Alaska State Library > E-rate

CIPA was signed into law on December 21, 2000. To receive support for Internet access and internal connections services from the Universal Service Fund (USF), 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

Who Must Comply with CIPA

If you receive money from E-rate for Internet Access or Internal Connections you must comply with CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) and all three of its requirements, which are discussed below.

If you are applying for E-rate funding for Internal Connections or Internet Services you must be CIPA compliant.

It is in the form 486 (Block 4, Item 11) that you inform the FCC if your institution is complying with the required CIPA regulations. CIPA compliance certifications are required from ALL funded applicants. Even those who do not need to comply must still submit the 486 certification to that fact.

Institutions that have their funding requests submitted by another authority (as a city office submitting for a library) must yearly fill out and send to that authority a Form 479 which attests to their compliance. The filing authority should maintain that Form 479 in their files.

Requirements of CIPA

Technology Protection Measure

A technology protection measure is a specific technology that blocks or filters Internet access. It must protect against access by adults and minors to visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or — with respect to use of computers with Internet access by minors — harmful to minors. It may be disabled for adults engaged in bona fide research or other lawful purposes. For schools, the policy must also include monitoring the online activities of minors.

Internet Safety Policy

The Internet safety policy must address the following issues:

• Access by minors to inappropriate matter on the Internet and World Wide Web
• The safety and security of minors when using electronic mail, chat rooms, and other forms of direct electronic communications
• Unauthorized access including "hacking" and other unlawful activities by minors online
• Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors
• Measures designed to restrict minors' access to materials harmful to minors

Public Notice and Hearing

The authority with responsibility for administration of the school or library must provide reasonable public notice and hold at least one public hearing to address a proposed technology protection measure and Internet safety policy.

Building an Audit Trail

You need to retain these documents for eight years in case of audit or review:

• Internet Safety Policy
• Copy of notice(s) of public meeting
• Copy of minutes of adoption meeting, including date and signature
• Copy of network logs or other proof of date of filter installation
• Notation of instances where filtering failed.