Congress mulls Internet filtering

CNET News is Reporting 4 Republicans are promoting legislation that would force schools and libraries to use Internet filtering software or lose federal dollars intended to help buy Web access. No money is provided to buy the software. The bill is H.R. 4577.

\”This is ensuring that the government is not paying for access to pornography through libraries,\” said Istook\’s chief of staff, John Albaugh. \”We have received tremendous support from the public on this. It just seems like it\’s a no-brainer to the average Joe.\”

Read it Your Self….

CNET News is Reporting 4 Republicans are promoting legislation that would force schools and libraries to use Internet filtering software or lose federal dollars intended to help buy Web access. No money is provided to buy the software. The bill is H.R. 4577.

\”This is ensuring that the government is not paying for access to pornography through libraries,\” said Istook\’s chief of staff, John Albaugh. \”We have received tremendous support from the public on this. It just seems like it\’s a no-brainer to the average Joe.\”

Read it Your Self….

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H.R.4577

Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Print)

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TITLE VI–CHILDREN\’S INTERNET PROTECTION

SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the `Childrens\’ Internet Protection Act\’.

SEC. 602. REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES TO IMPLEMENT FILTERING OR BLOCKING TECHNOLOGY FOR COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET ACCESS AS CONDITION OF UNIVERSAL SERVICE DISCOUNTS. (a) SCHOOLS- Section 254(h) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)) is amended–

(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (7); and

(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph (5):

`(5) REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN SCHOOLS WITH COMPUTERS HAVING INTERNET ACCESS-

`(A) INTERNET FILTERING-

`(i) IN GENERAL- Except as provided in clause (ii), an elementary or secondary school having computers with Internet access may not receive services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) unless the school, school board, or other authority with responsibility for administration of the school–

`(I) submits to the Commission a certification described in subparagraph (B); and

`(II) ensures the use of such computers in accordance with the certification.

`(ii) APPLICABILITY- The prohibition in paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a school that receives services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) only for purposes other than the provision of Internet access, Internet service, or internal connections.

`(B) CERTIFICATION- A certification under this subparagraph is a certification that the school, school board, or other authority with responsibility for administration of the school–

`(i) has selected a technology for its computers with Internet access in order to filter or block Internet access through such computers to–

`(I) material that is obscene; and

`(II) child pornography; and

`(ii) is enforcing a policy to ensure the operation of the technology during any use of such computers by minors.

`(C) ADDITIONAL USE OF TECHNOLOGY- A school, school board, or other authority may also use a technology covered by a certification under subparagraph (B) to filter or block Internet access through the computers concerned to any material in addition to the material specified in that subparagraph that the school, school board, or other authority determines to be inappropriate for minors.

`(D) TIMING OF CERTIFICATIONS-

`(i) SCHOOLS WITH COMPUTERS ON EFFECTIVE DATE-

`(I) IN GENERAL- Subject to subclause (II), in the case of any school covered by this paragraph as of the effective date of this paragraph under section 602(h) of the Childrens\’ Internet Protection Act, the certification under subparagraph (B) shall be made not later than 30 days after such effective date.

`(II) DELAY- A certification for a school covered by subclause (I) may be made at a date that is later than is otherwise required by that subclause if State or local procurement rules or regulations or competitive bidding requirements prevent the making of the certification on the date otherwise required by that subclause. A school, school board, or other authority with responsibility for administration of the school shall notify the Commission of the applicability of this subclause to the school. Such notice shall specify the date on which the certification with respect to the school shall be effective for purposes of this clause.

`(ii) SCHOOLS ACQUIRING COMPUTERS AFTER EFFECTIVE DATE- In the case of any school that first becomes covered by this paragraph after such effective date, the certification under subparagraph (B) shall be made not later than 10 days after the date on which the school first becomes so covered.

`(iii) NO REQUIREMENT FOR ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS- A school that has submitted a certification under subparagraph (B) shall not be required for purposes of this paragraph to submit an additional certification under that subparagraph with respect to any computers having Internet access that are acquired by the school after the submittal of the certification.

`(E) NONCOMPLIANCE-

`(i) FAILURE TO SUBMIT CERTIFICATION- Any school that knowingly fails to submit a certification required by this paragraph shall reimburse each telecommunications carrier that provided such school services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) after the effective date of this paragraph under section 602(h) of the Childrens\’ Internet Protection Act in an amount equal to the amount of the discount provided such school by such carrier for such services during the period beginning on such effective date and ending on the date on which the provision of such services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) is determined to cease under subparagraph (F).

