About Us This page will tell you everything you
ever wanted to know (and some things you don't) about FCIC! Pay attention,
we'll be giving a quiz!
For years, consumers have written to
Pueblo, Colorado 81009 for timely, practical information they trust.
Now you can get this great information in the format that best suits
your needs -- in print, over the phone or on the web. The Federal
Citizen Information Center provides the answer to questions about
the Federal government and everyday consumer issues whether citizens
write, call or log on.
For over 35 years, the Federal Citizen Information
Center (FCIC) has been a trusted one-stop source
for answers to questions about consumer problems
and government services. Consumers can get the
information they need in three ways: by calling toll-free
1 (800) FED-INFO, through printed publications,
or through information posted on FCIC’s family
of websites:
FCIC manages a toll-free
National Contact Center with specially trained staff to answer questions in
English and Spanish about all aspects of the Federal
government. The public can get help by calling toll-free
1 (800) FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636) between
8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time to speak to a live
agent. Recorded information on popular topics is
available around the clock. You can also search our
online database at www.info.gov.
USA.gov
is the official portal to all government information, services, and transactions. This site
pulls together more than 180 million Federal, state,
and local government web pages. Here, citizens can
get easy-to-understand information and services
from the government 24 hours a day, seven days a
week. They can also use an e-mail form to send
questions and comments in English and Spanish for
a response within two business days.
The public can use USA.gov's
Citizen's Gateway information on such topics as
Social Security, filing taxes, buying surplus Federal
property, and more. The Business Gateway links to
information on business opportunities, laws, and
regulations. The Government Gateway connects to important resources for Federal, state, local, and
tribal governments.
At www.pueblo.gsa.gov, consumers can read, print out, or
save the current Consumer Information Catalog and
the full text of all the publications listed in it.
Consumers can access additional information on a
wide range of subjects by clicking on different topic
headings. Hundreds of publications, the latest product recalls and scams, updates of consumer news
from various Federal agencies, and a calendar of consumer-
related events are also available. The public
can also sign up for our FEDINFO e-newsletter from
Pueblo. The e-newsletter delivers updates on the
newest publications and information available from
FCIC straight to consumers’ e-mail inboxes.
Kids.gov
is the official interagency children’s portal
to the U.S. government. The site features more than
1300 kid-friendly links in one easy-to-find place. Links
are organized by topic area and by whether they are a
government agency, school, private or commercial
organization. The links are safe and age-appropriate.
Kids can learn about everything from fighting crime
and exploring the world to music and space.
Published continuously since 1979, the
Consumer Action Handbook is one of the most helpful and popular
consumer resources. This 168-page guide is
designed to help citizens find the best and most
direct source for assistance with their consumer problems and questions. The Handbook offers tips
on topics such as buying and leasing cars,
protecting against fraud, and shopping from home. It also
includes a sample complaint letter that consumers
can use as a guide for their own letter, fax, or e-mail.
The Handbook has thousands of names, addresses,
phone numbers, and e-mail addresses for Better Business Bureaus, corporate consumer contacts and
state, county, and city government consumer protection offices. Citizens can access the the Handbook
online at www.consumeraction.gov. The website has
easy-to-follow links to the most useful Federal websites;
state, local and county consumer agencies;
consumer organizations; and corporations and trade
associations with ongoing consumer programs.
The Government Printing Office facility in Pueblo,
Colorado, is the home of the Consumer Information
Catalog. The Catalog is published four times a year
and contains descriptive listings of about 200 free or
low-cost Federal publications. The publications are
also available online at www.pueblo.gsa.gov. Topics
include health, Federal benefits, money management,
housing, employment, small business, education,
food and nutrition, cars, travel, consumer protection
and more. The Catalog is available through
schools, libraries, consumer groups, Federal offices
with large numbers of visitors, Congressional
offices and in response to individual requests.
If you would like a free copy of the Consumer
Information Catalog, write to Catalog, Pueblo, Colorado 81009,
or call 1-888-8PUEBLO (that's 1-888-878-3256). You can also
order a Catalog online at FCIC's web site: www.pueblo.gsa.gov.
Groups and individuals who wish to receive free copies of the
Consumer Information Catalog each quarter may enter their name
and address to the FCIC
Subscription List.
The Federal Citizen Information Center is focused
on answering citizens’ questions about the Federal
government and everyday consumer issues. FCIC
watches emerging consumer issues and topics and
regularly reviews new information coming from
Federal agencies and consumer organizations.
Whether it’s new information to be posted on
FCIC’s websites or publications to be listed in the
Consumer Information Catalog, criteria include timeliness,
clarity, cost, and relevance to consumers’
everyday needs.
When new issues need to be addressed, or earlier
information updated, FCIC works with the appropriate
Federal agency to develop and provide new
publications and to make sure that web articles and
links are up-to-date. Publication suggestions from
consumers are also welcomed and appreciated.
Although the majority of publications listed in the
Consumer Information Catalog are developed by
Federal agencies alone, some are produced jointly
by government and private industry.
FCIC’s criteria for cooperative publications provide
that the publication must:
receive the endorsement of the
appropriate Federal agency;
clearly indicate that it is a joint
government / industry effort;
be an unbiased, objective presentation
with clear labeling of industry and government positions whenever
present;
be free of advertising or promotional messages;
and give
permission for reprinting by educational and nonprofit groups
The Federal Citizen Information Center works with
the national media, such as Family Circle, the
Associated Press and Parade to highlight consumer
information in articles and feature stories.
FCIC develops unique press releases for specific
consumer topics and tailors the media mailing list
for each release to target appropriate media outlets.
The releases are available in hard copy and in electronic
form via FCIC’s Media E-mail List.
Each year, the Federal Citizen Information Center
produces public service advertising for television, radio and print
media. The TV and radio spots are available in 60, 30, 20, 15, and
10 second lengths. The
TV spots are available on 3/4", 1" and Beta
SP tapes. The
radio spots are available on CDs and as live-announcer scripts.
The eye-catching
print ads come in 20 different sizes, ranging from on-half
column inch to a full page. FCIC can satisfy any special printing
or electronic requirements for print ads.
For More Information
If you are interested in obtaining additional
information, please
e-mail FCIC directly or call (202) 501-1794.