EFFector Online Newsletter
 
EFFector Newsletter     Vol. 11, No. 5    May 8, 1998    editor@eff.org
A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation     ISSN 1062-9424

IN THIS ISSUE

See http://www.eff.org for more information on EFF activities & alerts!

ACTION ALERT: OPPOSE GOVERNMENT-MANDATED INTERNET FILTERING! SEND A FREE FAX TO YOUR SENATORS
Issued May 8, 1998 ;RE-DISTRIBUTE WIDELY IN APPROPRIATE FORUMS UNTIL MAY 31

ACTION TO TAKE

The United States Senate may vote as early as next week on the "Internet School Filtering Act" (S. 1619). The bill would require libraries and schools receiving federal Internet subsidies to install filtering software designed to prevent children from accessing "inappropriate" material. EFF, ACLU and EPIC are sponsoring an online campaign to oppose this measure. By visiting any of the following links, you can send faxes -- free of charge! -- to your two Senators:
http://www.eff.org/blueribbon/
 
http://www.aclu.org/congress/cybmarch.html
 
http://www.epic.org/free_speech/action/

BACKGROUND

On March 12, the Senate Commerce Committee approved the "Internet School Filtering Act" (S. 1619). The bill would require schools and libraries receiving federal "e-rate" Internet subsidies to certify that they are using filtering software designed to prevent minors from accessing "inappropriate" material.

The bill raises serious constitutional questions. In a decision issued on April 7, a federal judge in Virginia rejected an effort to dismiss a challenge to Internet filtering at a public library, finding that "the Library Board may not adopt and enforce content- based restrictions on access to protected Internet speech" unless it meets the highest level of constitutional scrutiny.

Several studies have found that a great amount of valuable educational material is blocked by filtering programs. Some filtering systems even block access to web sites created by elementary schools for elementary school children. Filtering requirements are inconsistent with the goal of providing our children a rich educational experience and, when mandated by government, violative of the First Amendment.

Many local communities have decided that the best approach is one that emphasizes acceptable use policies and Internet education programs. They have rejected the use of filtering software as ineffective and contrary to educational objectives. They've decided to instill values rather than install filters. Tell Congress to leave this issue to local communities, and not to mandate a federal, one-size-fits-all filtering requirement.

Additional information on Internet filtering is also available at the Internet Free Expression Alliance website:

http://www.ifea.net

NOTE: Non-US citizens may also wish to contact US Senators to object to this draconian legislation. It would be most appropriate to contact Senate leadership: 

  Party      Last Name, First Name      Voice Phone        Fax
     State
    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    R SC    Thurmond, Strom          +1-202-224-5972  +1-202-224-1300
    R MS    Lott, Trent              +1-202-224-6253  +1-202-224-2262
    D SD    Daschle, Thomas          +1-202-224-2321  +1-202-224-2047
    R OK    Nickles, Don             +1-202-224-5754  +1-202-224-6008
    D KY    Ford, Wendell            +1-202-224-4343  +1-202-224-0046
    R FL    Mack, Connie             +1-202-224-5274  +1-202-224-8022
    R ID    Craig, Larry             +1-202-224-2752  +1-202-224-2573
    D MA    Kerry, John              +1-202-224-2742  +1-202-224-8525

US Senate leaders are, respectively: President Pro-Tempore, Majority Leader, Minority Leader & Democratic Policy Committee Chair, Majority Whip, Min. Whip, Republican Conference Chair, Rep. Policy Cmte. Chair, Dem. Steering Cmte. Chair.

See EFF's Contacting Congress Factsheet at http://www.eff.org/congress which provides links to places to look up who your legislator is for information on sending postal letters to US legislators.

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