On August 19, the FCC announced that the federal Office of Management and Budget formally approved the slightly revised Form 486 (receipt of e-rate service confirmation) in conjunction with an FCC Order pertaining to the court-sanctioned filtering provision of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Thus, the so-called Second CIPA Order became effective on August 14, upon the OMB's approval.
Under CIPA, schools and libraries receiving discounts on Internet Access and/or Internal Connections must have an Internet safety policy that includes a technology protection measure to block certain visual depictions. (See a separate news item in this section on the NTIA's recommendations for CIPA filtering compliance.)
While libraries should be undertaking actions to include the technology protection measure here in the 2003 funding year, they must be in full compliance with all CIPA requirements by the start of the 2004 funding year if they want to continue to be eligible for E-rate discounts. The Schools and Libraries Division said although it will provide further guidance on its Web site in the near future for libraries (and consortia containing libraries), it has indicated that libraries that have already filed the Form 486 (or Form 479) for the 2003 funding year must re-file, using the new August 2003 version of the forms.
