FCC approves Net-wiretapping taxes

WASHINGTON--Broadband providers and Internet phone companies will have to pick up the tab for the cost of building in mandatory wiretap access for police surveillance, federal regulators ruled Wednesday.

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to levy what likely will amount to wiretapping taxes on companies, municipalities and universities, saying it would create an incentive for them to keep costs down and that it was necessary to fight the war on terror. Universities have estimated their cost to be about $7 billion.

"The first obligation is...the safety of the people," said FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, a Democrat. "This commission supports efforts to protect the public safety and homeland security of the United States and its people."

Federal police agencies have spent years lobbying for mandatory backdoors for easy surveillance, saying "criminals, terrorists and spies" could cloak their Internet communications with impunity unless centralized wiretapping hubs become mandatory. Last year, the FCC set a deadline of May 14, 2007, for compliance. But universities, libraries and some technology companies have filed suit against the agency, and arguments before a federal court are scheduled for Friday.

"We're going to have a lot of fights over cost reimbursement," Al Gidari, a partner at the law firm of Perkins Coie, who is co-counsel in the lawsuit, said in an interview after the vote. "It continues the lunacy of their prior order and confirms they've learned nothing from what's been filed" in the lawsuit, he said.

The original 1994 law, called the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, or CALEA, authorized $500 million to pay telecommunications carriers for the cost of upgrading their networks to facilitate wiretapping. Some broadband and voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers had hoped that they'd be reimbursed as well.

Jonathan Askin, general counsel of Pulver.com, likened Wednesday's vote to earlier FCC rules extending 911 regulations to VoIP. "It essentially imposed a mandate on the industry without giving the industry the necessary support to abide by the rules--and the same thing seems to be happening here," Askin said.

Even without the CALEA regulations, police have the legal authority to conduct Internet wiretaps--that's precisely what the FBI's Carnivore system was designed to do. Still, the FBI has argued, the need for "standardized broadband intercept capabilities is especially urgent in light of today's heightened threats to homeland security and the ongoing tendency of criminals to use the most clandestine modes of communication."

The American Council on Education, which represents 1,800 colleges and universities, estimates that the costs of CALEA compliance could total roughly $7 billion for the entire higher-education community, or a tuition hike of $450 for every student in the nation. Documents filed in the lawsuit challenging the FCC's rules put the cost at hundreds of dollars per student.

But during Wednesday's vote, commissioners dismissed those concerns as unfounded. "I am not persuaded merely by largely speculative allegations that the financial burden on the higher-education community could total billions of dollars," said FCC Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate, a Republican.

The FCC's initial ruling last fall had left open the question of whether broadband and VoIP providers would be reimbursed for rewiring their networks and upgrading equipment to comply with CALEA.

[Amazingant]

wait...

So, the ISPs are going to give the government money so they can start watching what I?m doing? Am I missing something here or are they trying to mess with the privacy of US citizens and make the big companies pay for it?

Yes...You're missing something

You're missing that the ISPs are going to pass that cost on to the customers. So in essence, you will be paying yet more money out of pocket to support the government's insatiable appetite to spy on it's citizens. :-)

[umbrae]

What a good idea...

Lets open HUGE privacy holes in broadband access, so idiot FBI agents can wiretap on us without issue. Who cares that everyday hackers will take advantage of this more than the government.

And, of course, end users are fee to pick up the tab as well.

[Amazingant]

oh,

even better! they'll make the big companies pay for it, and my cable bill goes up! i didn't even think about that... wonder how long it'll be...

[phasam]

The Tab

Somehow my paycheck always finds it's way down some government-provided drain...

[Pete Bardo]

Remember J. Edgar

Our government is doing everything they can to make sure our rights as citizens do not extend to the internet. They take one right, one freedom at a time, little by little, until it's all gone.

Welcome to the new world.

[mstrhypno]

So much for the Internet Privacy Act.

It will take the hacker community about twenty minutes to figure
out how to use this gaping hole in internet security.

Thanks, once again, to legislators who are completely clueless
as to how technology functions and wouldn't know the 7-step
model from a 12-step program, our rights as citizens to be
protected from intrusion into our private lives has, once again,
been removed.

Who says reincarnation isn't a fact? Joe McCarthy lives on in the
FCC!

Lee Darrow, C.H.
Chicago, IL

[zanzzz]

Copps out!

"The first obligation is...the safety of the people,". That is the mindset of most politicians post 9/11. The problem is with safety first liberty is last. Democracy is risky business and always will be. The spineless wonders we have elected prove time again their eagerness to trade freedom for the illusion of security. At least these unelected FCC officials are consistent; producing one profoundly misguided ruling after another. Do these bozos really believe wiretapping a voip will catch any terrorists? Clearly most have a higher level of sophistication than openly chatting about operations on a phone or in an unencrypted email. What these government actions amount to in reality is the systematic establishment of a big brother data mining and monitoring apparatus. It seems rather redundant as the NSA has it already in place! I guess those guys don't share with the FBI and police hence the need for a duplicate system.