`(ii) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH CERTIFICATION- Any school that knowingly fails to ensure the use of its computers in accordance with a certification under subparagraph (B) shall reimburse each telecommunications carrier that provided such school services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) after the date of such certification in an amount equal to the amount of the discount provided such school by such carrier for such services during the period beginning on the date of such certification and ending on the date on which the provision of such services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) is determined to cease under subparagraph (F).

`(iii) TREATMENT OF REIMBURSEMENT- The receipt by a telecommunications carrier of any reimbursement under this subparagraph shall not affect the carrier\’s treatment of the discount on which such reimbursement was based in accordance with the third sentence of paragraph (1)(B).

`(F) CESSATION DATE-

`(i) DETERMINATION- The Commission shall determine the date on which the provision of services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) shall cease under this paragraph by reason of the failure of a school to comply with the requirements of this paragraph.

`(ii) NOTIFICATION- The Commission shall notify telecommunications carriers of each school determined to have failed to comply with the requirements of this paragraph and of the period for which such school shall be liable to make reimbursement under subparagraph (E).

`(G) RECOMMENCEMENT OF DISCOUNTS-

`(i) RECOMMENCEMENT- Upon submittal to the Commission of a certification under subparagraph (B) with respect to a school to which clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (E) applies, the school shall be entitled to services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B).

`(ii) NOTIFICATION- The Commission shall notify the school and telecommunications carriers of the recommencement of the school\’s entitlement to services at discount rates under this subparagraph and of the date on which such recommencement begins.

`(iii) ADDITIONAL NONCOMPLIANCE- The provisions of subparagraphs (E) and (F) shall apply to any certification submitted under clause (i).

`(H) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF POLICY- A school, school board, or other authority that enforces a policy under subparagraph (B)(ii) shall take appropriate actions to ensure the ready availability to the public of information on such policy and on its policy, if any, relating to the use of technology under subparagraph (C).

`(I) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL ACTION-

`(i) IN GENERAL- No agency or instrumentality of the United States Government may–

`(I) establish any criteria for making a determination under subparagraph (C);

`(II) review a determination made by a school, school board, or other authority for purposes of a certification under subparagraph (B); or

`(III) consider the criteria employed by a school, school board, or other authority for purposes of determining the eligibility of a school for services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B).

`(ii) ACTION BY COMMISSION- The Commission may not take any action against a school, school board, or other authority for a violation of a provision of this paragraph if the school, school board, or other authority, as the case may be, has made a good faith effort to comply with such provision.\’.

(b) LIBRARIES- Such section 254(h) is further amended by inserting after paragraph (5), as amended by subsection (a) of this section, the following new paragraph:

`(6) REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN LIBRARIES WITH COMPUTERS HAVING INTERNET ACCESS-

`(A) INTERNET FILTERING-

`(i) IN GENERAL- A library having one or more computers with Internet access may not receive services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) unless the library–

`(I) submits to the Commission a certification described in subparagraph (B); and

`(II) ensures the use of such computers in accordance with the certification.

`(ii) APPLICABILITY- The prohibition in paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a library that receives services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) only for purposes other than the provision of Internet access, Internet service, or internal connections.

`(B) CERTIFICATION-

`(i) ACCESS OF MINORS TO CERTAIN MATERIAL- A certification under this subparagraph is a certification that the library–

`(I) has selected a technology for its computer or computers with Internet access in order to filter or block Internet access through such computer or computers to–

`(aa) material that is obscene;

`(bb) child pornography; and

`(cc) any other material that the library determines to be inappropriate for minors; and

`(II) is enforcing a policy to ensure the operation of the technology during any use of such computer or computers by minors.

`(ii) ACCESS TO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY GENERALLY-

`(I) IN GENERAL- A certification under this subparagraph with respect to a library is also a certification that the library–

`(aa) has selected a technology for its computer or computers with Internet access in order to filter or block Internet access through such computer or computers to child pornography; and

`(bb) is enforcing a policy to ensure the operation of the technology during any use of such computer or computers.

`(II) SCOPE- For purposes of identifying child pornography under subclause (I), a library may utilize the definition of that term in section 2256(8) of title 18, United States Code.

`(III) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CERTIFICATIONS- The certification under this clause is in addition to any other certification applicable with respect to a library under this subparagraph.

