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CIPA

What is the Children's Internet Protection Act? 

The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires public libraries to install internet filtering software on all public access and staff computers if the library uses federal money to purchase devices that can access the internet or to purchase internet access.  

The Children's Internet Protection Act is codified in 47 U.S.C. 254(h) and 47 U.S.C. 254(l). 

Under what conditions is CIPA compliance necessary? 

According to the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) 20 U.S.C. § 9134(f) et seq.: 

  1. Your library must comply with CIPA if your library uses LSTA money to purchase: 
  1.  PCs or devices that can access the internet; or 
  1. Internet access (i.e., pay an Internet Service Provider). 
  1.     No compliance with CIPA is required if your library uses LSTA funds for ANY other purpose. 

What is CIPA compliance? 

  1. Install and enforce the use of a technology protection measure on every computer or device in the library with internet access (both public and staff). 
  2. Adopt and enforce an Internet Safety Policy that includes the use of a technology protection measure.
  3. Libraries will be asked to certify CIPA compliance for E-Rate and all federally-funded  programs. 
  4. A library that uses federal funds in a manner requiring CIPA compliance and does NOT receive a discount on Internet Access or Internal Connections through E-Rate will need to certify compliance through the federally-funded program. 

Definitions. 

(1) Library. For the purposes of the certification requirements, library means library, library board or authority responsible for administration of a library.  

(2) Computer or Device. For the purposes of the certification requirements, computer or device means a piece of equipment that performs logical operations and processes data such as searches. 

(3) Internet Access. For the purposes of the certification requirements, internet access includes the following elements: 

(a) The transmission of information as common carriage; and 

(b) The transmission of information as part of a gateway to an information service, when that transmission does not involve the generation or alteration of the content of information, but may include data transmission, address translation, protocol conversion, billing management, introductory information content, and navigational systems that enable users to access information services, and that do not affect the presentation of such information to users.  

Disabling for research

An authorized library staff member may disable the blocking or filtering measure during use by an adult to enable internet access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes.

PDF of this page

Download a PDF of the information on this webpage (PDF).

Manage

imls180.for.panel.jpgMany of these resources and programs are funded under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Florida's LSTA program is administered by the Department of State's Division of Library and Information Services.

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