Voip Providers Urged To Comply With Law Enforcement Communications Act
The FCC on last May issued a decision that reaffirmed that interconnected VoIP providers must be in compliance with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) by May 14, 2007.
Under section 103 of CALEA, telecommunications carriers are required to assist law enforcement with intercepting calls, accessing call identifying information, and delivering intercepted communications and call identifying information to the government–with a minimum of interference to subscriber service and privacy.
For wireline, wireless, and other carriers already subject to CALEA, implementing the accepted industry standard minimizes legal exposure. Though carriers are not legally required to adopt the standard, compliance with it is considered a “safe harbor” under which a carrier will be deemed to have complied with CALEA requirements.
The FCC’s May 12 ruling extends this “safe harbor” provision to interconnected VoIP providers and concludes that technical standards and requirements will be left to industry standards-setting bodies.
The FCC’s ruling also established its independent enforcement authority–including its right to issue monetary penalties and cease-and-desist orders–over interconnected VoIP providers and other carriers. The agency determined that it may enforce its existing rules to ensure that carriers comply with CALEA.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from TMCnet.com (05/23/06); Crowe, Thomas K.