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Consortium to Assist Schools and Libraries with Internet Blocking Technology Requirements
On December 6, 2000, the media reported the formation of a
consortium designed to assist schools with implementation
of Internet filtering technology in response to legislation
mandating the use of Internet filtering or other technological
barriers to controversial content online.
The Consortium for School Networking
announced a Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse initiative
funded by N2H2, the Education Networks of America, and America Online.
The web site of the initiative makes the following claim:
This project is made possible through the financial support of the corporate
sponsors identified below. However, CoSN is responsible for creating all of
the materials associated with the project and retains editorial control over
them. Sponsors provide input and feedback, but the ultimate responsibility
for the project's materials rests with CoSN.
However, N2H2 is a provider of filtering technology and America Online sells
filtering technology as a feature of its Parental Controls facility.
In addition, the web site of the Consortium sponsoring the initiative
lists annual membership fees of $100 for an individual, a minimum
of $500 for educational institutions and nonprofit organizations,
and $2000 for corporate membership.
The Online Policy Group believes that the educational freedom and access to a
broad diversity of educational materials should not be entrusted to an organization
funded by companies with an interest in promoting filtering technology,
nor should such an effort require member allocation of such
significant funds merely in order to participate.
We invite you to join a new network that accepts no funding
from companies developing or selling filtering software, and
that turns away no individual or organization for lack of funds,
so that the recommendations
of the network can be inclusive of all parties regardless
of financial standing and so that recommendations of the
network can be independent of inappropriate commercial influences.
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Joint Statement Opposing Legislative Requirements for School and Library Internet Blocking Technologies
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Join this growing constituency of organizations and individuals
who have published
a joint statement in response to the US Congress' passage
of legislation requiring blocking technology in all public schools
and libraries participating in federal programs in order
to galvanize opposition to mandatory blocking
technology and to promote educational methods for youth to
use the Internet safely and effectively, January 17, 2001
Additional Resources
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Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse
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Web site for the initiative funded by N2H2 and AOL to advise
schools on Internet filtering technology issues.
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Consortium for School Networking (CoSN)
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This organization lists the Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse at their
project. Their web site mentions that CoSN has lobbied along with
a broad coalition of groups against the filtering mandate currently
before the U.S. Congress.
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Consortium Offers Unfiltered Advice on
Filtering Software
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The Safeguarding the Wired Schoolhouse
initiative, launched by the Consortium for
School Networking (CoSN), is intended to
provide school leaders with general guidelines
for evaluating Internet protections,
New York Times (may require free registration to access),
December 6, 2000.
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