§ 1201.735-309 - Information.

(a) Release of information to press.

(1) Regular or special employees shall not withhold information from the press or public unless that information is classified or administratively controlled (limited official use). All responses to requests for information from the press should be referred to the Office of Communications or regional communications officers as appropriate who will be responsible for all releases. Regular and special employees should be certain that information given to the press and public is accurate and complete.

(2) Any questions as to the classification or administrative control of information should be referred to the general counsel.

(3) No regular or special employee may record by electronic or other device any telephone or other conversation. No regular or special employee may listen in on any telephone conversation without the consent of all parties thereto.

(b) Disclosure and misuse of inside information. No employee may, directly or indirectly, disclose or use for his or her own benefit, or for the private benefit of another, inside information as described in paragraph (c) of this section. The use of such information by an employee is restricted to the proper performance of his or her official duties. The disclosure of such information is restricted to official ACTION channels unless disclosure is authorized by the Director, the Deputy Director, an Associate Director, or a Regional Director of ACTION. In particular, no employee may:

(1) Engage in, directly or indirectly, a financial transaction as a result of or primarily relying on such information; or

(2) Publish any book or article, or deliver any speech or lecture, based on or using such information.

(c) Definition: The term “inside information” as used in this section means, generally, information obtained under Government authority which is not known by the general public and which could affect the rights or interests of the Government or of a non-Government organization or person. Such information includes information about ACTION operations or administration, and personnel which could influence someone's dealing with ACTION.

(d) This section is not intended to discourage the disclosure through proper channels of information which has been or should be made public, or which is by law to be made available to the public. Also, employees are encouraged to teach, lecture, and write, provided they do so in accordance with the provisions of this section and §§ 1201.735-301, and 1201.735-306.