FYI ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 22:02:12 +0200 From: Michelle Pollak <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [I2-NEWS] I2-NEWS: Internet2 Joins Coalition Response Opposing Joint DOJ, FBI and DEA Effort to Extend Wiretap Law to Internet Providers
INTERNET2 JOINS COALITION RESPONSE OPPOSING JOINT DOJ, FBI AND DEA EFFORT TO EXTEND WIRETAP LAW TO INTERNET PROVIDERS WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 13, 2004 - Internet2(R) today announced that it has joined a coalition of higher education and library associations to file a comment with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing a joint attempt by the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to bring all access to the Internet within the scope of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). The current CALEA legislation gives law enforcement agencies access to communications traffic under specific legal conditions and constraints. The comment filed with the FCC argues that Congress's intent was clear in the original CALEA legislation that Internet access messaging and other information services were to be exempt from provisions of the Act and that the effort to extend the law to Internet providers oversteps those provisions. The coalition acknowledges the "need for timely revision to traditional telephony access procedures as the underlying communications technology changes," and asks the FCC to consider three areas of negative impact that the proposed expansion would have on the higher education and library communities, including: - The inhibition of innovation; - The compromise of privacy; and - The costliness of the revisions at a time when budgets are already under large stress. "Taking the legitimate efforts by the Department of Justice, the FBI and the DEA into account, we strongly believe that the requirements imposed by CALEA would inhibit the development, deployment, and use of innovative Internet applications," said Gary Bachula, Internet2 vice president for external relations. "We must underscore the deep negative impact that regulations such as CALEA will have to the Internet and innovation. We support and believe that the full participation of Congress and the technology community, not just the FCC, is required to develop an appropriate and adequate resolution." Members of the coalition include the American Association of Community Colleges; the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; the American Association of University Professors; the American Library Association; the American Council on Education; the Association of American Universities; the Association of College and Research Universities; the Association for Communications Technology Professionals; the Association of Research Libraries; EDUCAUSE; Internet2; the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges; and the National Association of College and University Business Officers. The complete comment filed with the FCC by the coalition is available at http://www.internet2.edu/pubs/20040413-Comments-CALEA.pdf. # # # ---------------------------------------------- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Maillist-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/swinog%40swinog.ch/