Category: CALEA

By Casey Lide. Published in the NATOA Journal, fall 2007

“In late 2006, following a decision by the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in American Council on Education v. FCC, broadband service providers nationwide were suddenly presented with a new and extensive federal mandate. Under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (CALEA), by May 14, 2007 facilities-based broadband and VoIP service providers were to ensure that their networks are technically capable of providing certain surveillance capabilities to law enforcement, potentially at great expense, or face the prospect of incurring a fine of up to $10,000 per day. Over the intervening months, those service providers who were aware of
the new requirements have expended substantial resources simply to determine how and whether to comply, in addition to the direct expense of any technical solution they may be compelled to implement.”

Policy and Legal Implications of Municipal Broadband Networks. From the NATOA annual conference in Portland, Oregon.

What You Need to Know About the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. Presentation for the International Summit for Community Wireless Networks.

The Communications Assistance to Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (CALEA) requires providers of telecommunications services, Internet access, or certain kinds of Voice over Internet Protocol to acquire or build into their networks the technical capabilities necessary to enable them to assist law enforcement in conducting authorized interceptions of communications content or call-identifying information.

FCC Form 445 is used to monitor the progress of telecommunications carriers that provide facilities-based broadband Internet access or interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services in complying with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) and the Commission’s requirements for such facilities and services.

AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION, PETITIONER v. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, RESPONDENTS, VERIZON TELEPHONE COMPANIES AND CELLCO PARTNERSHIP, D/B/A VERIZON WIRELESS, D/B/A VERIZON WIRELESS, INTERVENORS

United States Telecom Association, et al, petitions v. Federal Communications Commission and United States of America, respondents; Airtouch Communications Inc., et al, intervenors.

An Act to amend title 18, United States Code, to make clear a telecommunications  carrier’s duty to cooperate in the interception of communications for law  enforcement purposes, and for other purposes.