ON GOING REQUIREMENTS FOR CAP SITES

To ensure a minimum level of service across the national network of CAP Sites, the Minister has established the following requirements.

• Have at least one printer and two computers that offer public internet access, and
• Be fully open to the general public a minimum of 20 hours per week
• Clients have capability to send and receive email
• Urban networks: at least 25 per cent of total network hours are evening and weekend hours
• A qualified person must be available to assist the public during operating hours.
• 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.

• 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;
• the capability to receive and open a PDF document;
• a location that meets local standards for physical accessibility by persons with disabilities;
• a reasonable level of electronic accessibility either on-site or through coordination with local CAP Sites; and
• printing facilities, which may operate on a user-pay basis; and client Internet software applications, such as e-mail, audio/video players and Usenet newsgroup reader.
• Implement Neil Squire Foundation accessibility recommendations (thirteen steps) as described in http://www.neilsquire.ca under Community Access Program Accessibility Workshop ÒPower Point Presentation on how to transform an inaccessible workstationÓ. CAP Sites must continue to implement an acceptable use policy and to communicate it to the public who use the CAP facility. The Media Awareness Network Web site (http://www.webawareness.org) provides valuable insight into issues surrounding Internet usage policies. For more information on acceptable use policies, visit the LibraryNet site (http://ln-rb/e/doing/pol.html).
• Web page is created using a template that will be provided. Each site may have its own CAP website or you may wish to create a network CAP website using the template. The Web page must:
• adhere to standards for accessible Web design for the CAP site;
• display a message that the access 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 on-line.

CAP supplied signage is: I) displayed near computer terminals ii) next to entrance of public access lab iii) visible from the main entrance to building. This signage will be sent with contributions agreements.

Individual CAP Sites agree to co-operate with other CAP Sites in the CAP Network to share information and to address operating issues and services to users that are of mutual interest.