Bill Would Pressure Schools To Filter Out On-Line Smut

By Andrew Trotter

Washington

Concerns are escalating here that the federal "E-rate" discounts on telecommunications services for schools and libraries may put millions of children in close proximity to Internet smut.

Schools plan to use the discount program, which was launched last month, to connect thousands of classrooms to the Internet's World Wide Web. Libraries also are expanding public access to the global information network.

But federal lawmakers are signaling that they may not leave schools and libraries on their own to address the problem of children's potential exposure to on-line pornography. Last week, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., introduced a bill, S 1619, that would require schools and libraries to install systems for filtering or blocking access to such material as a condition for...