RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD 

Open Government Plan 

I.	 Introduction 

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) Open Government Plan is a public roadmap detailing 

current practices that incorporate the principles of the President’s January 21, 2009, 

Memorandum on Transparency and Open Government into the agency’s core mission objectives, 

and the strategy to advance such practices in the future. The Open Government Directive1 

emphasizes the principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration; together forming the 

cornerstone of an open government. 

	 Transparency promotes accountability by providing the public with information about 

what the Government is doing. 

	 Participation allows members of the public to contribute ideas and expertise so that their 

government can make policies with the benefit of information that is widely dispersed in 

society. 

	 Collaboration improves the effectiveness of Government by encouraging partnerships 

and cooperation within the Federal Government, across levels of government, and 

between the Government and private institutions. 

The RRB participates in a wide-range of government-wide transparency initiatives. During FY 

2009, a series of documents outlining the RRB’s implementation of the American Recovery and 

Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was developed and published to the www.recovery.gov website. 

ARRA-related documents as well as background on RRB benefit programs were published to the 

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance www.cfda.gov website and to the RRB’s website at 

www.rrb.gov. Five data sets containing railroad employment data were published to 

www.data.gov. The RRB also provides input to the General Services Administration (GSA) 

through the Federal Procurement Data System www.FPDS.gov. 

II. Activities and Milestones 

The Open Government Directive requires Federal agencies to take the following steps toward 

the goal of creating a more open government: 

1

 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/memoranda_2010/m10-06.pdf 

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 Publish Government Information Online 

 Improve the Quality of Government Information 

 Create and Institutionalize a Culture of Open Government 

 Create an Enabling Policy Framework for Open Government 

Publish Government Information Online 

The RRB has a long history publishing substantial amounts of information on its website 

(www.rrb.gov) for all interested parties. Past practices provided such information in a Portable 

Document Format (PDF). Consistent with the Open Government Directive, the RRB will 

continue to publish such information with consideration to expanding access to information in 

open formats.2 

Online Publishing 

The RRB will respect the presumption of openness by publishing information online (in 

addition to any other planned or mandated publication methods) and by preserving and 

maintaining electronic information, consistent with the Federal Records Act and other 

applicable law and policy. 

Open Format 

The RRB will continue to publicize underlying data in cases where the agency provides 

public information maintained in electronic format. To the extent practicable and subject to 

valid restrictions, the RRB will publish high-value information online in an open format that 

can be retrieved, downloaded, indexed, and searched by commonly used web search 

applications that meet the needs of railroad employees, railroad employers and the public in 

general. 

Modern Technology 

To the extent practical and subject to valid restrictions, the RRB will continue to use its 

website to disseminate useful information, rather than waiting for specific requests under 

FOIA. 

2

 The Federal Government has defined information in OMB Circular A-130, “Management of Federal Information 

Resources,” as any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts, data, or opinions presented in any medium 

or format. 

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High-Value Data Sets 

The RRB identified and published online in an open format five high-value data sets and 

registered those data sets via Data.gov. Going forward, the RRB will consider existing 

published data for conversion to open format for publication to Data.gov. 

High Value Information and Data Set Inventory 

The RRB High-Value Information and Data Set Inventory details the underlying data sets 

that are in an open format and accessible directly via Data.gov. 

High-Value Information and Data Set Inventory 

Information/Data Set Name Description URL 

Active Employees and 

Railroad Retirement Act 

Beneficiaries by State, 2008 

A breakdown of Active 

Employees and Railroad 

Retirement Act Beneficiaries 

by State. 

http://www.data.gov/details/1331 

Longevity of Railroad 

Retirement Beneficiaries 

Calculations of life 

expectancies of Railroad 

Retirement beneficiaries. 

http://www.data.gov/details/1332 

Railroad Retirement Act 

Annuitants and Active 

Railroad Employees by 

Congressional District 

A breakdown of Railroad 

Retirement Act Annuitants 

and Active Railroad 

Employees by Congressional 

District. 

http://www.data.gov/details/1330 

Total Number of Railroad 

Employees by State and Last 

Railroad Employer, 2007 

A breakdown of Railroad 

employees by State and Last 

Railroad Employer. 

http://www.data.gov/details/455 

Total Railroad Employment 

by State and County, 2007 

A breakdown of Railroad 

employees by State and 

County. 

http://www.data.gov/details/456

 Open Government Webpage 

The RRB’s Open Government Webpage (www.rrb.gov/open) serves as the gateway for 

agency activities related to the Open Government Directive. The site allows the public to 

provide input about the agency’s Open Government Plan, give feedback regarding the quality 

of published information, and provide input about what information should be prioritized for 

publication to RRB staff via E-mail. 

