Services
Filtering
• Overview
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Services Filtering Overview

Filtering Overview

General Information
How the RINET Filtering Solution Works
Requirements for Effective Use
Request Filtering
Documentation

General Information

Since September 2001, RINET member schools and libraries have enjoyed an Internet content filtering solution that allows them to comply with the “technology measure” of the federal CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act) mandate. CIPA requires schools and libraries to filter Internet content in order to receive E-rate subsidy funding. This service is available at no additional cost to all schools and libraries directly connected to RINET.

To meet the individual Internet content filtering needs of schools and libraries, RINET implemented a network-level, enterprise-wide Internet content filter from 8e6 Technologies.

All RINET members enjoy the following Filtering benefits:

• No additional charge for filtering service
• Award-winning technology solution
• No need for local staff to manage hardware/software/etc.
• Member meets CIPA mandate (required to receive erate subsidies)
• Member maintains local control of filtering settings
• Configurable filtering options using over 125 categories
• Ability to block or bypass individual sites “on the fly”

Note: Internet content filtering is not activated on dial-in services provided by the Rhode Island Department of Education.

How the RINET Filtering Solution Works

The 8e6 filtering solution is designed to inspect and act upon Internet requests without interfering with network activity or degrading network performance. Because the 8e6 solution operates at the network level, the end-user experiences no difference in their Internet use unless they try to access an “inappropriate site,” at which point an “Access denied” web page will appear on their screen.

The 8e6 appliance contains a library of potentially objectionable sites and services in over 125 categories. It offers a tremendous amount of flexibility by allowing authorized school and district personnel to define filtering rules based on local policies. In addition, filtering rules can be applied to multiple zones within a district or school, depending upon local technical constraints. For example, different filtering rules can be implemented for elementary, middle and high school.

The 8e6 Technologies Enterprise Filter is one of the leading content filtering solutions in use by Internet providers serving K-12 schools.

Requirements for Effective Use of RINET's Filtering Service

Filtering software is designed to significantly reduce access to inappropriate sites.  Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, no mechanism can categorically deny access to all such sites. It remains the responsibility of schools to supervise and monitor Internet use by children. Effective Internet content filtering requires ongoing vigilance and mutual effort by staff in our member organizations and at RINET.

Mutual Roles and Responsibilities

RINET staff will:

1. Operate a filtering service that permits our members to comply with local community standards and certify compliance with applicable State and Federal law.
2. Provide our members with the means to control filtering locally (e.g., select blocked content categories; add Web sites to blocking database).
3. Aid with interfacing the filtering service to members’ networks and services.
4. Use a current, authoritative database of blocked sites and services.
5. Educate our members about the challenges that content filtering entails.

 

To effectively use our filtering service, the responsible staff at our member sites should:

1. Supervise students’ access to filtered computers.
2. Disseminate widely and enforce rigorously an Appropriate Use Policy for staff and students.
3. Guard filtered computers and network resources against inappropriate compromise of filtering measures (e.g., workstation logging, regular audits).
4. Educate officials, parents, patrons, and other stakeholders about the challenges that content filtering entails.