Phone carriers quiet on U.S. surveillance program
PHONE COMPANIES QUIET ON US SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
[SOURCE: Reuters, AUTHOR: Peter Kaplan]
Major U.S. telephone carriers refused to answer questions from the Democratic-led Congress about their possible participation in President George W. Bush's warrantless domestic spying program, according to documents released by lawmakers on Monday. At issue are reports that surfaced last year that some big telephone companies allowed the U.S. government access to millions of telephone records for Bush's anti-terror efforts following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Officials from AT&T, Verizon Communications and Qwest Communications International told the House Commerce Committee they could not discuss specifics about their companies' roles in any such effort. The phone companies said it would be illegal for them to discuss the kind of program lawmakers were asking about without permission from the Bush administration. Democrats vowed to push the administration for answers.
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1539292620071015
* Telecommunications Companies Respond to Committee Inquiry into NSA Wiretapping Program Participation
"After reviewing the thoughtful responses of the phone companies to our inquiries about the Administration’s NSA program, I am now convinced that the Administration as the sponsor of this program and the party preventing the companies from defending themselves is the entity best able to resolve the many outstanding issues,” said House Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI). “I look forward to meeting with representatives of the Administration in short order, and I am hopeful that they will be forthcoming with the information Congress needs to properly evaluate this program.”
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110nr106.shtml
* Press release from House Telecom Subcommittee Chairman Markey (D-MA)
"The responses from these telecommunication companies highlight the need for Congress to continue pressing the Bush administration for answers. The water is as murky as ever on this issue and it’s past time for the administration to come clean."
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3146&I...
* AT&T:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.101207.TI.ATTrspto1002...
* Verizon:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.101207.Verizonrspto100...
* Verizon Says It Turned Over Data Without Court Orders
Verizon Communications, the nation's second-largest telecom company, told congressional investigators that it has provided customers' telephone records to federal authorities in emergency cases without court orders hundreds of times since 2005. The company said it does not determine the requests' legality or necessity because to do so would slow efforts to save lives in criminal investigations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR200710...
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* Qwest:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.101207.TI.Qwestrspto10...
* Computer & Communications Industry Association
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.101207.TI.CCIArspto100...
* Electronic Frontier Foundation:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_110/110-ltr.TI.101207.EFFrspto1002...
* Phone firms mum on spying
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-phone16oct16,1,203771...
* Phone Utilities Won't Give Details About Eavesdropping
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/washington/16nsa.html?ref=todayspaper
* Phone Companies Defend Aiding Government
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119249883088660212.html?mod=todays_us_pa...
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