[We Learned To Fly – Sky Factory Season 7 EP 5]: FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov CAPTCHA Access Help

What should I do if FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov blocks access and asks for a CAPTCHA?

If FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov blocks your request and shows a CAPTCHA, the notice says your request may have been marked as possibly automated.

Complete the CAPTCHA to request access

The confirmed next step is simple: complete the CAPTCHA shown on the site. The notice says human users can use the CAPTCHA to request access after a request is flagged.

This applies to access notices on FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov.

You may need to repeat it

The notice also says users may sometimes need to complete the CAPTCHA again. That means seeing another CAPTCHA does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with your account or browser.

What is confirmed:

• The sites have limited automated scraping.
• Programmatic access is being directed to developer APIs.
• Human users are asked to complete a CAPTCHA when flagged.
• Some users may have to repeat the CAPTCHA.

If the CAPTCHA does not work

If you have trouble with the CAPTCHA, the notice directs users to the Site Help option. The available context does not provide a phone number, email address, or separate support URL.

When checking this issue, use the current notice on the official site, since access rules can change.

How can users request help with CAPTCHA problems or IP range access on FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov?

For CAPTCHA problems or IP range access questions on FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov, the notice points users to the Site Help option.

Use Site Help for the request

The confirmed path is to choose Site Help when you need help with either:

• CAPTCHA problems
• IP range requests

The notice does not give a separate email address, phone number, or alternate form link in the provided context.

Be careful with what you submit

The notice specifically warns users not to submit confidential or personal information through the IP Access Help form.

So if you are requesting help, keep the message limited to the access issue. Do not include private details unless the official site specifically says they are required.

What the notice confirms

FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov say automated scraping has caused them to limit programmatic use to developer APIs. If a request is treated as possibly automated, human users may be asked to complete a CAPTCHA.

For the latest help path, check the current official notice on the site where the block appears.

Sources / Learn more

• Federal Register
• Federal Register

Related reading

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