[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 41 (Monday, March 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9476-9477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5142]


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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION


Statement of Organization, Functions and Delegations of Authority

    This statement amends part T of the Statement of the Organization, 
Functions and Delegations of Authority which covers the Social Security 
Administration (SSA). Chapter TE covers the Deputy Commissioner for 
Communications. Notice is given that Chapter TE is being amended to 
reflect a realignment. The Office of Regional Affairs and Special 
Projects (ORASP) (TEG) is being retitled as the Office of External 
Affairs (TEG) and functions from the Office of National Affairs (TEE) 
and ORASP are being merged into the retitled organization. The Office 
of Editorial Policy and Communications (TEC) is being abolished and its 
functions are being consolidated with the Office of Communications 
Technology (TEB) which is being retitled as the Office of 
Communications Policy and Technology (TEB). Notice is given that direct 
line authority over the Regional Public Affairs Officers is being 
transferred from the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Operations (S2) 
to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Communications, Office of 
External Affairs (TEG). Notice is further given that the SSA Press 
Office function is being transferred from the Office of the 
Commissioner (SA) to the Deputy Commissioner, Communications (TE). The 
changes are as follows:

Section TE.00  The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Communications--
(Mission)

    Amend to read as follows:
    The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Communications (ODCComm) is 
the SSA component responsible for the conduct of the Agency's national 
public information/public affairs (PI/PA) programs. Performs SSA Press 
Office function to ensure a unified and consistent message to SSA's 
many publics. Provides guidance and direction from a PI/PA standpoint 
to the development of Agency policies and decisions and assesses their 
potential impact on SSA's customers, stakeholders and employees. 
Creates, develops, facilitates, implements, oversees and evaluates all 
SSA communications and PI/PA activities, both internal and external. 
Cultivates and maintains effective working relationships with a wide 
range of national organizations, advocacy groups, other Federal 
agencies, State and local governments, the White House, and the media. 
Promotes full and open participation in the communications process 
between and among SSA's customers and stakeholders at all levels. 
Coordinates the non-English communications activities within SSA. 
Additionally, responds to high priority correspondence and public 
inquiries; maintains an evaluation program that measures efforts to 
meet the communications needs of SSA's customers, stakeholders and 
employees; produces PI/PA material designed to provide SSA's various 
audiences with timely information about Social Security programs, 
protections, rights and responsibilities and related issues; utilizes 
state-of-the-art media, methods and technology in product development 
and dissemination and fully supports headquarters and field employees 
who are directly or indirectly involved in SSA PI/PA activities 
nationwide.

Section TE.10  The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Communications--
(Organization)

    D. The Office of Communications Technology (TEB).
    Delete:
    1. The Visual Graphics and Community Affairs Staff (TEB1).
    2. The Audiovisual Media Operations Staff (TEB2).

[[Page 9477]]

    Delete:
    E. The Office of Editorial Policy and Communications (TEC).
    Retitle:
    D. The Office of Communications Technology (TEB) to the Office of 
Communications Policy and Technology (TEB).
    G. The Office of Regional Affairs and Special Projects (TEG) to the 
Office of External Affairs (TEG).
    Reletter:
    ``H'' to ``E'.

Section TE.20  The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Communications--
(Functions)

    D. The Office of Communications Technology (TEB).
    Delete in their entirety:
    1. The Visual Graphics and Community Affairs Staff (TEBl).
    2. The Audiovisual Media Operations Staff (TEB2).
    Delete in its entirety:
    E. The Office of Editorial Policy and Communications (TEC).
    Retitle and amend as follows:
    D. The Office of Communications Technology (TEB) to the Office of 
Communications Policy and Technology (TEB). Directs the Agency's 
overall information and communications technology activities to ensure 
full public knowledge and understanding of the programs administered by 
SSA. Formulates SSA's measures, objectives, policies, standards and 
guidelines for public information programs and related communications 
technology applications designed to inform the general public of the 
provisions of the programs administered by SSA. Prepares and 
disseminates a wide variety of internal and external PI/PA materials 
ranging from program pamphlets and information packets to broadcast 
quality video productions. Provides direct and indirect programmatic 
support through the use of state-of-the-art media, methods and 
technology. Evaluates the quality of all information materials used 
within and external to SSA to ensure a uniformly high-quality product 
and assists in the design, development and delivery of PI/PA training 
in SSA.
    G. The Office of Regional Affairs and Special Projects (TEG) to the 
Office of External Affairs (TEG). Implements PI/PA programs and 
activities designed to develop, enhance and preserve good working 
relationships with the general public and a wide variety of national 
organizations, advocacy groups and other governmental organizations 
with an interest in SSA programs. Manages SSA-wide communications 
initiatives through a national framework of headquarters, regional and 
local PI/PA delivery strategies and processes. Deals directly with SSA 
employees and major customer/stakeholder groups promoting a meaningful 
exchange of ideas, opinions and points of view. Facilitates the ongoing 
operational dealings between these external organizations and SSA 
headquarters and field components involved in local PI/PA activities. 
Provides operational oversight over the activities of the Regional 
Public Affairs Officers and all other national and local communications 
and public contact activities.
H. The Office of Public Inquiries (TEH)
    1. The Policy, Procedures and Systems Group (TEH1)
    Amend last sentence as follows:
    Directs the use of surveys and analyses to increase the 
effectiveness of the correspondence workflow process throughout SSA.
    Reletter:
    ``H'' to ``E'.

Section S2D.20  The Office of the Regional Commissioner--(Functions)

    C. The Immediate Office of the Regional Commissioner (S2D1-S2DX).
    Delete from the second sentence ``and external affairs''

Section SA.20  The Office of the Commissioner--(Functions)

    C. The Immediate Office of the Commissioner (SA).
    Delete from the first sentence ``the Press Office,''

    Dated: January 31, 1997.
Shirley S. Chater,
Commissioner of Social Security.
[FR Doc. 97-5142 Filed 2-28-97; 8:45 am]
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