I
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4600
To require schools and libraries to implement filtering or blocking technology
for computers with Internet access as a condition of universal service
discounts under the Communications Act of 1934.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 8, 2000
Mr. PICKERING (for himself, Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey, Mr. TAUZIN, Mr.
LARGENT, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. PITTS, Mr. BAKER, Mr. JONES of North
Carolina, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. HILLEARY, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. WICKER,
and Mr. ISTOOK) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To require schools and libraries to implement filtering or
blocking technology for computers with Internet access
as a condition of universal service discounts under the
Communications Act of 1934.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Children’s Internet
Protection Act’’.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES TO
IMPLEMENT FILTERING OR BLOCKING TECH-
NOLOGY FOR COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET
ACCESS AS CONDITION OF UNIVERSAL SERV-
ICE DISCOUNTS.
(a) SCHOOLS.—Section 254(h) of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254(h)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as para-
graph (7); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (5):
‘‘(5) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
CERTAIN
SCHOOLS
WITH COMPUTERS HAVING INTERNET ACCESS.—
‘‘(A) INTERNET FILTERING.—
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Except as pro-
vided in clause (ii), an elementary or sec-
ondary school having computers with
Internet access may not receive services at
discount rates under paragraph (1)(B) un-
less the school, school board, or other au-
thority with responsibility for administra-
tion of the school—
‘‘(I) submits to the Commission a
certification described in subpara-
graph (B); and
‘‘(II) ensures the use of such
computers in accordance with the cer-
tification.
‘‘(ii) APPLICABILITY.—The prohibi-
tion 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 in-
ternal 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;
‘‘(II) child pornography; and
‘‘(III) material that is harmful to
minors during the use of such com-
puters by a minor; and
‘‘(ii) is enforcing a policy to ensure
the operation of the technology during any
use of such computers.
‘‘(C) USE OF TECHNOLOGY.—
‘‘(i) ADDITIONAL
USE.—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 con-
cerned to any material in addition to the
material specified in that subparagraph
that the school, school board, or other au-
thority determines to be inappropriate.
‘‘(ii) 
DISABLING
DURING
ADULT
USE.—An administrator, supervisor, or
other authority may disable the technology,
during use by an adult, to enable
unfiltered access for bona fide research or
other lawful purpose.
‘‘(D) TIMING OF IMPLEMENTATION.—
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause
(ii) in the case of any school covered by
this paragraph as of the effective date of
this paragraph under section 2(h) of the
Children’s Internet Protection Act, the cer-
tification under subparagraph (B) shall be
made as part of the application process for
the next program funding year ø(?)¿ fol-
lowing enactment, and for each subsequent
year thereafter.
‘‘(ii) PROCESS.—
‘‘(I) SCHOOLS
WITH
FILTERING
INTERNET
TECHNOLOGY
IN-
STALLED.—A school covered by clause
(i) which has already purchased and
installed Internet filtering technology
shall certify to its compliance with
subparagraph (B) during each annual
program application cycle.
‘‘(II) SCHOOLS WITHOUT INTER-
NET
FILTERING
TECHNOLOGY
IN-
STALLED.—A school covered by clause
(i) which has not purchased and in-
stalled Internet filtering technology—
‘‘(aa) for the first program
year in which they are applying
for funds, shall certify that it is
undertaking procurement to pur-
chase and install filtering tech-
nology; and
‘‘(bb) for the second pro-
gram year, shall certify that they
are in compliance with subpara-
graph (B).
Any school that is unable to certify
compliance in the second program
year shall be ineligible for all funding
for the second year and all subsequent
years under this program, until such
time as the school comes into compli-
ance.
‘‘(III) 
WAIVERS.—Any 
school
subject to subclause (II) that cannot
come into compliance with subpara-
graph (B) in the second year may
seek a waiver of subclause (II)(bb) if
State or local procurement rules or
regulations or competitive bidding re-
quirements prevent the making of the
certification otherwise required by
such subclause. A school, school
board, or other authority with respon-
sibility for administration of the
school shall notify the Commission of
the applicability of such subclause to
the school. Such notice shall certify
that the school in question will be
brought into compliance prior to the
start of the third program year in
which the school is applying for funds.
‘‘(E) NONCOMPLIANCE.—
‘‘(i) FAILURE
TO
SUBMIT
CERTIFI-
CATION.—Any school that knowingly fails
to comply with the application guidelines
regarding the annual submission of certifi-
cation required by this paragraph shall not
be eligible for funding under this program.
‘‘(ii) FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH CER-
TIFICATION.—Any school that knowingly
fails to ensure the use of its computers in
accordance with a certification under sub-
paragraph (B) shall be subject to enforce-
ment action by the Commission, up to and
including full reimbursement of funds re-
ceived in violation.’’.
(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 para-
graph: