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Child Internet Protection Act (CIPA) Overview

Background

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) is a federal law designed to protect students from inappropriate online content on school computers. Enacted by Congress, CIPA applies to schools and libraries receiving E-rate funding, a program that subsidizes affordable technology access. Onslow County Schools complies with CIPA to ensure a safe digital learning environment.

What CIPA Requires

To receive E-rate discounts, Onslow County Schools maintains an Internet safety policy that includes:

  • Technology filters to block obscene content, child pornography, and material harmful to minors.
  • Education programs teaching students about safe online behavior, including cyberbullying prevention and responsible use of social media and chat rooms.
  • Monitoring of minors’ online activities to enforce safety standards.
  • Policies to prevent unauthorized access, hacking, and the misuse of personal information, while restricting access to harmful materials.

These measures are certified before receiving E-rate funding. Authorized staff may disable filters for adult use in bona fide research or other lawful purposes. CIPA does not require tracking of Internet use by minors or adults.

For More Information

Learn more about CIPA or E-rate funding by visiting the Universal Service Administrative Company’s Schools and Libraries Division (https://www.usac.org/e-rate/) or calling 1-888-203-8100. For general inquiries, contact the FCC’s Consumer Center at fccinfo@fcc.gov or 1-888-225-5322 (voice) / 1-888-835-5322 (TTY).