Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and E-Rate

A quick roundup of the CIPA regulations designed to promote Internet safety in K–12 schools.

Congress enacted the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in December 2000. Why?

As the Internet began to play a bigger role in schools and libraries, there were concerns that children could access obscene or harmful content while online. CIPA was an Internet-safety measure designed to protect students from pornography and other inappropriate material on the web.

In early 2001, the Federal Trade Commission (FCC) issued rules to implement CIPA. Now any school or library that receives E-rate funding—federal discounts for Internet access, internal connections, and basic maintenance of internal connections—is subject to CIPA regulations.

CIPA Requirements in a Nutshell…

In order to qualify for the E-rate program, schools and libraries must certify they’ve implemented Internet-safety policies that:

• Block or filter Internet access to obscene pictures, child pornography, and other content harmful to minors
• Monitor the online activities of minors
• Educate minors about appropriate online behavior when interacting on social networks, in chat rooms, via email, etc.; plus, teach cyberbullying awareness and response (per the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act)

Internet safety policies must also address:

• Unlawful online activity, such as unauthorized access and “hacking”
• Unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal information regarding minors
• Curtailing access to materials detrimental to minors

For more information on CIPA or to apply for Universal Service, contact the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Schools and Libraries Division (SLD).
SLD also operates a client-service bureau to answer questions (888-203-8100).

Wondering which K12USA products are E-rate eligible?

E-Rate Cost Allocation for SERVICE PROVIDER SPIN: 143004355

(Date Updated: March 18, 2024)

NOTE: SecureSchool & WirelessTrakker are proprietary products of K12USA and are developed by K12USA. Our pricing is subscription based and is calculated by the size of a school district or school. All yearly subscriptions include: K12USA equipment and software, Web-based controls, Hardware replacement and uprades (if needed), Unlimited support by phone and e-mail, configuration changes, software upgrades and patches, including bug fixes and security patches. SecureSchool (Make: K12USA.com, Model: SS1701A) is a singular physical product combining multiple functions of several components. Our invoices include the cost allocation for ineligible components.

Category Two – Internal Connections	Type of Internal Connection	Type of Product	Make	K12USA Service Name	Model	SKU	Lease or Non-Purchase	% E-rate Eligible
NOTE: SecureSchool is a singular physical product combining multiple functions of several components. Our invoices include the cost allocation for ineligible components.	Data Protection	Firewall Services & Components	K12USA	SecureSchool (Firewall Component)	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	100%
	Caching Services	Caching Service	K12USA	SecureSchool (Caching Component)	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	100%
	N/A	N/A	K12USA	SecureSchool (Internet Filtering Component)	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Data Protection	Firewall Services & Components	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: 10 Gigabit Interface Upgrade	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	100%
	Data Protection	Firewall Services & Components	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: WirelessTrakker: Ubiquiti Controller and Wireless Support	SS1701A	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Data Protection	Firewall Services & Components	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: WirelessTrakker: Universal Wireless Support	SS1701A	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	N/A	N/A	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Transparent Filtering/Simple SSL Intercept	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	N/A	N/A	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Advanced SSL Intercept	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	N/A	N/A	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on:Home-to-School VPN	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	N/A	N/A	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on:School-to-School VPN	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	N/A	N/A	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on:NetworkTrakker	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	N/A	N/A	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Network Traffic Balancer	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	N/A	N/A	K12USA	Spare Appliance Option for SecureSchool	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Wireless Data Distribution	Wireless Controller	K12USA	WirelessTrakker	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Wireless Data Distribution	Wireless Controller	K12USA	WirelessTrakker: Ubiquiti Controller and Wireless Support	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Wireless Data Distribution	Wireless Controller	K12USA	WirelessTrakker: Universal Wireless Support	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Wireless Data Distribution	Wireless Controller	K12USA	WirelessTrakker: Access Point Controller Fees	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%

Category Two – Managed Internal Broadband Services	Type of Managed Service Agreement	Make	K12USA Service Name	Model	SKU	Lease or Non-Purchase Agreement	% E-rate Eligible
NOTE: SecureSchool is a singular physical product combining multiple functions of several components. Our invoices include the cost allocation for ineligible components.	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool – Firewall Component	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	100%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool – Caching Component	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	100%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool – Internet Filtering Component	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Transparent Filtering/Simple SSL Intercept	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Advanced SSL Intercept	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Home-to-School VPN	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: School-to-School VPN	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: 10 Gigabit Interface Upgrade	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	100%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: NetworkTrakker	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Network Traffic Balancer	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	Spare Appliance Option for SecureSchool	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	WirelessTrakker	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	WirelessTrakker: Ubiquiti Controller and Wireless Support	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	WirelessTrakker: Universal Wireless Support	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Managed and leased from a third party service provider	K12USA	WirelessTrakker: Access Point Controller Fees	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%

Category Two – Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections*	Type of Product Maintained	Make	K12USA Service Name	Model	SKU	Lease or Non-Purchase Agreement	% E-rate Eligible
NOTE: SecureSchool is a singular physical product combining multiple functions of several components. Our invoices include the cost allocation for ineligible components.	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool – Firewall Component	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	100%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool – Caching Component	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	100%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool – Internet Filtering Component	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Transparent Filtering/Simple SSL Intercept	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Advanced SSL Intercept	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Home-to-School VPN	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: School-to-School VPN	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: 10 Gigabit Interface Upgrade	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	100%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: NetworkTrakker	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	SecureSchool Add-on: Network Traffic Balancer	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	Spare Appliance Option for SecureSchool	SS1701A	K12USA2SS	YES	0%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	WirelessTrakker	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	WirelessTrakker: Ubiquiti Controller and Wireless Support	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	WirelessTrakker: Universal Wireless Support	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%
	Basic Maintenance of Internal Connections	K12USA	WirelessTrakker: Access Point Controller Fees	WT1701B	K12USA3AD	YES	100%

*Our Yearly One-time Cost Subscriptions to SecureSchool & WirelessTrakker include: K12USA equipment and software, Web-based controls, Hardware replacement and uprades (if needed), Unlimited support by phone and e-mail, configuration changes, software upgrades and patches, including bug fixes and security patches.