No. 28777 (New Rule): R152-1a. Internet Content Provider Ratings Methods.  

  • DAR File No.: 28777
    Filed: 06/02/2006, 12:11
    Received by: NL

     

    RULE ANALYSIS

    Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

    The purpose of this rule is to establish acceptable rating methods to be implemented by a content provider and to test the effectiveness of a service provider's system for blocking material that is harmful to minors.

     

    Summary of the rule or change:

    The rule establishes acceptable rating labels as "XXX", "xxx" or "NFM". In addition, the rule identifies acceptable locations for placing the labels within an Internet website, e-mail or chat-room message.

     

    State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

    Subsections 76-10-1231(7)(c) and 76-10-1233(2)

     

    Anticipated cost or savings to:

    the state budget:

    None--Since the rule establishes standards to be implemented by Internet content providers, this rule will impose no fiscal impact to the state budget.

     

    local governments:

    None--Since the rule establishes standards to be implemented by Internet content providers, this rule will impose no fiscal impact to local government.

     

    other persons:

    Although Internet content providers will likely incur additional costs complying with the statute, those additional costs are not a result of the rule. If anything, by establishing standards for the affected industry to follow the rule will assist the industry in complying with the statute.

     

    Compliance costs for affected persons:

    The Internet content provider is required by statute to restrict access to material that is harmful to minors. The rule establishes standards by which the provider will label its materials. As a result, the rule should reduce the costs of a provider in complying with the statute.

     

    Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

    There appears to be no fiscal impact to businesses as a result of this rule filing other than those already anticipated by the Utah Legislature in passing the statutes authorizing the Division of Consumer Protection to adopt these rules as to acceptable rating methods. Francine Giani, Executive Director

     

    The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

    Commerce
    Consumer Protection
    HEBER M WELLS BLDG
    160 E 300 S
    SALT LAKE CITY UT 84111-2316

     

    Direct questions regarding this rule to:

    Thad LeVar or Kevin V Olsen at the above address, by phone at 801-530-6929 or 801-530-6306, by FAX at 801-530-6446 or 801-530-6001, or by Internet E-mail at tlevar@utah.gov or kvolsen@utah.gov

     

    Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

    07/31/2006

     

    This rule may become effective on:

    08/07/2006

     

    Authorized by:

    Kevin V Olsen, Director

     

     

    RULE TEXT

    R152. Commerce, Consumer Protection.

    R152-1a. Internet Content Provider Ratings Methods

    R152-1a-1. Authority and Purpose.

    In accordance with Utah Code Sections 76-10-1231(7)(c) and 76-10-1233(2), these rules (R152-1a) establish acceptable rating methods by which a content provider may restrict access to material harmful to minors.

     

    R152-1a-2. Definitions.

    As used in these rules (R152-1a):

    (1) "Content provider" is as defined in Utah Code Section 76-10-1230.

    (2) "Harmful to minors" is as defined in Utah Code Section 76-10-1201.

    (3) "HTML" means Hypertext Markup Language, the authoring language used to create documents on the Internet, which defines the structure and layout of an Internet document.

    (4) "URL" means an Internet address, usually consisting of at least an access protocol and a domain name.

    (5) "Utah content provider" means a content provider described in Utah Code Section 76-10-1233(1).

     

    R152-1a-3. Compliance with Utah Code Section 76-10-1233(1).

    A Utah content provider may comply with Utah Code Section 76-10-1233(1) by rating material harmful to minors with a rating label:

    (1) listed in R152-1a-4; and

    (2) placed in a location listed in R152-1a-5.

     

    R152-1a-4. Acceptable Rating Labels.

    A Utah content provider may rate material harmful to minors with one of the following labels:

    (1) "XXX" in all capital letters;

    (2) "xxx" in all lower case letters; or

    (3) "-NFM-" which consists of the letters NFM in all capital letters:

    (a) immediately preceded by a single hyphen, en dash, or em dash; and

    (b) immediately followed by a single hyphen, en dash, or em dash.

     

    R152-1a-5. Acceptable Rating Locations.

    A Utah content provider may rate material harmful to minors by placing a label listed in R152-1a-4 in one of the following locations:

    (1) if the material harmful to minors is contained within an Internet website:

    (a) within the URL of the website; or

    (b) within the first 300 characters of the HTML for the website;

    (2) if the material harmful to minors is contained within an email message:

    (a) within the first 300 characters of the email message;

    (b) in the subject line of the email message;

    (c) in the return address of the email message; or

    (d) in any of the descriptive headers of the email message; or

    (3) if the material harmful to minors is contained within a chat-room message or any other type of instant message:

    (a) within the first 300 characters of the chat-room message or instant message; or

    (b) within the personal identification of the sender of the chat-room message or instant message.

     

    KEY: Internet ratings, consumer protection

    Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2006

    Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 76-10-1231(7)(c); 76-10-1233(2)

     

     

     

     

Document Information

Effective Date:
8/7/2006
Publication Date:
07/01/2006
Type:
Notices of Proposed Rules
Filed Date:
06/02/2006
Agencies:
Commerce,Consumer Protection
Rulemaking Authority:

Subsections 76-10-1231(7)(c) and 76-10-1233(2)

 

Authorized By:
Kevin V Olsen, Director
DAR File No.:
28777
Related Chapter/Rule NO.: (1)
R152-1a. Internet Content Provider Ratings Methods.