MEMORANDUM

TO:

Missouri Public Library Directors
Missouri Public Library Boards of Trustees

FROM:

Sara Parker, Missouri State Librarian

DATE:

October 28, 2003

SUBJECT:

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and HB 1402, the Missouri Law requiring public libraries to restrict access by minors to pornographic materials on the Internet

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This memo is to provide background and guidance to public library boards and directors on the Children's Internet Protection Act and RSMo 182.825, RSMo 182.827. They affect the way Internet access is offered by public libraries.

Attachment A is a memorandum from Terry Jarrett, General Counsel, on the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Please note the State Library will require certification from public libraries to receive Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants.

Attachment B is a memorandum from Lowell Pearson, Assistant General Counsel. It contains guidelines for compliance with RSMo 182.825, RSMo 182.827. The General Counsel's Office has developed Attachment C which is a sample policy.

Library boards and directors must be aware CIPA also requires certification of compliance by schools and libraries if they receive "E-rate" (Education rate) discounts for telecommunications. If your library uses MOREnet for access to the Internet, MOREnet claims E-rate discounts on the telecommunications used by your library.

Upon the recommendation of the Secretary's Council on Library Development, Secretary Blunt has determined if a library does not certify compliance with CIPA and E-rate

discounts are lost, the library be charged with the amount of the lost E-rate discount in addition to the fees they pay MOREnet for their membership.

If a library board has already passed a resolution stating their intention NOT to filter or block then the library cannot certify as "undertaking actions" for E-rate Year 2003. These libraries will be charged a prorated amount of the E-rate funding for the period from August 14, 2003 through June 30, 2004.

The amount of E-rate discount MOREnet receives for each Internet connection, based on the size of the connection, are shown below. To estimate the amount of the annual E-rate discount for your library, multiply the amount shown in the "Fee per connection" line by the number of connections for your library or library system.

Size of connection	Fee per connection
56K	$ 60
128K	$ 120
384K	$ 361
768K	$ 722
T1	$1,444
4.5MB	$4,333
10MB	$9,389

There may also be some additional assessment for a library's proportionate share of any discounts claimed for the Missouri shared backbone and Internet access.

If you have questions about CIPA compliance, the Missouri law, the REAL Program, or this memo, please contact Barbara Reading at the Missouri State Library at 1-800-325-0131, ext. 4