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State Website Link
Policy - Draft
This document outlines the policies for linking to the State of Texas website, and for
getting a link to your site from the State of Texas website. The topics covered are:
Linking to the State of Texas website
What you can do.
You do not need to get advance permission to link to us if you are making a simple link
to the homepage. However, there are many old URLs leading to the State of Texas website
that should no longer be used. We ask that you only link to us using the following URL:
http://www.state.tx.us/
You may also link to one of our subpages, where appropriate, but again, please use the
base URL of www.state.tx.us. For example, if you want to link directly to the Texas
Information page you should use:
http://www.state.tx.us/texasinfo/
We reserve the right to change subpages at any time without notice, so it is up to you
to continuously verify your links to our subpages.
What you should not do.
Please do not capture our pages within your frames, or otherwise present our content as
your own. Any link to our site should be a full forward link that passes the client
browser to our site unencumbered. The BACK button should return the visitor to your site
if the visitor wishes to back out. Although all content on our site is public information,
the State of Texas maintains and will defend a copyright interest in these pages.
You should not link to individual graphics or tables within our pages, especially in an
effort to place the downloading burden on our servers. Such an action may be considered a
misuse of state resources. To get permission to use a copy of our graphics within your
pages, please contact the outlining
your intended use(s).
Getting a link to your site from us
Categories of links
- Links to State agencies or political subdivisions within Texas.
- Definitive sources of information of interest to our visitors.
- Links officially requested by State Agencies.
- Links deemed topical, timely, or of other general interest to our visitors.
Links to official government websites
Links to Texas government sites that follow Internet naming standards in the .TX.US
zone will be accepted and linked to upon email submission to . Links of this
type are considered automatic, and we will create the link as soon as we are aware of the
site, regardless of who has notified us.
An example of a standards-based domain name for a city would be
http://www.ci.CITYNAME.tx.us, such as http://www.ci.austin.tx.us. Names for counties,
Councils of Government (COGs), and state agencies are similar. The State Technology
Assessment Center ( STAC) can answer questions
about registering your name using the proper Internet standards. See:
Getting a
.TX.US Domain Name
If your website is not using a standards-based domain name for government entities
within the TX.US zone, then your contact information on your link request should include
the name and phone number of the mayor, city manager, county manager, or other
highest-level government official who must indicate that they know of and approve of your
site as the "most official" site for your city, county, or other governmental
agency. A city or other Texas governmental site that is not within the .TX.US zone may be
replaced without notice as soon as a site adhering to Internet naming conventions becomes
available.
Definitive sources of information about Texas
The State of Texas website selects and links to, at its own discretion, sites that
feature information about Texas. We look for sites that can provide the "last
word" on a Texas topic. We appreciate hearing about your site. Selection is based
upon such factors as:
- The frequency of requests for adding such a link.
- The stability and trustworthiness of the site.
- Fitting the link within our web design and mission.
Such links may be removed or replaced at any time without notice.
Links requested for the convenience of a state agency
All state agencies can get a link under the appropriate category of the agencies list.
From time to time, however, topical issues or events may warrant a separate, temporary
link on some level of the State of Texas website. Official requests for such links should
be directed to the with
the pertinent information about the link and how to contact you.
Links deemed topical, timely, or of other general interest to our visitors.
The State of Texas website sometimes creates links to sites which may be
non-governmental in nature but are of current interest to our visitors. Examples of such
sites are prominent sports teams or athletes that are strongly associated with Texas. In
the case of a sports team we will only link to the team's officially sponsored site. We do
not link to sites belonging to political candidates.
Where's that link that was here last week?
We will remove a link if:
- The link no longer points to the original information or resource that was intended.
- The information is inaccurate or not trustworthy
- Access to the information has become difficult due to odd formating, lengthy download
times, or intrusive advertising.
- The link has gone dead or remains unavailable for a lengthy period, especially if we are
unable to contact you about your site's status.
Please note that we sometimes get hundreds of mail messages a week, so please be
patient while we set up your link. If your site meets the standard criteria we will
usually create the link within five business days, but it can take longer. If the link
doesn't appear and you haven't heard from us within two weeks, please send your request
again, and mention that it is a second request.
Reciprocal links
The State of Texas Website does not enter into reciprocal link agreements. We provide
links to sites that are appropriate to our mission.
Our creation of a link to your site does not obligate you to provide a link back to us,
but you are, of course, welcome to do so.
We always appreciate a note telling us of new links to us. Send link info to:
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