Federal Register 2.0 is the Real Deal

To anyone who thought government is too big, too set in its ways to truly embrace Web 2.0, I say, "phooey."

On July 26, just in time for it's 75th anniversary, the Office of the Federal Register rolled out Federal Register 2.0. Perhaps the "2.0" name isn't all that innovative, but the site itself is a fantastic example of what happens when agencies collaborate, citizens are engaged and Web standards are enforced.

The Federal Register originated in 1935 as a result of FDR's New Deal. With so many new programs, rules and regulations coming out of the executive branch, government needed to ensure that the public had transparency into Federal rulemaking -- sort of the original push for Open Government. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Government Printing Office (GPO) were given joint responsibility for aggregating and printing the Federal Register, and that's the way it's been done for nearly a century. If you've ever seen a printed or online copy of the Federal Registry, you know it's not exactly what one would call "user friendly". 

After all that time, getting the government to change the way it operates would be difficult... difficult, but NOT impossible. Props to everyone from the Office of the Federal Register, NARA and GPO who saw the opportunity to use Web 2.0 technology and best practices in user experience to create a whole new approach to the Federal Register. Equally exciting is the work that was done by Andrew Carpenter, Bob Burbach, and Dave Augustine who developed the site and originally caught the attention of the Office as a result of the work they did in Sunlight Lab's Apps for America 2 competition. 

Overall this is an exciting case study for Federal agencies who are looking to their peers for best practices in Gov 2.0. I can't wait to see who's next.