Court Backs Government Broadband Wiretap Access

By REUTERS
Filed at 12:11 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld the
government's authority to force high-speed Internet service providers
to give law enforcement authorities access for surveillance purposes.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
rejected a petition aimed at overturning a decision by regulators
requiring facilities-based broadband providers and those that offer
Internet telephone service to comply with U.S. wiretap laws.

The court concluded that the FCC requirement was a ''reasonable
policy choice'' even though information services are exempted from
the government's wiretapping authority.

The FCC has set a May 14, 2007 deadline for compliance.

The ruling comes at a time when critics have voiced concerned the
Bush administration's surveillance program violates civil liberties.
The administration argues it needs the program, which allows the
National Security Agency to monitor international telephone calls of
U.S. citizens, as part of its broader war on terrorism.

Authorities are concerned the growth of Internet communications could
allow criminals to circumvent wiretaps by using e-mail and Internet
phone services instead of traditional telephone services.

Private networks would not be subject to the wiretap requirements,
but those connected with a public network would have to comply with
the law.

The FCC decision has prompted an appeal by universities and
libraries. The groups, including the American Library Association and
Association of American Universities, challenged the agency's
authority to extend such requirements to high-speed Internet services.