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PRODUCTS
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CIPA Compliant Filtering
The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law enacted by Congress
in December 2000 to address concerns about access to offensive content over the
Internet on school and library computers. CIPA imposes certain types of requirements
on any school or library that receives funding support for Internet access or internal
connections from the "E-rate" program - a program that makes certain technology
more affordable for eligible schools and libraries. In early 2001, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) issued rules implementing CIPA.
What CIPA Requires
- Schools and libraries subject to CIPA may not receive the discounts offered by the
E-Rate program unless they certify that they have an Internet safety policy and
technology protection measures in place. An Internet safety policy must include
technology protection measures to block or filter Internet access to pictures that:
(a) are obscene, (b) are child pornography, or (c) are harmful to minors, for computers
that are accessed by minors.
- Schools subject to CIPA are required to adopt and enforce a policy to monitor online
activities of minors.
- Schools and libraries subject to CIPA are required to adopt and implement a policy
addressing: (a) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet; (b) the
safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other
forms of direct electronic communications; (c) unauthorized access, including so-called
"hacking," and other unlawful activities by minors online; (d) unauthorized
disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors; and
(e) restricting minors access to materials harmful to them.
Schools and libraries are required to certify that they have their safety policies
and technology in place before receiving E-rate funding.
- CIPA does not affect E-rate funding for schools and libraries receiving discounts
only for telecommunications, such as telephone service.
- 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 purposes.
- CIPA does not require the tracking of Internet use by minors or adults.
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