To ensure a minimum level of service across the nation network of CAP Sites, the Minister has established the following requirements.
Should any CAP Site not meet these minimum standards, the Recipient may nevertheless consider the CAP Site for support, provided that the lower requirement is specifically mentioned in the contract and that it is acceptable to the Minister.
1. CAP Sites will provide access to computer terminals at least (20) hours per week, with at least forty percent (40%) of the hours on weekends and in the evening, according to the CAP Sites’ respective hours of operation. CAP Site hours of operation at individual locations may be varied above the minimum access hours to better meet the service needs of the community or particular groups. Alternate or shared access may be co-ordinated with nearby CAP Sites which are part of the CAP network to meet the minimum service requirement and to provide service during extended holiday periods. 2. A qualified person must be available to assist the public during operating hours at site or through North Hastings CAP Network.
3. Formal orientation for users must continue to be available, on location in CAP Sites or through the CAP Network on a group or individual basis. Topics shall include general orientation to the Internet, using e-mail, Web searching, finding government information, and using government services on-line.
4. CAP Sites must also adhere to the CAP minimum operating standards by providing:
Access to the Information Highway using a graphical browser;
Sufficient connection bandwidth to ensure users can view World Wide Web pages in a comfortable, efficient manner, with a minimum Internet access speed of 56 kbps and preferable speed of 128 kbps;
The capability to send and receive e-mail;
A location that meets local standards for physical accessibility either on-site or through coordination with local CAP Sites; and
Printing facilities, which may operate on user-pay basis; and client Internet software applications, such as e-mail, audio/video players and Usenet newsgroup reader.
5. CAP Sites must continue to implement an acceptable use policy and communicate it to the public who use the CAP Site. The Media Awareness Network Web site http://www.webawareness.org provides valuable insight into issues surrounding Internet usage policies.
6. CAP Sites must maintain a CAP Web page or community Web page. The Web page must
• Adhere to standards for accessible Web design for the CAP Site;
• Display a message that the CAP Site is a partnership with the Government of Canada;
• Adhere to the HTML standard for page coding, which may include other enhanced types of Web page coding such as SGML, XML, DHTML, JavaScript, Shockwave, etc., as long as standards for accessible Web design are maintained; and
• Include metatags in its HTML coding, for ease of indexing in-line. |
