Policy on Use of the Internet as a Radio or Music Player 

Memorandum 

To:       All WRD Employees 

From:     Stephen F. Blanchard, Acting Chief, Office of Information 

Subject:  Policy on Use of the Internet as a Radio or Music Player 

The purpose of this memorandum is to remind all Water Resources Discipline 
(WRD) employees of the existing Department of Interior (DOI) Policy on 
limited personal use of government office equipment and to highlight the 
prohibition against the use of the Internet as a radio or music player.   

Over the past year, USGS and WRD have made important strides in expanding 
and upgrading the data communication networks.  WRD networks will increase 
more than five times in capacity compared to a year ago, once all the 
upgrades with the new MCI/WorldCom frame relay network are completed in 
the next two months.  The WRD network upgrades were carefully planned to 
allow expanded and productive use of the many new, emerging network 
applications, such as expanded cybercast presentations and 
distance-learning.  WRD Offices and users are encouraged to find new and 
productive uses for our networks.  However, any use of our networks must 
still adhere to DOI and USGS appropriate and acceptable-use policies. 
While the networks continue to improve, WRD users need to be aware of the 
potential negative impact that certain network applications may have on 
the rest of USGS, including the use of the Internet as a radio or music 
player. 

Please be aware that USGS employee use of the Internet as a radio or music 
player is expressly prohibited at all times, as stated in Section 3(g) of 
the DOI Policy: 

"Employees are prohibited at any time from using the Internet as a radio 
or music player. Such live stream use of the Internet could strain the DOI 
network and significantly slow communications, inhibiting DOI employees 
from conducting official business." 


Employees are encouraged to visit the following web page in order to 
review the entire DOI Policy on limited personal use of government office 
equipment, including computers and the Internet: 

    http://www.usgs.gov:8888/ops/hro/ethics/office-equip.html 



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Steve Blanchard                                        
Acting Chief,  Office of Information        
U.S. Geological Survey                        Phone:  703-648-5629
440 National Center                             Fax:  703-648-5644
Reston, VA  20192

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