It's not just a funding bill. It provided $500MM for carrier network upgrades and for switch software compliance. That fund has been exhausted from what I have been told. It also clearly defined technical expectations that carriers and manufacturers have to live up to. All that being CALEA compliant means is that you are capable, as required, to provide service to a legal order i.e. pin register, trap, trace, DTMF extration, flash hook operations ala three way calling, CALLER ID, and voice intercept. There's no "secret sauce" to CALEA. CALEA doesn't expand LEA's authority, it puts them on an even playing field with suspected criminals with regards to access. -M -- Martin Hannigan (c) 617-388-2663 VeriSign, Inc. (w) 703-948-7018 Network Engineer IV Operations & Infrastructure hannigan@verisign.com

-----Original Message----- From: owner-nanog@merit.edu [mailto:owner-nanog@merit.edu]On Behalf Of Sean Donelan Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2004 1:49 AM To: Stephen Sprunk Cc: North American Noise and Off-topic Gripes Subject: Re: [Fwd: [IP] Feds: VoIP a potential haven for terrorists]

On Fri, 18 Jun 2004, Stephen Sprunk wrote:

...

I'm told that most CALEA warrants only authorize a pen register, not an

CALEA and wiretaps are independent subjects. You can have CALEA obligations even if you never, ever implement a single wiretap. On the other hand you may need to implement many wiretaps even though you have no CALEA obligations.

For example, hotels and universities have traditionally been considered not to have CALEA obligations. However, both hotels and universities must comply with court orders if law enforcement wants to wiretap one of their phones. Should CALEA be extended to hotels and universities? Are hotels and universities broadband Internet providers when they offer Internet service in student dorm rooms or hotel rooms?

In reality, CALEA is a funding bill; it has very little to do with technology. Imagine if law enforcement thought DNA testing was too expensive, so Congress passes a law requiring all doctors to purchase DNA testing equipment and provide free DNA tests to law enforcement. DNA is a complicated subject. Few police officers are qualified to analyze DNA. Instead law enforcement pays for professional DNA testing when it needs DNA testing.

The FCC comment period has closed. Everyone had an opportunity to submit comments on the topic to the FCC.

Consult your own attorney if you want real legal advice.