TO: SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER
CHAIRMAN - SENATE LABOR/HHS, EDUCATION
SENATOR THAD COCHRAN
SENATOR SLADE GORTON
SENATOR JUDD GREGG
SENATOR LARRY CRAIG
SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON
SENATOR TED STEVENS
SENATOR JON KYL
REP. JOHN PORTER
CHAIRMAN - HOUSE LABOR/HHS, EDUCATION
REP. BILL YOUNG
REP. HENRY BONILLA
REP. ERNEST ISTOOK
REP. DAN MILLER
REP. JAY DICKEY
REP. ROGER WICKER
REP. ANNE NORTHUP
REP. RANDY CUNNINGHAM

FROM: UNDERSIGNED ORGANIZATIONS

SUBJECT: INTERNET FILTERING AMENDMENT

DATE: OCTOBER 11, 2000

CC: SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT
HOUSE SPEAKER DENNIS HASTERT
HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER DICK ARMEY
HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP TOM DELAY

We are writing to you today to express our concerns about the proposed Internet filtering amendment to H.R. 4577, and the chilling effect that it would have on the Internet. While we are all gravely concerned about the proliferation of pornography on the Internet and children's access to such material, we hope to see responsible legislation that will empower parents and that will actually prevent children from accessing harmful material online.

The Children's Internet Protection Act, added to H.R. 4577 by Senators McCain and Santorum, and Representatives Istook and Pickering, would require that all public libraries and schools that receive federal funds for Internet access to install blocking software to restrict access to "inappropriate" material.

Filtering is not exclusive to pornographic content; it can also be used to target First Amendment protected speech. This was highlighted in the past when CyberPatrol, the largest filtering software manufacturer, ruled that the American Family Association's web site would be subject to filtering by their software program because of their long-standing opposition to homosexual activism.

There is growing concern within the conservative community regarding the use of filtering systems by schools and libraries that deliberately filter out web sites and information that promote conservative values. There have been many reported incidents of schoolteachers and administrators targeting pro-environment groups that differ with the global warming hypothesis, as well as pro-life organizations with filtering software to prevent students from hearing alternative approaches to those issues.

These precedents send a frightening message to political and social organizations that promote causes contrary to the positions held by the "politically correct" American Library Association and National Education Association. For conservative organizations to be subject to filtering for the content of their speech violates the most fundamental understanding of the First Amendment. The Children's Internet Protection Act would not only justify, but would mandate the use of these inappropriately restrictive devices.

We are also opposed to the practice of Congress mandating regulations by tying them to the use of federal money for state projects. This practice of taking money from the states, generously redistributing portions of it to other states, and then returning what is left with provisional strings attached is immoral and an abuse of power. Regardless of the good intentions this bill was drafted to achieve, this approach to federal funding is destructive to the most basic notions of federalism and must not become a normal practice.

Nothing is more effective than efforts to educate parents and children about Internet safety and how to properly use online resources. Moreover, Internet filters are an imperfect solution to this important problem. With millions and millions of web sites already online, and more added every day, children will always be able to access content we might wish they couldn't. Education programs can help them to deal with the very real danger certain kinds of content could pose; Internet filters offer a false sense of security on this issue.

Additionally, Congress' own Commission on Online Child Protection is due to submit its own report on Internet safety for children in mid-October. That report will embody several months' extended effort on the part of the commission's nineteen members, and will provide Congress with important recommendations for future decisions regarding children's online safety. Congress should not legislate on this topic before that report has been received, lest it undermine the importance of the COPA Commission's work or make avoidable legislative mistakes.

The amendment's provision for "monitoring the online activities of minors either through supervisory or technological means" is also problematic. This language is inappropriately vague, and could be even open the door to unprecedented law enforcement access to people's online habits. Issues of technological monitoring must be dealt with far more care than is evident in the proposed legislation.

For these reasons, we encourage you to oppose the Children's Internet Protection Act, and any other efforts to dilute the potential of this powerful medium. We hope that you agree that an educational approach that empowers parents, instead of blunt, ineffective mandates, is the best way to address the issue of protecting children during their online experiences. We appreciate your concern and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Paul M. Weyrich
National Chairman
Coalitions for America

Lisa S. Dean
Vice President for Technology Policy
Free Congress Foundation

Grover Norquist
President
Americans for Tax Reform

Helen Blackwell
President
Virginia Eagle Forum

Karen Kerrigan
Chairman
Small Business Survival Committee

Paul Clark
Director
Coalition for Local Sovereignty

Tom DeWeese
President
American Policy Center

Rick Humphreys
State Director
Tennessee Christian Coalition

William Bracken
Republican Executive Committee
Lee County Florida

Cathie Adams
President
Texas Eagle Forum

Dwight Baker
Chairman
Libertarian Party of Mississippi

Dottie Feder
Vice President
Wisconsin Eagle Forum

Bettina Dobbs
President
Guardians of Education for Maine

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