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Response to Public Input 

The RRB will respond to public input received on its Open Government Webpage within ten 

business days. 

Freedom of Information Act Report Publishing 

The RRB publishes its annual Freedom of Information Act Report in an open format on its 

Open Government Webpage (www.rrb.gov/open). The RRB does not have a backlog of 

requests to publish information in accordance with FOIA. 

Open Government Initiative Guidance 

The RRB will continue to observe guidance on implementing specific Presidential open 

government initiatives, such as Data.gov, Recovery.gov, and USAspending.gov. 

Improve the Quality of Government Information 

To improve the quality of government information available to the public, the RRB will ensure 

that the information conforms to OMB guidance on information quality and that adequate 

systems and processes are in place within the RRB to promote such conformity. 

Designation of a Data Official 

The RRB designated the Director of Administration to be accountable for the quality and 

objectivity of, and internal controls over, the Federal spending information publicly 

disseminated through such public venues as USAspending.gov or other similar websites. 

Initiate Plan for Quarterly Data Information Quality Improvement 

The RRB awaits guidance on the longer-term comprehensive strategy of the Deputy Director 

for Management at OMB for Federal spending transparency, including the Federal Funding 

Accountability Transparency Act and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The 

RRB designates the Director of Administration to respond to the OMB guidance for 

transparency in Federal spending. 

Create and Institutionalize a Culture of Open Government 

To create a sustained level of openness and accountability, the RRB will strive to incorporate the 

values of transparency, participation, and collaboration into the ongoing work of the agency. 

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Open Government Plan 

The RRB’s Open Government plan describes how the RRB embraces transparency and 

integrates public participation and collaboration into its activities and can be found at our 

Open Government Webpage (www.rrb.gov/open). The plan will be updated every two years. 

Incentive-Based Strategies 

The RRB has designated the Director of Administration to review the findings of the Deputy 

Director for Management at OMB about the use of challenges, prizes, and other incentivebacked strategies to find innovative or cost-effective solutions to improve open government. 

Create an Enabling Policy Framework for Open Government 

Emerging technologies open new forms of communication between a government and the 

people. It is important that policies evolve to realize the potential of technology for open 

government. 

Clarifying Guidance and Proposed Revisions 

The RRB will observe guidance applicable to small agencies, from the Administrator of the 

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), in consultation with the Federal Chief 

Information Officer and the Federal Chief Technology Officer, to promote greater openness 

in government. 

III. Transparency 

The RRB’s long history of transparency is evident by the extensive amount of information 

frequently published on its website (www.rrb.gov). To uphold and advance this strong 

commitment to transparency in the future, the RRB will continue to publish information in 

support of its mission to administer retirement/survivor and unemployment/sickness insurance 

benefit programs for railway workers and their families under the Railroad Retirement Act and 

the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. 

Agency Plans, Management and Reports 

The RRB Strategic Plan details the RRB’s long and distinguished history of excellent customer 

service and the continuation of that tradition by calling for the attainment and maintenance of 

high levels of accuracy and timeliness in paying retirement, survivor, unemployment and 

sickness insurance benefits. The Agency Management and Reports webpage provides 

information on the RRB’s structure, responsibilities to the public, and communication methods. 

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The RRB Annual Report provides information on agency operations that are distributed to 

officials of railway management and labor, members of Congress, officials of the Federal 

Government, and requesting libraries 

http://www.rrb.gov/general/plan_rpt_inv.asp#fair 

http://www.rrb.gov/mep/agency_mgt.asp 

http://www.rrb.gov/opa/AnnualRprt/Ann_Rpt_toc.asp 

Agency Procedure Manuals 

The Agency Procedure Manuals webpage is an index of the chapters in the various manuals used 

by the RRB in the processing of claims under either the Railroad Retirement or Railroad 

Unemployment Insurance Acts. 

http://www.rrb.gov/general/admin_manuals_index.asp 

Board Coverage Decisions 

Board Coverage Decisions are the determinations of the three-member Board as to the status of 

various companies or persons with respect to coverage as employers or employees under the 

Railroad Retirement and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Acts. 

http://www.rrb.gov/blaw/bcd/cov_introduction.asp 

Congressional Requests 

The Congressional Inquiry Section of the RRB's Office of Administration is responsible for 

responding to all inquiries from congressional offices concerning constituents, benefit claims or 

applications filed with the agency. 

