Fergie's Tech Blog

CALEA Watch: FCC Forces Internet 'Wiretapping Tax'

Declan McCullagh and Anne Broache write on C|Net News:

Broadband providers and Internet phone companies will have to pick up the tab for the cost of building in mandatory wiretap access for police surveillance, federal regulators ruled Wednesday.

The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to levy what likely will amount to wiretapping taxes on companies, municipalities and universities, saying that it would create an incentive for them to keep costs down and that it was necessary to fight the war on terror. Universities have estimated their cost to be about $7 billion.

posted by Fergie @ 5/03/2006 11:35:00 AM