Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

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The Children's Internet Protection Act says "In order to receive discounts for Internet access and internal connections services under the universal service support mechanism, school and library authorities must certify that they are enforcing a policy of Internet safety that includes measures to block or filter Internet access for both minors and adults to certain visual depictions. These include visual depictions that are (1) obscene, or (2) child pornography, or, with respect to use of computers with Internet access by minors, (3) harmful to minors. An authorized person may disable the blocking or filtering measure during any use by an adult to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purpose."

The following information is taken from Specific CIPA Guidance for Year 4 "Undertaking Actions" Certification (5/18/01)

Compliance with the requirements of CIPA

"Undertaking such actions" refers to actions related to implementation of the CIPA requirements that should be in place for Year 5. These requirements are:

1. Technology Protection Measure

A Technology Protection Measure is a specific technology that blocks or filters Internet access. It must protect against access by adults and minors to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or - with respect to use of computers with Internet access by minors - harmful to minors. It may be disabled for adults engaged in bona fide research or other lawful purposes. For schools, the policy must also include monitoring the online activities of minors.

2. Internet Safety Policy

The Internet Safety Policy must address the following issues:

1. access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web;
2. the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;
3. unauthorized access, including so-called "hacking," and other unlawful activities by minors online;
4. unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and
5. measures designed to restrict minors' access to materials harmful to minors.

3. Public Notice and Hearing

The authority with responsibility for administration of the school or library must provide reasonable public notice and hold at least one public hearing to address a proposed Technology Protection Measure and Internet Safety Policy.

Following are a few examples of documentation that could demonstrate that a school or library is "undertaking actions" to comply with CIPA:

1. A published or circulated school or library board agenda with CIPA compliance cited as a topic.
2. A circulated staff meeting agenda with CIPA compliance cited as a topic.
3. A Service Provider quote requested and received by a recipient of service or Billed Entity which contains information on a Technology Protection Measure.
4. A draft of an RFP or other procurement procedure to solicit bids for the purchase or provision of a Technology Protection Measure.
5. An agenda or minutes from a meeting open to the public at which an Internet Safety Policy was discussed.
6. An agenda or minutes from a public or nonpublic meeting of a school or library board at which procurement issues relating to the acquisition of a Technology Protection Measure were discussed.
7. A memo to an administrative authority of a school or library from a staff member outlining the CIPA issues not addressed by an Acceptable Use Policy currently in place.
8. A memo or report to an administrative authority of a school or library from a staff member describing research on available Technology Protection Measures.
9. A memo or report to an administrative authority of a school or library from a staff member which discusses and analyzes Internet Safety Policies in effect at other schools and libraries.

Note: Actions undertaken to comply with CIPA must occur on or before the start of services. For services starting on July 1, 2001, the first day in Funding Year 4, such an action must have occurred on or before that date in order for discounts to be paid back to that date. The certification of "undertaking actions" must be made on a Form 486 by October 28, 2001 for services starting on or before October 28, 2001.

All members of a consortium receiving discounts for Internet access and/or internal connections must submit signed certifications to the Billed Entity of each consortium on form, FCC Form 479 Certification by Administrative Authority to Billed Entity of Compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act

Meeting CIPA Requirements With Technology - Public Library Association
 

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