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Background
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 for
Internet access or internal connections from the E-rate program –
a program that makes certain communications technology more
affordable for eligible schools and libraries. In early 2001, the
FCC issued rules implementing CIPA.
What CIPA Requires
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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).
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Schools subject to CIPA are required to
adopt and enforce a policy to monitor online activities of
minors.
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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.
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CIPA does not affect E-rate funding for
schools and libraries receiving discounts only for
telecommunications, such as telephone service.
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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.
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CIPA does not require the tracking of
Internet use by minors or adults.
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For More Information
For more information about CIPA or to
apply for Universal Service, contact the Universal Service
Administrative Company’s (USAC) Schools and Libraries
Division (SLD) at
www.sl.universalservice.org. SLD also operates a
client service bureau to answer questions at
1-888-203-8100 or via e-mail through the SLD Web site. For
information about other telecommunications issues, visit
the FCC’s Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Web site
at www.fcc.gov/cgb,
or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center by e-mailing
fccinfo@fcc.gov;
calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or
1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) TTY; faxing
1-866-418-0232; or writing to:
Federal Communications
Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554.
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Federal Communications Commission
