If you hope to start getting an E-Rate discount on July 1 for *Internet access*, then you MUST take some action prior to July 1 to comply with the Children's Internet Protection Act. The action could be as simple as discussing CIPA compliance at a board or staff meeting (keep the agenda for documentation). SLD gives examples of possible actions at http://www.sl.universalservice.org/whatsnew/MISC/CIPA051801.asp Note that the CIPA filtering requirement applies ONLY to discounts on Internet access. Discounts on *telecommunications* do NOT trigger the filtering requirement. Newspaper reports of a recent court action suggested that libraries would not have to comply this year with the filtering requirements of CIPA to get E-Rate discounts. In fact, the court action only clarified what libraries must do. The ACLU, which along with the ALA has sued to have CIPA declared unconstitutional, received a letter from a Justice Department attorney on May 14 that makes clear that a library taking a discount in Year 4 is not committed to filter after Year 4: "As I indicated to you in our earlier telephone conversation, a library which makes the certification that it is undertaking actions to comply with CIPA for Year 5 need not have made a final decision as to whether it will install the technology devices for Year 5. In other words, it may continue to evaluate its options under CIPA during Year 4, but decide not to participate in the universal service program in Year 5 (2002-2003) by not applying for further funding." http://www.aclu.org/news/2001/n051701a.html#explanation Bob Gaines --------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Include in body: unsubscribe ctls-l For information on CTLS-L please visit: http://www.ctls.net/document/ctls-l.htm
