CIPA

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act (NCIPA) passed Congress in December of 2000. Both were part of a large federal appropriations measure (PL 106-554). The Federal Communications Commission released its regulations for CIPA and NCIPA covering the E-rate program in April 2001.

Libraries receiving e-rate money for Internet must meet the requirements of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act (NCIPA).

There is some overlap in language between the two sections of PL 106-554 but they do address different areas. The Children's Internet Protection Act addresses what has to be filtered and the need for an Internet safety policy. The Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act focuses on what has to be included in a school or library's Internet safety policy. Moreover, NCIPA is applicable only to the E-rate program. CIPA relates to E-rate plus LSTA and Title II funding.