[lazarus_vendetta]

Your Government Your friend

"If all Americans want is security, they can go to prison, they will have enough to eat, a bed and a roof over thier heads" - Dwight D. Eisenhower 12-8-49. This is so redicoulous. Ever since 9/11 more and more of our freedoms have been taken away. All in the name of "terroism". They can use this excuse to take all our rights, and people will still back them. Its sad really. Maybe we should just call the FBI on three way, it would make it easier for them. "Those who trade their freedoms for security deserve and will reserve niether." Benjamen Franklin.

[FTCnet]

"they hate us because of our freedoms" ...

Remember Pres. Bush giving a speech telling us why the terrorists hate us?

He said "terrorists hate us because of our freedoms."

So.. it's entirely logical that once our freedoms are eliminated we'll no longer be hated. Right?

[GratefulWriter]

Mantra Falls Flat

"More and more of our freedoms have been taken away ... they can use (9/11) to take away more of our rights..."

Which rights have disappeared? We don't have a constitutional right to low gas prices, nor have we ever had the freedom to speak freely with those who are at war with the U.S. Clearly, there has been no curb on the right to dissent, freedom of the press, or any other of our Constitutionally-protected rights. You and Franklin are right - those would give up God-given rights for freedom deserve neither, but that doesn't apply. Not yet, anyway. People like you desperately want rights to disappear, I know, so that you can feel good about yourselves and your anti-productive rhetoric. I hope that day doesn't come.

[Timmmay]

Lame

Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Ben Franklin

[p.shearer]

limiting choose

Argggg! it would appear that my only two political chooses are now between fascists or socialists. One wishes to deprive me of financial freedom; the other my personal freedom.

[dboy69]

1st obligation is the Constitution

Sure seems like the first obligation should be to the constitution.
Reportedly they already have the ability to enable wiretapping...
If US citizens continue to abrogate their rights, we have no one to blame but ourselves. Write and/or call your representatives and let them know this is unacceptable.

[heystoopid]

Sadly

Sadly, we have totally forgotten the reason for the "Boston Tea Party"!

And now , we have to pay an extra impost to allow big brother to bug us all in daily life, truly amazing!, what's next, burn the constitution?

Oh well, there is always the ballot box?, for even a simple ficus tree can do a far better job, then the current house majority!(it can't fall asleep, and is too wooden, to take bribes or free lunches, from the corporate sector!)

Taxes, arbitrarily imposed without representation, are truly evil!!!!!!

[jacksons98]

Protect me from my government

"The first obligation is...the safety of the people," said FCC Commissioner Michael Copp. I'm more concerned about our own government than I am about terrorists. Almost daily I read an article like this about how taking our rights away is because they care for our safety. I'll take my chances thank you

[AECRADIO]

OUR government!

What are the first words in the declaration of independance?

Oh that's right...>WE THE PEOPLE!

Since when did this jackass-run 'government' obtain total authority and power over WE THE PEOPLE, and create a nation of SLAVES?

Buy more guns, take a stand!

Fight fire with fire!

Vote OUT those people bent on creating a dictatorship, and prevent this current MORON from usurping more power than he has a constitutional right to!

Wasn't his OATH OF OFFICE to DEFEND AND PROTECT the CONSTITUITION to the BEST of HIS ability when he was sworn in?

Is he DOING THIS NOW?

NO!

I say IMPEACH AND SEND HIM TO PRISON FOR TREASON!

[PzkwVIb]

THE FCC Doesn't Have the Authority

to do this. They are grossly overstepping their purview. This moronic Agency keeps grabbing for more power and more control. They definitely have no rights to setup backdoors in private data networks.

[AECRADIO]

The F.C.C and taxes....????????

WHEN did the F.C.C become a LEGISLATIVE branch with authority to introduce 'new' taxes anyhow?

Bush is allowing this chicken s***t government to do whatever it pleases and with NO accountability to the people anymore.

Time to charge and sentence Bush for: Treason and high crimes, and shove his ass in for LIFE for his despotic methods, THEN have him tried INTERNATIONALLY for WAR CRIMES AND TORTURE!

20 LIFE TERMS IN PRISON FOR BUSH!!!

[ajbright]

I can do that too.

Everyone should jump in the air repeatedly, whilst at the same time flapping your arms like a bird at least three times a day.

If you don't the governments ability to fight terrorism will be severely restricted.

It's a well known fact that terrorists are fat (actually one of the terrorists on a cliche'd Chuck Norris movie was fat, and as such provides a clear link between the loss of 50s style exercise programs and 9/11) so if obese America drops a few lbs we will be able to implicate all remaining fat people as terrorists.

