Access to the Internet has revolutionized the workplace many times over and undoubtedly increased the District’s ability to interact with and provide services to citizens. However, given the presence of offensive, unprofessional and material inappropriate to a workplace on the Internet, the District reserves the right exercises its access control rights by disallowing, segregating or rejecting certain Internet listings, in the best interests of employees, contractors, consultants and volunteers.
 
The CWITS’ services team is tasked with implementing Content Filtering for the purpose of examining incoming or outgoing web traffic for a variety of prohibited Internet website attributes and content. Action to restrict access is being taken based upon the type of attribute or content encountered. These actions are intended to ensure District employees do not intentionally or inadvertently access Internet sites and web pages that are non-business related and could otherwise violate relevant District laws, regulations or policies and significantly contribute to lower employee productivity.
 
The following attributes are prohibited and web sites found to contain such attributes can be blocked or restricted from access within the District government network infrastructure:

• Websites which violate a federal or District government law, code, policy, standard or procedure.
• Websites that are not directly related to the mission, charter or work tasks of a District government agency or its ability to serve the citizens who live and work in the District.
• Websites that facilitates private business, including commercial advertising.

The District’s content filtering solution is designed to block inappropriate websites as defined by current District government guidelines. This solution does not filter inappropriate content contained in email or acceptable websites. The District strives to provide a content filtering service that is useful and current and will address problems where the filtering service is found to be deficient. The District assumes no liability in the event that the content filtering service is not 100% effective, for example through the use of anonymizers. The District assumes no responsibility for the currency of the filter or the content provided through it.