COPYCENSE

"The FBI wants to force Verizon Communications to make sure that its broadband-over-fiber service can be easily wiretapped by police and spy agencies.

"In a letter sent to the Federal Communications Commission last month, the FBI said that Verizon’s Fios service must be required to abide by a 1994 law that levied complex and expensive eavesdropping requirements on traditional phone companies. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Justice Department joined the request.

"The request made to the FCC marks the latest skirmish in the war over what wiretap rules should apply to the Internet and who will pay for the costs of buying equipment to provide police and spy agencies with backdoors for secret surveillance."

Declan McCullagh. FBI Wants to Eavesdrop on Fiber Links. News.com. August 3, 2004.

See also Cynthia L. Webb. FCC Serves Up a Ruling Smorgasbord. WashingtonPost.com. August 5, 2004.

(Editor�s Note: The Post allows free access to their stories on the Web for 14 days before sending the stories to the paper�s fee-based Archives.)