~ongre~~ of tbe Wniteb fitate~ ~a!t1)mgton, J)(( 205t5 Hon. Tom Wheeler, Chairman lion. Mignon Clyburn Hon. Jessica Rosenworcel Hon. Ajit Pai Hon. Michael O'Rielly federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 September 25, 2014 Re: Implementation ofBlocking Requirements forE-rate Program (WC Docket No. 13-184) Dear Chairman Wheeler, Commissioner Clyburn, Commissioner Rosenworcel, Commissioner Pai, and Commissioner O'Rielly: As Members of Congress concerned with ensuring that our public schools and libraries provide resources for all students and community members, we are writing to make you aware of troubling implementation of online content filtering policies for students and citizens of all ages within public schools and libraries that receive E-ratc funding, and to urge you to take action to ensure access to important Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBD resources for library patrons and high school students. Under 47 U.S.C. § 254(h)(5) and the Commission's implementing rules! schools and libraries are required to establish policies and filters for content considered "obscene; child pornography; or harmful to minors." Regrettably, Internet content-filtering soflwan: can- intentionally or unintentionally- be used to block access to particular viewpoints in a discriminatory manner. For example, in 2011, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the Camdenton R-Ill School District in Camdenton, Missouri for blocking access to content supportive of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgcndcr (LGBT) youth and adults. In this egregious case, the filter was configured such that anti-LGBT content was not blocked. Thankfully, a federal judge in February 2012 ruled in favor of the ACLU and ordered the school district to stop using the discriminatory filter. We know from Camdenton that this problem exists, yet there are few institutional resources to guide public schools and libraries to ensure LGBT content is not intentionally or unintentionally blocked. The Internet has the potential to help LGBT people cope with discrimination, isolation and stigma they may face in their everyday lives. A 2013 Pew Research Center report and a national survey ofLGBT adults found: 39% have been rejected by friends or family because oftheir sexual or gender identity; 30% have been physically attacked or threatened; 21 % have been treated unfairly by an employer; and, only 56% have told their mother about their sexual or gender identity. This report also found that 80% of the LGBT community participates in a social 1 See 47 C.F.R. § 54.520. rniNTCO ON RCCVQ.CD PAPCA networking site. such as Face book, compared to just 58% of the general public-highlighting the importance of technology for the LGBT community. A 2014 report by the LGBT Technology Partnership & Institute "Vision for Inclusion: An LGBT Broadband Future" concluded that LGBT people are dependent on the Internet to meet a range of individual and social needs, which also makes them especially vulnerable to discriminatory Internet policies enacted by schools and libraries. In an age when high-speed broadband is transforming almost every aspect of our lives, we must ensure online access to every adult and child. We are aware that you are in the midst of a proceeding to modernize the E-ratc program. We encourage you to consider this problem in the course of this proceeding and adopt a solution to end this practice. For example, the Commission's regulations could make clear that LGBT educational content should not be filtered in a discriminatory manner. Thank you again for your consideration. Sincerely, Member of Congress Mt::mber of Congress -tAl_&. .. , ....... ~···...,._ .. Member of Congress Member of Congres !Jt ~ /J}k/e_.., Member of Congress Member of Congress Mt:mber of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress September 25, 2014 Hon. Tom Wheeler, Chairman Hon. Mignon Clyburn Hon. Jessica Rosenworcel Hon. Ajit Pai Hon. Michael O'Rielly Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Wheeler, Commissioner Clyburn, Commissioner Rosenworcel, Commissioner Pai, and Commissioner O'Rielly: We write in support of the enclosed letter from Members of Congress. We want to ensure that our public schools and libraries provide access to resources for all students and community members, especially those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). Earlier this summer, the LGBT Technology Partnership & Institute published a research paper entitled "Vision for Inclusion: An LGBT Broadband Future" outlining the unique needs of the LGBT community around broadband access. One of the recommendations specifically addresses access to LGBT resources in our public schools and libraries. Although our organizations are diverse with respect to mission, focus and approach, we all share a similar commitment to improving the lives of LGBT individuals and support the request by Members of Congress to the FCC seeking to end the practice of discriminatory filtering. Sincerely, LGBT Technology Partnership & Institute Human Rights Campaign American Civil Liberties Union All Under One Roof Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Allentown, PA CenterLink: The Community ofLGBT Centers GLAAD OLSEN Health IT Now Kalamazoo Gay Lesbian Community Center Lesbians Who Tech Los Angeles LGBT Center Mary's House for Older Adults, Inc. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund Resource Center (Dallas LGBT Center) Sacramento LGBT Community Center Santa Clara County Library District The Center: 7 Rivers LGBTQ Connection The Trevor Project Christopher Wolf- Chair, National Civil Rights Committee, Anti-Defamation League Lara Calvert-York- President of Fremont Unified School District Jules Polonetsky -former SVP Consumer Advocacy, AOL,former Consumer Affairs Commissioner, NYC Wendy Gudalewicz- Superintendent of Cupertino Unioin School District Alethea Lewis From: Sent: To: Subject: Alethea: Robert Lucas Monday, October 06, 2014 1:06 PM Alethea Lewis Signatories on Congressman Honda's letter Thanks for your call. Attached is the final list of signatories. There are several signatories that were not included in the mailing, but the digital copy is linked below. Digital Copy: https://www.scribd.com/doc/241 003489/Congressionai-Lcttcr-to-the-FCC -regarding-I .GBT­ Content-filtcring-in-Public-Schools-and-Libraries List of signatories: // 1. Honda ./ 2. Blumenauer 3. Cicilline J 4. Ellison Js. Grijalva .j6. Holt 7. Lee J 8. Lowenthal /). McDermott VlO. Meeks 11. Nadler VI2. Pocan v 13. Polis v 14. Rangel v 15. Schiff 16. Slaughter 17. Speier v 18. Takano. Let me know if you have any questions. Robert Lucas Legislative Correspondent 1 Online Communications & Technology Director Congressman Mike Honda (CA17-Silicon Valley) 1713 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Honda.house.gov I (202) 225-2631 I robert .lucas@mail.house.gov