Blocking You at the Speed of Light
How the CCU catches our favorite sites

April 17, 2008

by RACHEL SCHULTZ
Hays High Guidon

Ah, seminar again. Homework’s either done or non-important, and so your blessed computer is the prime focus for the next 50 minutes. As you begin your search of the latest game sites, you realize that the most current proxy has become unavailable. Thank you Lightspeed. The newest form of blockage for the USD 489 school district, Lightspeed Total Traffic Control was integrated in our system in 2006. What students may not realize is that the administrators and CCU personnel are not the people who decide what and what not to block. Instead, the system is all automated with a subscription. Each night, customers are updated by an email with categories and content ratings.

“This is for the most part why a website is open one day and restricted the next day,” Todd Bryant said. “The school district has certain pre-defined categories and content ratings that are blocked based on time of day. Every time a student requests a website, the content filter checks the database to see if it is approved.” If a teacher or administrator then needs a website to be blocked or unblocked, the school district does have the power to override the suggestion of the company.

“It's usually not too difficult to decide what should and should not be blocked,” Bryant said. “I usually open the website and skim the page and then I look at the Lightspeed's reason for categorizing the site.  I know the certain categories of sites that the district has chosen to block and if the site falls under that category, then it gets blocked. For the most part, it is black and white, if there is any doubt about my decision, then I consult an administrator.”
Each change that is made is submitted back to Lightspeed for review as well. It may then be sent in the nightly email updating other subscribers.

Anyone can make suggestions on what to block or unblock to be reviewed by the school. Then, they look whether the site is educational or if it is illegal or unethical.

“If it's obvious we make the decision immediately,” Principal Mike Hester said. “If it's borderline, then teachers, students, parents or public input as to its educational value and safety are gauged and then a decision is made by the administration.”
Something else to consider, Bryant adds, is that the entire district uses this system. If something is blocked at the elementary level, it’s blocked at the high school as well.

“It certainly makes me worried what a fourth or fifth grader might find on Google images,” he said. “I don't think most people really understand the things that are being searched for on a daily basis.”
And as for the proxies? Word of mouth, Bryant said. After schools hear about them, each site is sent into Lightspeed categorized as such. Collectively, schools work together to combat these proxy servers.