S 1545 IS, Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act.
Re: requiring schools and libraries receiving e-rate subsidies to install filtering software.
Sponsor: Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA).
Date Introduced: August 5, 1999.
Source: Library of Congress.

To require schools and libraries receiving universal service assistance to install systems or implement policies for blocking or filtering Internet access to matter inappropriate for minors, to require a study of available Internet blocking or filtering software, and for other purposes.

August 5, 1999

Mr. SANTORUM introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To require schools and libraries receiving universal service assistance to install systems or implement policies for blocking or filtering Internet access to matter inappropriate for minors, to require a study of available Internet blocking or filtering software, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act'.

SEC. 2. NO UNIVERSAL SERVICE FOR SCHOOLS OR LIBRARIES THAT FAIL TO IMPLEMENT A FILTERING OR BLOCKING SYSTEM FOR COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET ACCESS OR ADOPT INTERNET USE POLICIES.

(a) NO UNIVERSAL SERVICE-

(1) IN GENERAL- Section 254 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(l) IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNET FILTERING OR BLOCKING SYSTEM OR USE POLICIES-

`(1) IN GENERAL- No services may be provided under subsection (h)(1)(B) to any elementary or secondary school, or any library, unless it provides the certification required by paragraph (2) to the Commission or its designee.

`(2) CERTIFICATION- A certification under this paragraph with respect to a school or library is a certification by the school, school board, or other authority with responsibility for administration of the school, or the library, or any other entity representing the school or library in applying

`(A) has--

`(i) selected a system for its computers with Internet access that are dedicated to student use in order to filter or block Internet access to matter considered to be inappropriate for minors; and

`(ii) installed on such computers, or upon obtaining such computers will install on such computers, a system to filter or block Internet access to such matter; or

`(B)(i) has adopted or implemented an Internet use policy that addresses--

`(I) access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web;

`(II) the safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications;

`(III) unauthorized access, including so-called `hacking', and other unlawful activities by minors online;

`(IV) unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information regarding minors; and

`(V) whether the school or library, as the case may be, is employing hardware, software, or other technological means to limit, monitor, or otherwise control or guide Internet access by minors; and

`(ii) provided reasonable public notice and held at least one public hearing or meeting which addressed the proposed Internet use policy.

`(3) LOCAL DETERMINATION OF CONTENT- For purposes of a certification under paragraph (2), the determination regarding what matter is inappropriate for minors shall be made by the school board, library, or other authority responsible for making the determination. No agency or instrumentality of the United States Government may--

`(A) establish criteria for making such determination;

`(B) review the determination made by the certifying school, school board, library, or other authority; or

`(C) consider the criteria employed by the certifying school, school board, library, or other authority in the administration of subsection (h)(1)(B).

`(4) EFFECTIVE DATE- This subsection shall apply with respect to schools and libraries seeking universal service assistance under subsection (h)(1)(B) on or after July 1, 2000.'.

(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Subsection (h)(1)(B) of that section is amended by striking `All telecommunications' and inserting `Except as provided by subsection (l), all telecommunications'.

(b) STUDY- Not later than 150 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration shall initiate a notice and comment proceeding for purposes of--

(1) evaluating whether or not currently available commercial Internet blocking and filtering software adequately addresses the needs of educational institutions;

(2) making recommendations on how to foster the development of products which meet such needs; and

(3) evaluating the development and effectiveness of local Internet use policies that are currently in operation after community input.

SEC. 3. IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS.

Not later than 100 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Communications Commission shall adopt rules implementing this Act and the amendments made by this Act.