For over 35 years, Americans have
been contacting the Federal Information Center, now known as
the FCIC’s National Contact Center (NCC), to get
answers to their questions about their government. Initially,
the telephone service was available only via local telephone
numbers in key metropolitan areas. But since 1990,
the NCC has responded to public inquiries via a nationwide
toll-free telephone number, 1 (800) FED-INFO. The number
is listed in more than 500 telephone directories around the country,
serving the majority of the American public. The NCC
responds to thousands of government information requests every
business day, either providing the information directly or
locating the source of assistance for the caller.
The National Contact Center (NCC), operated
under contract by the ICT Group in Lakeland, Florida, has two
main
functions for the FCIC: responding to telephone and e-mail inquiries
about Federal programs, benefits, and services, and
processing telephone requests for consumer publications. Trained
staff field the calls from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. eastern time, Monday
through Friday, except Federal
holidays. New in 2003, the NCC began accepting
e-mail
inquiries through our partners at usa.gov. E-mail inquiries
are answered within 2 business days. Recorded
information on frequently requested subjects is available around
the clock.
January 12, 2007
|