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| FCIC Media Mentions |
| Here are some mentions from the Federal Citizen Information Center that have recently appeared in newspapers and magazines. |
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September 2004 Looking for government information in Spanish? FirstGov en Español, the U.S. government’s official Spanish-language portal, contains more than 110,000 pages of federal and state government resources in Spanish. The site makes it easy to register to vote, file a consumer complaint, or apply for student financial aid. The site also contains a directory of more than 80 federal agencies that can answer questions in Spanish and a list of more than 200 free government publications in Spanish on federal benefits, taking care of kids, and traveling safely, to name a few. |
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August 16, 2004 Campbell – Ewald uses office workers dressed as Uncle Sam to tout the easy-to-use interface of informational web site FirstGov.gov in a public service campaign breaking next week. A TV spot from the Interpublic Group agency shows the employees tracking down information for ordinary citizens, including change-of-address forms and driver’s license renewals. The commercial will debut during the week of August 23 in 30- and 60- second formats. The campaign also will include print and radio elements. The print ad depicts a man in full Uncle Sam regalia. But instead of pointing outword like the character in the “I want you” recruiting posters, the man is pointing to himself while the headline reads, “You want me.” In the radio spot, a woman tracks down information about Social Security before she has breakfast, while another family downloads and prints passport applications in their underwear. |
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August 13, 2004 One in nine women ages 45-64 has heart disease, and this number grows to one in five after age 65. "Matters of the Heart," a free package of information from the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Citizen Information Center, offers facts on heart disease and strokes. There are three ways to get the free publications:
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August 2, 2004 Pearson Government Solutions Inc. of Arlington and Aspen Systems Corp. of Rockville were among five companies selected by the General Services Administration to provide contact center services to federal agencies. The contract has a combined value of $150 million over five years for the companies, which are to compete for orders from individual agencies. The companies will run contact centers where citizens can get information about an agency's services through the telephone, e-mail, written correspondence or online assistance such as Web chats. Agencies will be able to tailor the contact services to their needs by providing self-service, a live operator or a combination, GSA officials said. "Smaller programs will find it to be tremendously helpful in meeting their goals to achieve the same kind of high-quality customer satisfaction that some of the larger agencies are able to achieve," said Terry Daley, director of strategic initiatives for Pearson's e-government business. For Pearson, the contract award means a chance to serve a wide range of government needs while demonstrating its leadership in performance-based contact centers, Daley said. Pearson Government Solutions has about 3,000 employees and had annual revenue of $293 million in fiscal 2003. The contact center contract is an outgrowth of the USA Services e-government initiative, which is designed to help people access information about government and federal services. The mission of USA Services is to present people with a "front door" for government, allowing them to receive accurate, timely and consistent answers and information. The government expects to receive 240 million citizen inquiries through the program in fiscal 2004, said Teresa Nasif, director of the Federal Citizens Information Center and USA Services' executive sponsor. The majority of those inquiries will be for information about benefits, grants and passports, including questions related to the Medicaid program, student loans, and retirement and veteran benefits, she said. Pearson Government Solutions currently provides contact center support for a number of federal agencies and initiatives, including the Fish and Wildlife Service, the State Department, and FirstGov.gov, the federal government's official Web portal. The three other companies selected by GSA to participate in the contract are Datatrac Information Services Inc. of Richardson, Tex.; ICT Group Inc. of Newtown, Pa.; and Teletech Government Solutions Inc. of Englewood, Colo.
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July 19, 2004 Looking for guidance on how to deal with a range of issues -- from resolving credit problems to financing a home to writing a complaint letter? Order a free copy of the 2004 Consumer Action Handbook (U.S. General Services Administration) by contacting the Federal Citizen Information Center at (888) 878-3256 or pueblo.gsa.gov. |
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July 18, 2004 If you are among those older adults who hate to waste time calling a government agency and spending long minutes on hold, then you'll love www.seniors.gov. This new Internet Web site was created by the federal government just for the over-50 crowd. It is part of a larger site, FirstGov.gov, which is the official portal to all online U.S. government information and services, including federal, state, local and tribal. If you have access to a computer, either at home or at the local library, you will find www.seniors.gov. The seniors section is divided into eight categories: consumer protection, education/jobs/volunteerism, federal and state agencies, health, laws and regulations, retirement and money, taxes, and travel and leisure. |
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July 4, 2004 If you're a homeowner looking for a home equity loan to pay down debts or finance home improvements, get the best deal and protect yourself with helpful publications from the Federal Citizen Information Center. Visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov.
