[LINK] ONdigital becomes first broadcaster to join ICRA

[David Goldstein]

For those with an interest in labelling and filtering, you might find
this news release of interest regarding the development of ICRA.

Cheers
David

10 October 2000

                      ONdigital BECOMES FIRST BROADCASTER TO JOIN THE


                            INTERNET CONTENT RATING ASSOCIATION

                              http://www.icra.org/press/p9.htm
 

World leading interactive digital television broadcaster Ondigital,
who recently launched ONnet, has become the first TV
broadcaster to join the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA),
one of the world's foremost labelling and filtering systems
for Internet content.

ICRA is an independent non-profit organisation, currently working
with content providers and industry bodies to develop a new filtering
system which will give content providers a tool to label their sites
and parents a filtering device which they set at their own levels to
control what their children see.

With offices in the UK and the USA, ICRA’S aim is to protect children
from potentially harmful material on the Internet, whilst protecting
the content providers’ freedom of statement.

As ONdigital brings the Internet into the living room through the
television the broadcaster and Interactive services company has moved
to involve itself at the cutting edge of parental confidence and
security issues on the Web.

The ONnet package provides ONdigital subscribers with a free cordless
keyboard, free net top box, video and voice grab email,
picture-in-picture as well full Internet access for £5 a month.

A paperback book-sized ONdigital box reconfigures the web pages to
make them look sharp and clear on the TV screen so users can surf
from the comfort of their sofas without struggling to make out what
is on the screen.

Stuart Prebble, ONdigital’s Chief Executive says: "The television is
set to become the way millions of people access the Internet, and as
a broadcaster and now an Internet provider we wanted to be able to
support the work that ICRA is doing. 

"We are delighted to enter into this partnership and look forward to
working with ICRA and its other members in this very important area,
as the Internet and Television continue to move closer." 

ICRA Executive Director Stephen Balkam says: "ONdigital represents
the first organisation to join ICRA that crosses converging
technological mediums. We are very excited at the prospect of their
involvement with ICRA and welcome them onto the board."

                                                 - ENDS –

For further information please contact:

ONdigital Mark Woods Tel: 020 7819 8542 mark.woods@ondigital.co.uk

ICRA Susan Hayes Tel: 020 7539 2670 susan.hayes@bisslancaster.com

                                            www.ondigital.com

                                               www.icra.org

Notes for editors:

ICRA:

The Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA) is an independent
non-profit organisation with offices in the UK and the USA. ICRA's
mission is to protect children from potentially harmful material on
the Internet, whilst protecting the content providers’ freedom of
statement. 

ICRA is currently developing a new global system which will provide
content providers with a tool to label their content objectively and
parents with a device to filter content according to what they feel
is appropriate for their children to view. The revised ICRA system
will be launched in two parts – the labeling system for content
providers will be available later this year and the filtering systems
for parents will be available in 2001.

ICRA works in partnership with content providers toward the
responsible development and growth of the Internet and is supported
by AOL, Bell Canada, The Bertelsmann Foundation, BT, Cable &
Wireless, Demon Internet, Electronic Network Consortium, EuroISPA,
Geotrust, IBM, Internet Watch Foundation, Microsoft Corp, Network
Solutions Inc, Novell, Software and Information Industry Association,
T-Online, Thus and UUNet – as well as ONdigital.

ICRA owns and operates the RSACi (Recreational Software Advisory
Council for the Internet) rating and filtering system, which is
integrated into Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Netscape’s
Navigator. The RSACi system provides customers with information about
the level of sex, nudity, violence, and offensive language in
websites.

 

ONdigital:

ONnet requires connection to a normal telephone line; the ONnet box
is provided free on loan for as long as a subscription is maintained.
The ONnet service is only available to ONdigital subscribers.
ONdigital subscriptions start from £6.99 a month.

ONdigital’s Head of Interactive Services Tony Moretta will represent
the company on the ICRA board. 

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