I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3177
To require the installation of a system for filtering or blocking matter on
the Internet on computers in schools and libraries with Internet access,
and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 11, 1998
Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To require the installation of a system for filtering or block-
ing matter on the Internet on computers in schools and
libraries with Internet access, and for other purposes.
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 ‘‘Safe Schools Internet
Act of 1998’’.
SEC. 2. NO UNIVERSAL SERVICE FOR SCHOOLS OR LIBRAR-
IES THAT FAIL TO IMPLEMENT A FILTERING
OR BLOCKING SYSTEM FOR COMPUTERS
WITH INTERNET ACCESS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 254 of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) is amended by adding
at the end thereof the following:
‘‘(l) IMPLEMENTATION OF A FILTERING OR BLOCK-
ING SYSTEM.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—No services may be pro-
vided under subsection (h)(1)(B) to any elementary
or secondary school, or any library, unless it pro-
vides the certification required by paragraph (2) or
(3), respectively.
‘‘(2) CERTIFICATION FOR SCHOOLS.—Before re-
ceiving universal service assistance under subsection
(h)(1)(B), an elementary or secondary school (or the
school board or other authority with responsibility
for administration of that school) shall certify to the
Commission that it has—
‘‘(A) selected a system for computers with
Internet access to filter or block matter deemed
to be inappropriate for minors; and
‘‘(B) installed, or will install as soon as it
obtains computers with Internet access, a sys-
tem to filter or block such matter.
‘‘(3) CERTIFICATION FOR LIBRARIES.—Before
receiving universal service assistance under sub-
section (h)(1)(B), a library that has a computer with
Internet access shall certify to the Commission that,
on one or more of its computers with Internet ac-
cess, it employs a system to filter or block matter
deemed to be inappropriate for minors. If a library
that makes a certification under this paragraph
changes the system it employs or ceases to employ
any such system, it shall notify the Commission
within 10 days after implementing the change or
ceasing to employ the system.
‘‘(4) LOCAL DETERMINATION OF CONTENT.—
For purposes of paragraphs (2) and (3), the deter-
mination of what matter is inappropriate for minors
shall be made by the school, school board, library or
other authority responsible for making the required
certification. No agency or instrumentality of the
United States Government may—
‘‘(A) establish criteria for making that de-
termination;
‘‘(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).’’.
(b) CONFORMING CHANGE.—Section 254(h)(1)(B) of
the 
Communications 
Act 
of 
1934 
(47 
U.S.C.
254(h)(1)(B)) is amended by striking ‘‘All telecommuni-
cations’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided by subsection
(l), all telecommunications’’.
Æ