FCC to launch social networking Web site

The FCC is taking major strides to keep pace with the popularity of social networking Web sites like MySpace and Facebook by offering its employees an internal electronic forum for communicating about the Commission's priorities and activities.

FCC Managing Director Steven VanRoekel, an ex-Microsoft executive, told commissioners at a Thursday meeting that a site -- reboot.fcc.gov -- is allowing hundreds of staffers engage in discussions about how to improve the agency and connect in "an organic way." The announcement came on the heels of the FCC's launch of a broadband blog and feed on the micro-blogging platform Twitter last week.

Working groups and task forces have been formed through the closed site to help find solutions to a range of challenges faced by the FCC without instructions or a directive from their superiors, he said. For example, employees last week formed an online committee to help the Commission become more eco-friendly. VanRoekel said the Web site will be opened up so external stakeholders can join in the conversations "in the very near future."

"We want to ensure the experience the public has with the agency is consistent, innovative and evokes trust," he said.