal presented in June by GOP Members of the
>> Committee, represent a vital step to providing new, uncensored
>> channels of communication between Members of Congress and their
>> constituents. The new web regulations, which were adopted via
>> Committee poll, permit Members to post content on outside websites
>> so long as the content is for "official purposes," and not
>> personal, commercial or campaign related. Ranking Republican Vern
>> Ehlers, R-Mich., applauded Committee Chairman Robert Brady, D-Pa.,
>> for his leadership and ability to achieve policy agreements in a
>> nonpartisan fashion. "Mr. Brady recognized the need to allow
>> enhanced constituent communication, and demonstrated outstanding
>> leadership that enabled this Committee to adopt a long-overdue
>> change," Ehlers stated. "It is imperative that Members have the
>> ability to use whichever web services they feel will best inform
>> their constituents about the important issues facing this country."
>> For more information, please contact the Committee press office at
>> (202) 225-8281.
