Digital Surveillance: The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act
Abstract
The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA, P.L. 103-414, 47 USC 1001-1010), enacted October 25, 1994, is intended to preserve the ability of law enforcement officials to conduct electronic surveillance effectively and efficiently despite the deployment of new digital technologies and wireless services that have altered the character of electronic surveillance. CALEA requires telecommunications carriers to modify their equipment, facilities, and services, wherever reasonably achievable, to ensure that they are able to comply with authorized electronic surveillance actions. Since 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been considering a number of questions as to how to apply CALEA to new technologies, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). In August 2005, in response to a March 2004 petition by a group of law enforcement agencies, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Declaratory Ruling which required providers of certain broadband and interconnected VoIP services to accommodate law enforcement wiretaps. The FCC found that these services could be considered replacements for conventional telecommunications services already subject to wiretap rules, including circuit-switched voice service and dial-up Internet access. The Order is limited to facilities-based broadband Internet access service providers and VoIP providers that offer services that use the public switched telephone network (interconnected VoIP providers). Most recently, on May 3, 2006, the FCC addressed several outstanding issues regarding CALEA implementation. No bills to amend CALEA have been introduced in the 109th Congress.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA450393
Entities
People
- Patricia M. Figliola
Organizations
- Library of Congress