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 Children's Internet Protections Act Summary


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,

  2. child pornography

  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.

A school administrative authority must certify that its policy of Internet safety includes monitoring the online activities of minors. . CIPA does not, however, require the tracking of Internet use by any identifiable minor or adult user.

In order to receive discounts, school and library authorities must also certify that they have adopted and implemented an Internet safety policy addressing

  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.

  6. Furthermore, CIPA requires that recipients provide reasonable public notice and hold at least one public hearing or meeting to address this proposed policy of Internet safety.