FEC Redesigns, Streamlines Website

For Immediate Release:                                                                                             Contact:   Ron Harris
December 23, 1999                                                                                                                       Sharon Snyder
                                                                                                                                                        Ian Stirton
                                                                                                                                                        Kelly Huff


 


FEC REDESIGNS, STREAMLINES WEB SITE

WASHINGTON – The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has redesigned and streamlined
its Internet Web site, which can still be accessed at www.fec.gov. 

Items available on the newly designed www.fec.gov include images of campaign
finance reports from candidates for the United States House of Representatives, from
Presidential campaigns, and from most other political committees*; summaries and
searchable databases of campaign contributions; candidate and committee guides and
reporting forms; news releases and media advisories; statistics and data on voting and
elections; Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) guidelines; FEC advisory opinions; a
"What’s New" scrolling menu; daily highlights; and more.

The primary purpose of the revamped Web site is to reorganize the material therein to
offer the most efficient presentation of relevant and appropriate information to various
audiences, including the general public, candidates and their campaign workers, and the
media.

Additionally, the FEC has implemented Media-Independent Presentation Language (MIPL),
an Internet-based technology designed to facilitate access for persons with special needs
to many types of information by using a wide variety of hardware and software solutions.
For example, the visually handicapped can dial a phone number (818-995-2463) and receive
audibly a menu of phone-touch choices that parallel the FEC’s Web site choices. The
hearing-impaired may dial 818-995-2464 for a similar menu. (Those desiring more
information about MIPL can find it at www.altaccess.org.)

FEC Chairman Scott E. Thomas commented, "We are pleased to offer this improvement
to the public. We will continue our efforts to add helpful informational items to our Web
site and make it as user friendly as possible."

 

 


 

*United States Senate candidates do not file their campaign finance reports directly
with the FEC, but with the Secretary of the Senate, who currently microfilms them and
sends the microfilm to the FEC. Imaging is not available for these reports at this time.
While the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the National Republican Senatorial
Committee also file their reports with the Secretary of the Senate, copies of their
reports are available on the FEC Web site because the Senate provides the Commission with
paper copies that meet requirements for scanning. 

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