Not working for you?

Well then unfortunately, and although we recognise every American's right to religious freedom, this should not be mistaken as an excuse to for everyone to forget to carry a Bible on their persons at all times.

It is a well known fact that if a member of Al Quaeda was to even touch an official US Jesus Manual he would burst into flames.

Remember that while you have the right to religious freedom, this should not excuse your patriotic duty to be a Christian. In our revisionist version of the Constitution, not only does the President have the right to overall all levels of Government, but religious freedom is simply a reference to each American's duty to forsake Godless paganism.

[ajbright]

Red Alert - communist, bird flu carrying, terrorists will increase taxes

The White House has finally admitted that there is something worse to fear than terrorists.

Apparently they have identified a clear link between Bird Flu and Al Quaeda, and are holding meetings at the highest level to decide how to use the invasion of Iraq to explain why tax cuts and placing wire taps on all Americans phone lines will prevent the next pandemic.

Clearly the only way to combat this threat is the unrestricted ability of the NSA to record each and every American's phone sex conversations, not too mention the suspicious increase in the use of the internet to purchase unChristian reading material or worse, booking a vacation in Al Quaeda's closest Ally - France.

The most important thing to remember is that the desire for privacy is clearly a subversive tendancy, and any such people the express such a desire should clearly be watched at all times.

Remember "Nothing to Hide, Nothing to Fear".

Next on the President's agenda, auto-voting. To circumvent immigrant voter fraud, all valid citizens should sign up for auto-votes immediately.

You will be allocated your Republican Voter Registration Identity Number, and your local Republican Senator will cast your vote for you.

This will prevent not only voter error, which nearly proved catestrophic in the 2000 election, and without timely intervention of the Supreme Court could have resulted in a non-Republican party approved president being elected.

Whilst we wouldn't want you to stop being in fear of terrorism, at least we can comfort you with the knowledge that terrorists will not hijack your vote.

[Mallardd]

More people should use encryption

At first it might seem a little paranoid, but
why not just use it? If everyone used it then it
would be commonplace. Perhaps PGP should be
included by default in more software? I know
people who refuse to pay their bills from their
own bank's website out of fear that hackers
might SSL packets. Ironicly those same people
think nothing of handing their credit cards to a
waitress or bartender.

It is not very difficult for even the average
computer user to install and run encryption
software that makes ISP or government snooping
practically impossible. This can easily be done
with email as the technology is very mature, but
unfortunately very few people even bother using
it. Encryption also exists for VOIP and will
probably improve but most likely people will not
use it preferring to complain how "the man" is
able to snoop in on their business.

[Dave_Brown]

Use of encryption

I agree with you Mallardd that we should all use encryption. But just watch there will be a day when the government outlaws encryption and anyone caught using it will be subject to fines or imprisonment.

[camel828]

I will not censure myself

I would have to disagree with you. While, I would encourage people to utilize encryption if possible, I don't believe it should be necessary. In theory, the government answers to us, not the other way around. As such, I should not be required to inconvenience myself or others in order to prevent the government from observing my personal thoughts and speech. Honestly, we revolted against Britain for less than the atrocities being foisted upon us by our own government. In case you forgot, the government is supposed to be "of the people, by the people, FOR the people."

[FTCnet]

Constitution worthless says Bush

?Mr. President,? one aide in the meeting said. ?There is a valid case that the provisions in this law undermine the Constitution.?

?Stop throwing the Constitution in my face,? Bush screamed back. ?It?s just a ********* piece of paper!?

?I?ve talked to three people present for the meeting that day and they all confirm that the President of the United States called the Constitution ?a ********* piece of paper.?? Thompson adds. (Doug Thompson - Capitol Hill Blue)

[Had_to_be_said]

Treason...

Only an IDIOT...

...Would accept being able to spy-on, track, and record everything that every single American-citizen does, in the name of "...catching terrorists, and [other] criminals".

...And, only a TRAITOR would seriously propose it.

Once, the U.S. government decided that it no longer had to obey "The U.S. Constitution", the Law, ...or "...the will of the people..." it gave up every right to call itself a legitimate-government.

Let me put this more bluntly...

Those currently in control of the United States are nothing more than heavily-armed CRIMINALS, who have ILLEGALLY seized control of our nation. And, they clearly have no qualms about using ANY force necessary to completely control "...the people", solely for the benefit of a powerful few.

I just hope I can get my children out of the country before the shooting starts.

[03296]

screw the police

and screw the federales and screw georgie porgie. we all know
what really needs to happen

[03296]

screw the police

and screw the federales and screw georgie porgie. we all know
what really needs to happen

[03296]

screw the police

and screw the federales and screw georgie porgie.