Res. No. 1147 Title Resolution calling upon the appropriate committee of the New York City Council to hold an oversight hearing on Internet access by juveniles at public facilities. Body By Council Members Fisher, Nelson and Fiala; also Council Members Eisland, Espada, Harrison, Leffler, Marshall, Michels, O'Donovan, Perkins and Rivera. Whereas, The advent of the Internet has provided young people with a dynamic and revolutionary educational tool; and Whereas, According to WebSurvey, the number of teenagers age 13-17 who actively use the Web will rise from 11.1 million in 1999 to 15.3 million in 2002; and Whereas, The Internet is an invaluable and unique educational instrument which should be accessible in our City schools and libraries; and Whereas, We must also be mindful that the Internet is a gateway to a wide array of material, some of which can be considered harmful to our youth; and Whereas, The pornographic websites and images on the Internet are examples of the harmful material that is accessible by our youth; and Whereas, It has not been shown that juveniles are using computer terminals at public schools and libraries to access pornography; and Whereas, It has been proposed that the City schools and libraries institute a pilot filtering software program in order to prevent access to pornographic websites; and Whereas, Filtering software has been criticized because it stifles legitimate research on the Internet; and Whereas, It is unclear whether such software could be effective in preventing access to pornographic websites; and Whereas, It is also uncertain whether the use of such software would violate the First Amendment; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the appropriate committee to hold an oversight hearing on Internet access by juveniles at public facilities.