Download Zipped File WP 6.1 0701PECM.ZIP 4,381 Bytes

Public Education Computer Technology Task Force

Edit header with meeting date -->

MINUTES OF THE

PUBLIC EDUCATION COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY TASK FORCE

July 1, 1997 . 10:00 a.m. . Room 405 State Capitol



Members Present:
    Sen. Robert F. Montgomery, Chair
    Rep. Carl R. Saunders, Chair
    Sen. Scott N. Howell
    Sen. Robert M. Muhlestein
    Rep. Gary F. Cox
    Rep. Lowell A. Nelson
    Rep. Richard M. Siddoway
    Rep. Martin R. Stephens
    Rep. Michael R. Styler
    Mr. Steven H. Hess
    Mr. Richard E. Kendell

Members Excused:
    Mr. Marlowe K. Ashton
    
Staff Present:
    Benjamin N. Christensen,
        Research Analyst
    Dee S Larsen,
        Associate General Counsel
    Junie G. Anderson,
        Committee Secretary

Note:    A list of others present and handouts distributed are on file in the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel.                    

1.     Call to Order - Chair Montgomery called the meeting to order at 10:01 a.m. Members of the task force introduced themselves. Chair Montgomery briefed the members and the audience on the goals of the task force, and emphasized the effect that the Internet has on users.

2.    Task Force Duties and Background - Dee Larsen, Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, spoke about the vast research resources available on the Internet. He said that, unfortunately, the Internet also provides access to material that is inappropriate for school children. Sen. Montgomery said that the purpose of the task force is to study the issue of Internet access in the public schools and present legislation, if needed, to block access to improper information for students in the public schools.
    
3.    Internet Access in the Public Schools - Mike Cleary, Network Operation Manager of UtahLINK, Utah Education Network, described UtahLINK and its mission. He explained how the schools are connected to the Internet. He said that each district makes its own filtering policy decisions and that UtahLINK provides the technical support to implement the district's policy.

    Donald Porter, Utah Education Network, spoke about technical issues of the UtahLINK Internet filter service. He explained what proxy service is and how it works. He said that it compares the user's request to a UtahLINK control list, to decide if it is an appropriate request, and keeps an ongoing list of the requests. He said an "access list" prevents direct Internet access. He explained that the proxy server intercepts and logs inappropriate requests, then educators retrieve log files via the Web.

    Senator Howell asked questions pertaining to fees, reliability of the access list and how often it is updated, and the number of school districts that are using the proxy services. He asked for a list of school districts that require filtering, and the districts that do not require filtering. Mr. Porter said that he will provide the information to the task force at its next meeting scheduled for August 4.

4.    Discussion of Alternative Approaches - Kyle Martin, Dew Point Distributed Solutions, said that his company researches filtering systems. He defined firewalls and said that they prevent incoming access from certain intruders.

    Daniel E. Nelson, Spire Technologies, Inc., said that it is difficult to track some sites because the URL address changes so often. He said that his company focuses on helping organizations provide Internet security as well as assisting in the development and design of policies with regards to appropriate use of the Internet, and to help protect organizations from legal liabilities that exist.

    Scott Taylor, Alpine School District, said that his district has not enforced the use of the filtering service because the filter is not 100 percent effective and he fears that some teachers may give too much unsupervised individual access to the Internet, feeling that the students are protected by the filtering.

    Sen. Howell indicated that there may be legislation pertaining to guidelines on Internet access in schools on a national level. He also said that economic development will probably be more than substantial during the next few years and that the Internet is good even though there are some bad materials on it too. Mr. Hess agreed that it is wonderful technology.

5.    Other Task Force Business - Chair Montgomery said that the task force will hear from the school districts and the Office of Education during the next meeting to be held on Monday, August 4, at 10:00 a.m.

6.    Adjourn -

    MOTION: Rep. Siddoway moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously at 11:51 a.m.

[Back to the Interim Directory][Back to the Monthly Schedule][Back to the Committee Listing] Utah State Legislature