Internet content filtering requires ongoing vigilance and mutual effort by staff in our member organizations and at RINET. To guide this collaborative effort, this document describes an operational process for RINET staff and recommendations to our member organizations.

This process begins when a member subscribes to our filtering service. Because
of the dynamic nature of the Internet, no mechanism can categorically deny access to all such sites. Filtering software, however, can significantly reduce access to inappropriate sites.Time, expertise, and flexibility to deal with the significant, ongoing challenges that filtering tries to address are required. For RINET members to achieve effective Internet content filtering,  the RINET staff member and the local technical staff member must cooperate in a dynamic, complex process.

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.

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