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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 99-1212 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: June 23, 1999 COMMON CARRIER BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON LETTER FILED BY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE REGARDING SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES UNIVERSAL SERVICE SUPPORT MECHANISM CC DOCKET NO. 96-45 On April 7, 1999, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, United States Department of Commerce (NTIA), on behalf of the Clinton Administration, sent a letter to Chairman William E. Kennard regarding the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism. In particular, NTIA addresses the issue of whether universal service support provided to eligible schools and libraries for Internet access and internal connections should be conditioned on the agreement by such schools and libraries to adopt a policy regarding Internet usage by children. NTIA indicates that many schools and libraries have adopted methods for ensuring that children do not encounter inappropriate material when using the Internet. NTIA believes that all public institutions should be encouraged to adopt "acceptable use" policies, which, "while being sensitive to local needs and concerns, offer reasonable assurances to parents that safeguards will be in place in the school and library setting that permit users to be empowered to have educational experiences consistent with their values." NTIA proposes that the Commission promote the employment of "acceptable use" policies "by adopting a requirement that all schools and libraries that receive Federal E-rate funds certify that they will implement 'acceptable use' policies before such funds are awarded to them." We seek comment on whether the Commission should adopt NTIA's proposal. In addition to "acceptable use" policies, which are locally-drafted statements that explicitly define the range of acceptable uses of the Internet within a particular school or library, schools and libraries may also use a wide range of technology tools, such as filtering or blocking software, to limit and/or to monitor children's use of the Internet. NTIA notes, however, that schools and libraries select particular technology tools based on their determination of what works best in their communities. Accordingly, we do not seek comment on whether the Commission should mandate a particular type of filtering or blocking technology to limit and/or to monitor children's use of the Internet. We do seek comment, however, on other possible methods for ensuring that children do not encounter inappropriate material when using the Internet, such as permission slips from parents regarding their children's use of the Internet or student certifications that they will use the Internet consistent with the school's "acceptable use" policy. If the Commission were to adopt NTIA's proposal, we seek comment on how the Commission should implement the establishment of an "acceptable use" policy as a condition to receipt of support under the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism. Because the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) expects to begin issuing funding commitment decision letters shortly for the second funding year, we seek comment on whether the Commission should require applicants to submit a letter to USAC certifying that an "acceptable use" policy has been adopted before funds may be disbursed pursuant to a funding commitment decision letter. With regard to subsequent funding years, we seek comment on whether the Commission should amend the application form so that schools and libraries would be required to certify in the application that an "acceptable use" policy has been, or will be, established. Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before July 22, 1999, and reply comments on or before August 6, 1999. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24,121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of this proceeding, however, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To receive filing instructions for e-mail comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, "get form