As expected, the Senate Commerce Committee added language to the juvenile-justice bill June 23 requiring schools and libraries that receive federal e-rate subsidies for Internet connections to install Internet filters. The House passed a similar measure a week earlier.
Under the provision, libraries receiving e-rate discounts must use technology that blocks “material that is obscene and child pornography” during use of computers by minors; it adds that libraries may also choose to use the technology to block materials they deem “inappropriate for minors.” ALA’s Washington Office reports that a last-minute compromise allows e-rate funds to be used to purchase filtering software.
Committee Chair Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), said, “This approach provides a minimum floor for what must be blocked—that material which is patently illegal—while providing local authorities the broadest latitude to block other material like hate speech and racist material, how-to manuals on bomb-making, and information on illegal drugs.”
The bill now moves to the House floor, where no date has been set for action.
Posted June 28, 1999.