Questions about proposed railroad retirement legislation, the status of pending legislation, or 

congressional schedules, hearings or committee jurisdiction should be directed to the Office of 

Legislative Affairs (ola@rrb.gov). 

http://www.rrb.gov/opa/rrbcongress_contacts.asp 

Federal Register 

The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of 

Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents. 

Descriptions of agency organization, procedures for the public to obtain information, statements 

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of agency function, rules of procedure, descriptions of agency forms, substantive rules of general 

applicability and statements of general policy, and any changes in material required to be 

published are available through the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). 

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html 

http://www.rrb.gov/irm/fedreg_notices.asp 

http://www.rrb.gov/irm/fedreg_regs.asp 

Financial, Actuarial and Statistical Data 

The RRB Financial, Actuarial and Statistical Data webpage consists of the following sections: 

	 Annual Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act Data 

	 Budget and Financial Reports: Current and Projected 

	 Earnings Limits, Tax Rates and COLA's 

	 Monthly and Quarterly Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad Unemployment Insurance 

Act Data 

	 Performance and Accountability Reports 

http://www.rrb.gov/mep/fin_act_stat.asp 

Forms and Publications 

The Railroad Retirement Handbook provides a comprehensive single source of authoritative 

information on the development and character of the railroad retirement and railroad 

unemployment insurance systems. The Benefit Forms and Publications webpage provides 

information on Unemployment & Sickness Benefits, Retirement & Survivor Benefits, Medicare, 

Income Tax, Protests and Appeals, and Work/Earnings. The Employer Forms and Publications 

webpage provides content from the Exhibits Section of the Labor Reporting, Employer 

Reporting and Sickness Reporting Instructions, and publications in the format of Employer 

Exchange Newsletters and Office of the Labor Member Questions and Answers. 

http://www.rrb.gov/general/handbook/toc.asp 

http://www.rrb.gov/mep/ben_forms.asp 

http://www.rrb.gov/mmo/rail_forms.asp 

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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

The RRB is required under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to disclose records requested 

in writing by any person. However, we may withhold information under certain exemptions and 

exclusions provided by the statute. In addition, the Railroad Retirement Act, the Railroad 

Unemployment Insurance Act, and the Privacy Act restrict disclosure of information about 

individuals. 

http://www.rrb.gov/blaw/foia/foia.asp 

Information Dissemination 

In accordance with Section 3506(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act and Section 515 of Public 

Law 106-554 the RRB has developed a procedure to allow one to seek and obtain correction of 

certain information RRB maintains and disseminates. Procedures to seek correction of 

information under section 515 do not replace other established procedures for challenges to 

disseminated information. Challenges to information disseminated in the course of rulemaking 

should be made through the channels established for that purpose. 

http://www.rrb.gov/bis/section515/introduction.asp 

http://www.rrb.gov/bis/section515/guidelines.asp 

http://www.rrb.gov/bis/section515/correct.asp 

IMPAC Credit Card Holders List 

The RRB receives frequent requests under the Freedom of Information Act for a list of the 

IMPAC credit card holders at the agency. In accord with section 4 of the Electronic Freedom of 

Information Act Amendments of 1996 (P.L. 104-231), the RRB posts the list of credit card 

holders. 

http://www.rrb.gov/general/impac.asp 

News Releases 

The RRB News webpage provides access to periodic news releases distributed to editors of 

railway publications and major newspapers, officials of railway management and labor, and 

requesting agencies and organizations in and outside of the Federal Government. 

http://www.rrb.gov/mep/news_releases.asp 

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Paperwork Reduction Act 

The RRB is essentially compliant with the information dissemination requirements of the PRA. 

Privacy Act - Privacy Act Systems of Records 

The RRB Privacy Act webpage provides information on one’s right to records which the RRB 

maintains about individuals, including individuals in the railroad industry. The text of all of the 

RRB's Privacy Act Systems of Records, as published in the Federal Register, are available for 

study. 

http://www.rrb.gov/bis/privacy_act/introduction.asp
 

http://www.rrb.gov/bis/privacy_act/SORNList.asp
 

Records Management 

The RRB records schedules are in transition. We will post updated RRB records schedules to 

www.rrb.gov upon completion of all remaining NARA Bulletin 2006-02-related RRB/NARA 

appraisal work later in FY 2010. 

