WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Vice Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today submitted the following statement for the record during a hearing on protecting children on the Internet.

Senator Stevens submitted the following statement for the record:

The Internet is a dynamic space where Americans turn to get information, do research, and exchange ideas.

Given the increasingly important role of the Internet in education and commerce, it differs from other media like TV and cable because parents cannot prevent their children from using the Internet altogether.  The headlines continue to tell us of children who are victimized online.  While the issues are difficult, I believe Congress has an important role to play to ensure that the protections available in other parts of our society find their way to the Internet.  Since introducing the Protecting Children Online in the 21st Century Act, my staff and I have worked with a wide variety of advocacy groups on this topic. In response to the feedback we have received, my staff are currently circulating a new draft wth four primary goals.

The new measure would:

·          direct the Federal Communications Commission to identify industry practices that can limit the transmission of child pornography;

·          require schools that receive E-Rate funds to provide age-appropriate education to their students regarding online behavior, social networking and cyberbullying;

·          require the Federal Trade Commission to form a working group to identify blocking and filtering technologies in use and identify, what, if anything could be done to improve the process and better enable parents to proactively protect their children online; and

·          add the selling or purchasing of children’s personal information in connection with a criminal offense in the criminal code as an indictable offense.

I hope the panelists can give us more insight on what we can do within the First Amendment to empower parents and whether this bill heads in the right direction.

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