These Research Clusters are intended to foster collaboration and provides tools allowing discussion feedback and interaction among users.  Users are free to share ideas and opinions as long as they conform to the cluster’s purpose.  In other words, be honest, be respectful of others, no insults, do not sell commercial or others services and do not make public accusations.  While we do not control or censor the posting of messages, information or files, we do remove offensive material.  

In other words, as a Cluster member, you agree not:

1. Falsely present yourself as a representative, employee, or official of a governmental entity by accidental or deliberate means including misleading or confusing statements in your postings.

2. Stray from the discussion topic, or make personal attacks on other website users and/or participants (personal attacks are defined as comments that reflect upon the person instead of their opinion), or make specific accusations regarding individual corporations or contracts.

3. Post or transmit any slanderous, defamatory, obscene, indecent, pornographic, profane, violent, abusive, insulting, threatening, offensive or harassing comments and/or information of any kind.  We will not tolerate such postings, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense.  

4. Post or re-post a message excessively, especially unsolicited advertisements, even if they are directly or indirectly related to the purpose of the site.  Advertising of any kind, including non-profit organizations, is not permitted.  

5. Add or post any copyrighted material to the site, without written permission of the copyright owner.  

As a Cluster member, you also:

1. Understand that these sites may experience failures or other service outages without notice.

2. Do not hold the RITA, the Department or the creators, operators, or related entities to the sites responsible or liable ("indemnify and hold harmless") for the inability to connect to or use the sites, or for any loss or corrupted data, or for any defamatory or offensive material(s) which you may encounter on or originating from the sites, or for the conduct, opinions, or publications of any user, or for any other problem whatsoever related to the use or existence of the sites.  

3. Understand that the RITA & the Department have no obligation to acknowledge, mediate or otherwise settle any disputes or differences in opinion that may arise between users.

4. Understand DOT, RITA and its contractors have no obligation to monitor the discussion groups.  However, they reserve the right at all times to disclose any information as necessary to satisfy any law and regulation and to edit, refuse to post, or to remove any information or links, in whole or in part, that are in violation of these terms and conditions or of applicable law.