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July 4, 2004 The days of writing letters to the government to request information or to voice your opinion are quickly dwindling. The Internet and e-mail are becoming the preferred method of contact. Even government transactions that once required you to stand in line for the better part of a day are giving way to online transactions that can be done at your convenience. Whether you are registering your vehicle, finding out how to fill out your tax forms, asking for camping information at a state park or making your opinion known to your legislator, you are making a connection to your government. And an increasing number of those connections are being made online. According to a report the Pew Internet & American Life Project issued in May, some 54 percent of all Americans - including those who use the Internet and those who don't - contact the government each year. The Pew survey showed that last year 29 percent visited a government Web site, 18 percent sent an e-mail, and only 17 percent wrote a letter. If you would like to check out what's available online from the government, go to www.firstgov.gov. Link to e-mail addresses, phone numbers and mailing addresses for elected officials at www.firstgov.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml. |
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June 6, 2004 When the thermometer hits the high 90s, it seems as if the air conditioning never turns off during the day. There are a few cooling strategies that can help manage the mounting electricity bills in "Cooling Your Home Naturally," a brochure from the Federal Citizen Information Center. The guide has information on how ceiling fans, proper ventilation and a few changes in landscaping, decorating or even house color can help lower costs. The guide also has sources for additional information and a strategy checklist to help you consider which solutions would work best for your budget. You can view the brochure
for free at pueblo.gsa.gov,
or you may order
a copy for $2 by calling 1-888-878-3256. |
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May 16, 2004 Your alarm clock's a lemon. Your recently repaired roof just sprung a leak. And you've been spammed and spammed again. Get some relief -- or, at least, a free booklet designed to help you solve your consumer problems. The latest edition of the 25-year-old Consumer Action Handbook is just out from the Federal Citizen Information Center. The 174-page booklet includes a sample complaint letter, info on how to report spam to the feds and deal with identity theft, plus hundreds of sources (corporate contacts, government agencies, etc.) that help consumers resolve gripes. For a free copy of the 2004 Consumer Action Handbook, send your name and address to: Handbook, Pueblo, CO 81009 or go to the website: ConsumerAction.gov
and click on "order a copy." |
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May 10, 2004 Comparison shop Surveys by the Consumer Literacy Consortium, a coalition of government, consumer, business and education groups, have found significant differences in prices for products of similar quality, yet only about half of consumers compare prices of goods and services. Research shows that for about 40% of products, the highest price in the market is more than double the lowest price, even when the quality is the same. The consortium estimates the average household could save about $1,000 a year by comparison shopping. Reducing your expenses is a more efficient way to save than trying to earn more money, because earned income is subject to federal and state taxes. If you're in the 15% federal tax bracket, you would need to earn approximately $1,389 to increase your household income by $1,000, the study says. The consortium
offers a guidebook, 66
Ways to Save Money, at www.pueblo.gsa.gov.
Click on the "Money"
link to find the publication. |
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DallasNews.com Discoveries Notes Facts on depression: A new, free package of publications from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Federal Citizen Information Center gives facts on depression, its symptoms, treatments and more. To get the package, send your name and address to: Depression:
More Than the Blues Call (toll-free) 1-888-878-3256 and ask for the package Or visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov.
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SPRING RAINS may be good for lawns and gardens, but they're not necessarily beneficial to all homeowners. Storms and snow melt can add up to raging rivers, overflowing lakes and tidal surges that cause extensive damage to homes. Some families learn too late that flood damage isn't covered by traditional homeowners' policies. Consumers can obtain a free copy of FEMA's "National Flood Insurance Guide" by writing the Federal Citizen Information Center, Dept. 55, Pueblo, Colo. 81009, or by calling the information center at 888-878-3256.
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May 4, 2004 Consumer Action Handbook Another new book that belongs on your consumer bookshelf is the free "2004 Consumer Action Handbook." This latest edition from the Federal Citizen Information Center directs consumers to solutions to their marketplace problems and disputes. Besides heads-up chapters on such topics as automobiles, health care, insurance and privacy, the handbook has an "after-you-buy" section that covers reporting fraud, resolving disputes and filing in small claims court. The 180-page guide also includes a sample complaint letter and sources who can assist consumers in filing complaints. A final section is a compendium of contacts for thousands of corporations, federal, state, county and city consumer protection agencies, national consumer organizations and the Better Business Bureau -- well worth having on hand. Finding Help To get a free copy of the "2004 Consumer Action Handbook," send your name and address to: Handbook, Pueblo, Colo. 81009; order it at www.consumeraction.gov; or call 888-878-3256. A helpful Web site based on the "Consumer Action Handbook" is the Federal Citizen Information Center's www.ConsumerAction.gov.
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May 2, 2004 A traditional funeral, including a casket and vault, costs about $6,000, with “extras” such as flowers adding even more. Use “Funerals: A Consumer Guide” from the Federal Trade Commission to learn your rights and the key questions to ask when making arrangements. The publication costs $1 and can be ordered by calling toll free (888) 878-3256 and asking for item 352L. Or send your name, address and a check or money order for $1 to the Federal Citizen Information Center, Dept. 352L, Pueblo, CO 81009. Visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov to read or print out this and hundreds of other FCIC publications for free.
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This service is provided by the Federal Citizen Information Center of the U.S. General Services Administration. If you have a comment or question, e-mail us. |
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