INTERNET SAFETY Public Hearing

September 8, 2014

WHY FILTER INTERNET ACCESS

•It’s the Law!•Etowah County Schools (ECS) must comply with Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)•ECS must also meet the requirements of Federal ERATE compliance•Our filter monitors traffic on our network and serves as extra eyes as the number of devices on our network increases.

•Schools or school divisions are required to establish guidelines for the appropriate use of computer networks. Such guidelines are generally called an Acceptable Use Policy or AUP(updated July 2012).

•By definition, an AUP is a written agreement in the form of guidelines, signed by students, their parents and their teachers, outlining the terms and conditions of technology-use.

• It includes definitions of acceptable online behavior and access privileges.

•ECS currently uses two methods to help ensure Internet safety and block inappropriate material:

Lightspeed Rocket provides network security and a

content filtering system.

Secondary filtering is provided though an iBoss system

maintained by the Alabama Supercomputer Authority.

•Filtering is never 100% perfect.

•Some may attempt to circumvent the filter.

•Some acceptable sites will be blocked. We have a system in place to submit sites for review. 

•What types of websites are blocked?

•Pornography/adult content•Drugs and Alcohol

•Weapons•Violence and Hate

•Gambling•Dating

•Social Networking•Instant Messaging

•File Sharing•Forums, Newsgroups, Blogs

•Spyware•Virus

•Shopping•Gaming•Auctions•Music

•Security Risks

CYBERBULLING

•Included in our AUP•Addressed in NEW ERATE (2012) regulations and guidelines•Schools provide documentation to Technology Office – documentation is kept in our office

Questions / Comments