5 FAM 700
INTERNET AND INTRANET USE
5 FAM 710
GENERAL
(CT:IM-309; 10-26-2023)
(Office of Origin: IRM/E-CISO)
5 FAM 711 SCOPE
(CT:IM-33; 02-27-2002)
This chapter contains the policies and guidance related to e-mail, cookies, the Internet, intranets, and the World Wide Web (www) site hosting.
5 FAM 712 AUTHORITIES
(CT:IM-236; 11-14-2018)
This chapter is based on the following authorities:
(1) Public Law 96-465 (Foreign Service Act), Section 206(b), and 22 U.S.C. 2651a;
(2) Public Law 99-399 (Omnibus Diplomatic Security Act), Section 401(f);
(3) 5 CFR 2635.704(b)(1) Government Property Use;
(4) 5 CFR 2635.101 Public Service is a Public Trust;
(5) Executive Order 13526—Classified National Security Information;
(6) Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, 552a note; and Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, 18 U.S.C. 2701;
(7) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12101 note;
(8) Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552;
(9) OMB Circular A-130, “Managing Information as a Strategic Resource,” 81 FR 49689;
(10) Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform (FITARA) is Title VIII Subtitle D Sections 831-837 of Public Law 113-291 - Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015;
(11) OMB Memorandum (M-15-14); Management and Oversight of Federal Information Technology;
(12) Public Law 100-235, Computer Security Act of 1987;
(13) United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (Smith-Mundt), as amended, 22 U.S.C. 1461;
(14) Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794d, as amended;
(15) Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. 6501;
(16) Government Paperwork Elimination Act, 44 U.S.C. 3504;
(17) Public Law 104-106, Information Technology Management Reform Act of 1996 (Clinger-Cohen Act);
(18) Government Information Security Reform Act of 2000, 44 U.S.C. 3531; and
(19) OMB Memorandum M-99-18, Privacy Policies on Federal Web Sites.
5 FAM 713 DEFINITIONS
(CT:IM-88; 05-16-2007)
The following definitions apply to the material in this chapter:
BLOG—A shortened term for "Web log,” a blog is a Web site designed for online discussions and ongoing update of content. Blogs typically include journal-style entries, commentaries that may form a conversational thread, and links to other Web sites or documents. Like other Web pages, blogs are administered by one or more persons who have overall responsibility for content and format. Visitors to the sites are encouraged to leave responsible comments on the entries. Blogs often serve as the basis for self-forming online communities involved in a wide range of subjects, including countries, regions, issues, or professional fields.
Bulletin Board—A computer or an application dedicated to the sharing or exchange of messages or other files on a network that are usually related to a common subject.
Client—A client is the user in the client/server relationship that receives information, files, Web pages, and other services from a server on a network. The word "client" refers to the computer hardware and to the software application that makes the client function.
Cookie—Cookies are small data files written to your hard drive by a Web site when you view it in your browser. Cookies can contain information the site can use to track such things as your Web site user name at that Web site, your password to access the features of the Web site, lists of pages you've visited, and the date when you last looked at a certain page. There are two types of cookies, session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are temporary, created to maintain active status with an application such as a database during the application session, and expire when the session ends. Persistent cookies are not temporary. They may last indefinitely or they may be set to expire at a fixed interval following the last time they are used. Persistent cookies are used by a Web site to maintain visitor preferences and parameters when using a particular site. See 5 FAM 741 for the Department’s Cookie Policy.
Information—Data of any type capable of being posted or transmitted on or through the Internet or a Department intranet; including data in print, graphic or pictorial, and audible form.
Internet—A worldwide system of computer networks. The Internet is a collection of large, medium, and small networks interconnected to form a robust, self-sustaining digital communications facility.
Intranet—A restricted-access network that operates in the same manner as the Internet. The purpose of an intranet is to share information and computing resources within the organization without privileged information being made available to everyone with Internet access.
The Department of State maintains several intranets including OpenNet, ClassNet, and POEMS. These provide Internet-like services to Department employees, designated cleared contractors, and designated cleared Foreign Service nationals. OpenNet provides e-mail access to the Internet through a firewall. Because ClassNet is used for transmission of National SecurityIinformation, there is no connection to the Internet.
Intelink-U—Formerly known as the Open Source Information System (OSIS), Intelink-U is an interagency service provider which is used for information up to the Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) level.
Listserve—A communication tool that offers its subscribed members the chance to post questions, suggestions, or comments to a large number of people concurrently. The submission is distributed to all subscribed members on the list.
POEMS—The Principal Officers Electronic Messaging System (POEMS) is a classified intranet which has connectivity to ClassNet. POEMS is administered by SS-IRM.
Server—A computer that provides the information, files, Web pages, and other services to the client computers on a network. The word "server" refers to the computer hardware and to the software applications that make the server operate.
SIPRNET—The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) is a worldwide, Department of Defense (DoD), Internet Protocol (IP) router-based network that serves as a backbone for interagency classified data traffic.
Unclassified—For purposes of 5 FAM 700 the term “unclassified” refers to all information that does not meet the national security information classification guidelines as set forth in E.O. 13526 as amended. This includes Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information.
Wiki—A term of Hawaiian origin meaning "fast," a wiki is a Web site that enables users to write and edit articles, add commentary, and track changes in documents through detailed version changes. A wiki can be used both as an online encyclopedia and as a document management tool. In a wiki, users may contribute information they consider valuable, and anyone can edit any contribution. Wikis managed by a non U.S. Government entity should be considered informative, but not authoritative.
5 FAM 714 THROUGH 719 UNASSIGNED