RRBVision 

The RRBVision service allows users to view video presentations with accompanying training 

materials, such as PowerPoint presentations or online screens. Presentations can be viewed in 

real time or saved for later viewing. These presentations covered instructions in filing for 

sickness and unemployment benefits under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act, filing for 

retirement benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act, completing a variety of compensationreporting forms and navigating the Board’s Web site. 

http://www.rrb.gov/rrbvision/video_library.asp 

IV. Participation & Collaboration 

The RRB encourages civic involvement and promotes opportunities for the public to participate 

throughout the decision-making process of the agency’s core mission activities. The RRB 

advocates collaboration and will continue to develop such practices to further cooperation with 

other Federal and non-Federal governmental agencies, the public, and non-profit and private 

entities in fulfilling the agency’s core mission activities. 

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American Customer Satisfaction Index 

The RRB participates in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey. Produced 

through a partnership of the University of Michigan Business School, the CFI Group, and the 

American Society for Quality, the ACSI regularly measures national customer satisfaction with 

corporate and government goods and services. Working with the Department of the Interior's 

National Business Center Federal Consulting Group, government agencies participating in the 

survey use the ACSI to gauge their level of service and benchmark their performance for 

comparison with similar organizations in the private sector. The ACSI helps agencies focus on 

those processes, based on customer feedback, which will have the biggest impact on an agency's 

ability to deliver the highest quality products and services. The RRB earned a score of 88 out of 

a possible 100 in a recent ACSI survey. This is 19 points higher than the latest Federal 

government average of 69 and demonstrates a very high level of satisfaction with the services 

provided by the RRB. 

http://www.rrb.gov/opa/pr/pr0910.asp 

RRB Customer Assessment Survey 

A Customer Assessment Survey Form is available in every RRB field office. After visiting field 

offices, the RRB encourages the completion of this form to assist us in gathering data on inperson service. Our goal is to provide our railroad public with the efficient, friendly service it 

deserves. 

RRB Strategic Plan 

The RRB Strategic Plan reflects input and feedback from our stakeholders, including customers 

in the railroad community, Congressional committees, the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) and other Federal agencies. We believe this plan reflects an updated focus on our 

commitment to providing outstanding customer service in the most effective, efficient ways 

possible. 

http://www.rrb.gov/general/plan_rpt_inv.asp#fair 

RSS Feeds & Email Subscriptions 

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a technology that allows organizations to deliver content to a 

desktop computer or other Internet device. By subscribing to RSS feeds, users can easily stay upto-date with areas of the RRB’s web site that are of interest and provide resultant feedback. RRB 

feeds consist of headline, brief summary, and a link that leads back to the agency's web site for 

more information. RRS feeds and email subscriptions are available for content such as Annual 

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RRA & RUIA Data, Annual RRA & RUIA Data, Budget and Financial Reports, Earnings 

Limits, Tax Rates & COLA's, Monthly & Quarterly RRA & RUIA Data, Office of the Inspector 

General - Library, Open Government Initiative, Railroad Job Vacancies Reported to the RRB, 

Recent Updates on the RRB Web Site, and RRBVision Video Presentations. 

http://www.rrb.gov/rss/rss.asp 

V. Flagship Initiative 

American Customer Satisfaction Index Web-Based Survey 

Starting in May 2010, working in collaboration with Foresee Results and the Federal Consulting 

Group, the Railroad Retirement Board will be participating in the American Customer 

Satisfaction Index survey of visitors to the agency’s website. The survey will specifically 

measure the visitors’ perception of “Online Transparency” among other things. Unlike previous 

ACSI surveys the agency has conducted at a single point in time, this survey will be ongoing for 

at least a year. Each month, the survey questions can be adjusted to obtain customer feedback on 

potential enhancements thus providing a vehicle for customer participation. Each quarter we will 

receive an analytical report which will help us determine which website improvements will yield 

the greatest return on satisfaction and on our investment. This approach will also allow us to 

determine the importance of website elements to our customers—based on their input—so we 

can make informed decisions about website improvements and other online investments. The 

ability to adjust both the survey and the website along the way provides an ongoing measure of 

improved transparency and effectiveness. Depending on the level of public participation, 

funding availability, and the RRB’s ability to respond to the feedback, we will consider 

extending the survey for another year or more, and/or obtaining additional analytical services to 

further improve website performance and openness, and ultimately efficiency and effectiveness 

of operations, as well as customer satisfaction. 

Please send any comments, ideas or questions regarding the RRB Open Government Plan to: 

Anita Rogers 

Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist 

Anita.Rogers@rrb.gov 

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