1. Introducing… New XML-based,
Web 2.0 edition of
daily Federal Register

2. Foundation of FR 2.0
• GPO’s Federal Digital System: FDsys (Jan 2009)
– Build Data Repository
– Convert SGML print code files to XML
• descriptive metadata, preservation
– Migrate 17 years of FR data to FDsys
• Bulk XML created & posted to Data.gov
– Formerly 17K for FR files; now Free
• GovPulse.us – Apps for America Contest
– Developers use XML to build new apps
– OFR/GPO base FR 2.0 on GovPulse; Collaborate w/GP

3. FR 1.0 1936...GPO Access 1994…
FDsys 2009…Data.gov 2009...
GovPulse 2009…FR 2.0 July 26, 2010
Timeline

4. Concept of Federal Register 2.0
Re-create Federal Register as a Web Newspaper
• Free FR format from print-based structure
• Re-imagine FR for 21st Century rulemaking
• Highlight opportunities to comment; citizen engagement
• Build on foundation of GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys)
• Unofficial XML version, lives in parallel w/ official PDF edition

5. Problem: Dense, Linear, Inflexible
FR 2.0 Solution: Web Newspaper
News Sections – Organized by broad topic, Impt docs stay on page
Agency “Home Pages” – Shows recent agency activity, stats
Clean Layout – More Readable Text
Crowd Sourced – Most viewed/emailed/cited
Regulatory Timeline – Link to Reg Agenda, ID Significant Rules
Calendar of Events – Public Mtgs, Comments open/due, Rules in effect

6. More Solutions to the Problem
FR 2.0
Comment Links – Go directly to Regs.gov docket to comment
Web Links – Integration w/ FDsys for CFR, U.S.C., prior FR docs
RSS Feeds – Personalization by agency, topic, news section, saved search
Educational Features – Regulatory process, Ask A Librarian
Official PDF for Authentication – Legal edition, print on demand
XML files – Download on demand; use data in other apps

7. News Sections w/ Broad Topics
Business & Industry
• Agribusiness, Hydropower, Energy, Mining, Labor, Telecom, Transport
Environment
• “Enviro-Register” for EPA, DOI, USDA, DOE, Army Corps, USCG, CEQ
Health & Public Welfare
• Food safety, Health benefits, Consumer protection, Product safety,
Education, Housing, Worker safety, Childrens’ benefits
Money
• Banking, Exchanges, Taxes: Treas, Fed, FDIC, SEC, NCUA, FinCIC
Science & Technology
• The cutting edge: NASA, FAA, FCC, NTIA, NIST, RUS, ED, DOE
World
• Security, Immigration, Trade, Customs, Foreign Relations, Defense

8. News Sections
Home Agency Home Pages
& Thesaurus Topics
Page
Daily
TOC
Featured
“Articles”
in news
sections

9. Daily Contents
Choose
other issues
on Calendar
Choose
FR 2.0 XML Mini TOC
or official PDF Links to
entries,
Shows #
of docs

10. Featured docs stay
on page for days
Money section
Navigation
to data sets
RSS feeds
Citizen
Pics via
Flickr

11. Science & Technology section
Crowd-
Sourcing
Popular
Articles

12. World
section
Learn
more
about
News
Sections

13. Health & Public Welfare sec.
Highlight documents in the news in
parallel w/ Times, Post, WSJ, USAT

14. Each agency has “Home Page”
Agency descriptions sourced from
U.S. Government Manual, FR, CFR
“Significant
Regulations”
Mined from
Unified Agenda

15. Browse by Topic
Controlled
Regulatory
Vocabulary

16. Documents Open for
Comment Link to
Regulations.gov

17. One Click from FR
To Submit
Comment
or View Docket

18. Document View
Official PDF
Clean Layout & Bulk XML
Summary in Headings
prominent spot
& Key Info
on sidebar

19. Unified Agenda
Abstract & Link
Reg Timeline
for context &
links to prior docs
Internal contents
links for navigation

20. Graphics Thumbnails
Links to Tables

21. Preamble
with improved
table format

22. Click Ribbon for
Citation & Page,
Social Media,
Paragraph Link,
Navigation Up
and Next
Footnote
Pop-ups

23. Regulatory
Text
Links to other
CFR, U.S.C.,
other FDsys
Resources

24. Search Events
Emphasis on Public Participation
• Meetings, Effective Dates, Comments Due
 Search and filter; Limit searches to locations
 Subscribe to customized feeds of events
 Share with others through social media
 Download to Outlook, other Calendar

25. Search for Events,
Public Meetings

26. Search Rules Open for Comment
& Going into Effect

27. Uses XML and Open Source Code
No restrictions on re-use of code
Anyone can build apps from FR 2.0

28. Hosted on Amazon Cloud
Scalable/Elastic, Cost-effective, Secure

29. Contact/Questions
Michael White, Managing Editor
Office of the Federal Register
National Archives & Records Administration
michael.white@nara.gov ; mwhite@gpo.gov