Commission on Online Child Protection

Announcement of Agenda for First Public Hearing

SUMMARY: The Commission on Online Child Protection, (the COPA Commission), was directed by Congress in the Child Online Protection Act (COPA), 47 U.S.C. Sec. 231, to conduct a study regarding methods and technologies to help reduce access by minors to material on the World Wide Web that is harmful to minors. On June 8-9, 2000, the COPA Commission will hold a public hearing at the Federal Trade Commission, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 432, Washington, D.C. to consider "one-click away" resources, age verification systems, and creation of an adult top-level domain. Today's notice announces the agenda for this hearing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Hogarth Litterst, Dittus Communications Inc., 1000 Thomas Jefferson St, NW #311, Washington, DC 20007, telephone 202-298-9055, email (for questions or information) <KristinL@Dittus.com>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

The Child Online Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. 231 note, ("COPA"), as amended, established a temporary, 19-person Commission to study methods and technologies to help reduce access by minors to material on the World Wide Web that is harmful to minors. The COPA Commission is directed to submit a report to Congress, no later than November 30, 2000, on the results of this study, including:

a) a description of the technologies and methods identified by the study and the results of the analysis of each such technology and method;  

b) the conclusions and recommendations of the Commission regarding each such technology or method;  

c) recommendations for legislative or administrative actions to implement the conclusions of the Commission, and  

d) a description of the technologies or methods that may meet the requirements for use as affirmative defenses to liability for purposes of section 231(c) of COPA.

The COPA Commission will hold three public hearings. On June 8-9, 2000, it will hold a hearing at the Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., Room 432, on "one-click-away" resources, age verification systems, and creation of a top-level adult domain, such as .xxx or .adult domain. On July 20-21, 2000, it will hold a hearing on filtering and labeling systems, at a location to be determined. On August 3-4, 2000, it will hold a hearing on other technologies and methods, at a location to be determined.

AGENDA AND WITNESS LIST FOR FIRST COPA COMMISSION HEARING

June 8:
Common Resources For Parents and One-Click-Away Resources

9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.   Introductions

Welcome by Chairman Telage, Subcommittee Co-Chairs Commissioners Berman and Flores

9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.   "One-Click -Away" and Other Common Resources

• Jim Browne, Director, GetNetWise
• David Eisner, Co-chair, GetNetWise/AOL
• Marilyn Cade, Co-Chair, GetNetWise/AT&T
• Parry Aftab, Executive Director, Cyberangels.org

10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.   Break

11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.  Other Common Resources and Analysis

• Ernie Allen, President, Nat'l Center for Missing and Exploited Children
• Larry Magid, Safekids.com

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.   Comment Period

12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Break for Lunch

June 8:
Top Level Domain

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Feasibility

• Roger Cochetti, Senior V.P. and Chief Policy Officer, Network Solutions
• Jonathan Weinberg, Professor of Law, Wayne State University

2:30 p.m.- 2:45 p.m.  Congressional Perspective    

• Senator Joseph Lieberman

2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.     Break

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.    Analysis and Policy Implications

• Bob Corn-Revere, Hogan & Hartson
• David Post, Temple University Law School & George Mason University
• Bruce Taylor, President and Chief Counsel, National Law Center for Children & Families
• Bruce Watson, President, Enough is Enough
• April Major, Former Law Professor, Villanova Law School

4:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.     Comment Period

June 9:
Age Verification Technologies

9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.    Introductions

Welcome and Opening Remarks by Chairman Telage, Subcommittee Co-chairs Commissioners Berman and Flores

9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.    Feasibility

• Laith Alsarraf, AdultCheck
• Mark McCarthy, VISA
• Michael Baum, Vice President of External and Legal Affairs, VeriSign
• John Woodward, Senior Policy Analyst, RAND
• Jeffrey Dunn, Co-chair Biometric Consortium
• Fernando Podio, Co-chair Biometric Consortium

10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.   Break

11:00 a.m. - 12:00  p.m. Analysis and Policy Implications

• David Sobel, General Counsel, Electronic Privacy Information Center

12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.   Comment Period

12:30 p.m. Hearing adjourns