`(C) ADDITIONAL USE OF TECHNOLOGY- A library may also use a technology covered by a certification under subparagraph (B) to filter or block Internet access through the computers concerned to any material in addition to the material specified in that subparagraph that the library determines to be inappropriate for minors.

`(D) TIMING OF CERTIFICATIONS-

`(i) LIBRARIES WITH COMPUTERS ON EFFECTIVE DATE-

`(I) IN GENERAL- In the case of any library covered by this paragraph as of the effective date of this paragraph under section 602(h) of the Childrens\’ Internet Protection Act, the certifications under subparagraph (B) shall be made not later than 30 days after such effective date.

`(II) DELAY- The certifications for a library covered by subclause (I) may be made at a date than is later than is otherwise required by that subclause if State or local procurement rules or regulations or competitive bidding requirements prevent the making of the certifications on the date otherwise required by that subclause. A library shall notify the Commission of the applicability of this subclause to the library. Such notice shall specify the date on which the certifications with respect to the library shall be effective for purposes of this clause.

`(ii) LIBRARIES ACQUIRING COMPUTERS AFTER EFFECTIVE DATE- In the case of any library that first becomes subject to the certifications under subparagraph (B) after such effective date, the certifications under that subparagraph shall be made not later than 10 days after the date on which the library first becomes so subject.

`(iii) NO REQUIREMENT FOR ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS- A library that has submitted the certifications under subparagraph (B) shall not be required for purposes of this paragraph to submit an additional certifications under that subparagraph with respect to any computers having Internet access that are acquired by the library after the submittal of such certifications.

`(E) NONCOMPLIANCE-

`(i) FAILURE TO SUBMIT CERTIFICATION- Any library that knowingly fails to submit the certifications required by this paragraph shall reimburse each telecommunications carrier that provided such library services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) after the effective date of this paragraph under section 602(h) of the Childrens\’ Internet Protection Act in an amount equal to the amount of the discount provided such library by such carrier for such services during the period beginning on such effective date and ending on the date on which the provision of such services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) is determined to cease under subparagraph (F).

`(ii) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH CERTIFICATION- Any library that knowingly fails to ensure the use of its computers in accordance with a certification under subparagraph (B) shall reimburse each telecommunications carrier that provided such library services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) after the date of such certification in an amount equal to the amount of the discount provided such library by such carrier for such services during the period beginning on the date of such certification and ending on the date on which the provision of such services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) is determined to cease under subparagraph (F).

`(iii) TREATMENT OF REIMBURSEMENT- The receipt by a telecommunications carrier of any reimbursement under this subparagraph shall not affect the carrier\’s treatment of the discount on which such reimbursement was based in accordance with the third sentence of paragraph (1)(B).

`(F) CESSATION DATE-

`(i) DETERMINATION- The Commission shall determine the date on which the provision of services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) shall cease under this paragraph by reason of the failure of a library to comply with the requirements of this paragraph.

`(ii) NOTIFICATION- The Commission shall notify telecommunications carriers of each library determined to have failed to comply with the requirements of this paragraph and of the period for which such library shall be liable to make reimbursement under subparagraph (E).

`(G) RECOMMENCEMENT OF DISCOUNTS-

`(i) RECOMMENCEMENT- Upon submittal to the Commission of a certification under subparagraph (B) with respect to a library to which clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (E) applies, the library shall be entitled to services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B).

`(ii) NOTIFICATION- The Commission shall notify the library and telecommunications carriers of the recommencement of the library\’s entitlement to services at discount rates under this paragraph and of the date on which such recommencement begins.

`(iii) ADDITIONAL NONCOMPLIANCE- The provisions of subparagraphs (E) and (F) shall apply to any certification submitted under clause (i).

`(H) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY OF POLICY- A library that enforces a policy under clause (i)(II) or (ii)(I)(bb) of subparagraph (B) shall take appropriate actions to ensure the ready availability to the public of information on such policy and on its policy, if any, relating to the use of technology under subparagraph (C).

`(I) LIMITATION ON FEDERAL ACTION-

`(i) IN GENERAL- No agency or instrumentality of the United States Government may–

`(I) establish any criteria for making a determination under subparagraph (C);

`(II) review a determination made by a library for purposes of a certification under subparagraph (B); or

`(III) consider the criteria employed by a library purposes of determining the eligibility of the library for services at discount rates under paragraph (1)(B).

`(ii) ACTION BY COMMISSION- The Commission may not take any action against a library for a violation of a provision of this paragraph if the library has made a good faith effort to comply with such provision.\’.