Life, The Universe ...: Tech, Media Organizations, Non-Profits Launch Project Online Safety

Technology companies, media organizations, trade associations and non-profits joined together to announce their collaboration in launching Project Online Safety, an educational campaign focused on promoting Internet safety for children.

The initiative is designed to provide parents and children with a centralized online resource of Internet safety tools and educational materials and supports and encourages the broadcast of a series of related national public service advertisements (PSAs) being sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the Ad Council.

Organizers say Project Online Safety is part of an ongoing, industry-wide effort working with leading advocacy organizations to educate parents and childrenabout the importance of online safety. The partners of the initiative thatare investing resources to support online safety programs are AT&T, BlogSafety.com, Cable in the Classroom (CIC), Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, Facebook, Fox Interactive Media (MySpace), Internet Education Foundation, National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA), Network Solutions, News Corp., Qwest Communications,Time Warner Cable and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

"The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is pleased to be a partner in Project Online Safety," says Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. "By offering one point of access to our collective Internet safetyresources, we can more effectively equip parents and their children with the tools they need to have safer experiences online."

The PSAs direct parents, guardians, and teens to visit http://www.cybertipline.com/ to learn about safe and responsible use of theInternet, as well as how to report threats. Administered by NCMEC, theCyberTipline is a reporting mechanism for child sexual exploitation. Reports can be made on the website or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). The PSAs will run on cable, broadcast and Internetproperties, including being accessible through links on the web sites of participating companies and organizations.

"As the leading high-speed Internet service provider, we are continuing to provide a superior Internet experience, and that includes providingtools and information to make that experience safe," says David Cohen,executive vice president, Comcast. "We're especially pleased to be working with our long-time partners at the Ad Council, our good friends at NCMEC, and other leading organizations on this important broad-based initiative."

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