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Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA)

Note: The following information is provided for general reference purposes only and should not be relied upon for a full and complete understanding of the CALEA statute. Carriers and others seeking to know how they are affected by CALEA should consult the statute and relevant FCC rules, Orders, and other publications, as well as rules and other documents published by the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

INTRODUCTION

In response to concerns that emerging technologies such as digital and wireless communications were making it increasingly difficult for law enforcement agencies to execute authorized surveillance, Congress enacted CALEA on October 25, 1994. CALEA was intended to preserve the ability of law enforcement agencies to conduct electronic surveillance by requiring that telecommunications carriers and manufacturers of telecommunications equipment modify and design their equipment, facilities, and services to ensure that they have the necessary surveillance capabilities. Common carriers, facilities-based broadband Internet access providers, and providers of interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service - all three types of entities are defined to be "telecommunications carriers" for purposes of CALEA section 102, 47 U.S.C. § 1001 - must comply with the CALEA obligations set forth in CALEA section 103, 47 U.S.C. § 1002. See CALEA First Report and Order (rel. Sept. 23, 2005).

SYSTEM SECURITY INTEGRITY PLANS

All telecommunications carriers, as defined by CALEA section 102(8), must file and maintain up-to-date System Security and Integrity (SSI) plans with the Commission, as those plans are described in 47 C.F.R. § 1.20005.

CALEA COMPLIANCE - SOME BASIC INFORMATION

Pursuant to CALEA, industry is generally responsible for setting CALEA standards and solutions. Unless a party files a special petition pursuant to CALEA section 107(b), the Commission does not get formally involved with the compliance standards development process. CALEA also does not provide for Commission review of manufacturer-developed solutions. Entities subject to CALEA are responsible for reviewing the Commission's regulations and analyzing how this regulation applies per their specific network architecture.

A telecommunications carrier may comply with CALEA in different ways. First, the carrier may develop its own compliance solution for its unique network. Second, the carrier may purchase a compliance solution from vendors, including the manufacturers of the equipment it is using to provide service. Third, the carrier may purchase a compliance solution from a trusted third party (TPP). See CALEA Second Report and Order at para. 26. To contact TPPs, carriers may conduct an Internet search using such key words as "CALEA compliance" and "CALEA compliance help," or any combination that will yield a display of TPPs.

Reference Web Sites

The following organizations provide information on their web sites that telecommunications carriers may find useful to research what various industry organizations are doing to develop CALEA section 103 compliance standards and solutions. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and that the Commission does not approve or endorse the information contained in these web sites. In addition, by referencing these organizations, the Commission in no way endorses these organizations, their advice, or their opinions. These web sites are presented purely for informational purposes only. Accordingly, we encourage everyone to consult legal counsel when making CALEA compliance determinations and selecting CALEA compliance solutions.

Contact the FBI

The FCC encourages all carriers to consult with the FBI if they have questions about their CALEA compliance plans. See AskCALEA. Carriers may contact the FBI's CALEA Implementation Unit directly at the following address or phone number:

FBI Quantico Engineering Research Facility (ERF) CALEA Implementation Unit Building 27958A Quantico, VA 22135 Telephone: Direct: (703) 632-4697 Toll Free: (800) 551-0336

Compliance for Circuit-Mode Equipment, Facilities or Services

If your switching equipment was placed in service prior to January 1, 1995, you are already deemed compliant temporarily with CALEA's capability requirements, pursuant to CALEA section 109(d), subject to the process described in that section. Carriers with equipment deployed prior to January 1, 1995 should note that when any of their "equipment, facility or service is replaced or significantly upgraded or otherwise undergoes major modification," they must become fully compliant with CALEA's capability requirements. See CALEA § 109(d); 47 USC §1008(d).

For those carriers who installed switching equipment on January 1, 1995 or later, these carriers must comply with CALEA section 103's surveillance capability requirements unless they have filed petitions for relief and obtained relief from these requirements as discussed below.

CALEA Compliance for Packet Equipment, And Equipment for Facilities-Based Broadband Internet Access Providers and Providers of Interconnected VoIP

All facilities-based broadband Internet access providers and providers of interconnected VoIP service must ensure that their services comply with CALEA upon launch. In the May 12, 2006 Commission order, the Commission found that section 107(c)(1) may not be used by entities seeking extensions for equipment, facilities, and services deployed on or after October 25, 1998 (the effective date of the CALEA section 103 and 105 requirements).

PETITIONS FOR RELIEF

Section 107(c)(1) Petitions for Temporary Relief

CALEA section 107(c)(1) permits a petitioner to apply for an extension of time, up to two years from the date that the petition is filed, to come into compliance with a particular CALEA section 103 capability requirements. Under section 107(c)(1), a petitioner may seek an extension of time only for equipment, facilities, or services ("services") installed or deployed prior to October 25, 1998. The Commission issued new section 107(c) filing instructions in Appendix F to the CALEA Second Report and Order. As stated in those instructions, section 107(c) extensions of time will only be available for "any equipment, facility, or service" installed or deployed before October 25, 1998.

Section 109(b)(1) Petitions for Cost-Shifting Relief

CALEA section 109(b) permits a "telecommunications carrier," as that term is defined by CALEA, to file a petition with the FCC and an application with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to request that DOJ pay the costs of the carrier's CALEA compliance (cost-shifting relief) with respect to any equipment, facility or service installed or deployed after January 1, 1995. First, the carrier must file a section 109(b)(1) petition with the FCC and prove that, based on one or more of the criteria set forth in section 109(b)(1)(A)-(K), implementation of at least one particular solution that would comply with a particular CALEA section 103 capability requirement is not "reasonably achievable." Second, if the Commission grants a section 109(b)(1) petition, the carrier must then apply to DOJ, pursuant to section 109(b)(2), to pay the reasonable costs of compliance for one of the solutions proposed in the section 109(b)(1) petition. DOJ may then either pay the reasonable costs of compliance or deny the application.

If DOJ denies the section 109(b)(2) application, then the carrier is deemed to be CALEA compliant for the facilities, networks, and services (facilities) described in the section 109(b)(1) petition until those facilities are replaced, significantly upgraded or otherwise undergo a major modification. When those facilities are replaced, significantly upgraded or otherwise undergo a major modification, the carrier is obligated under the law to become CALEA compliant. The FCC may also specify in its CALEA section 109(b)(1) order granting a carrier's petition the specific date when the replacement, upgrade or modification will occur and when CALEA compliance is required. Thus, a carrier's obligation to comply with all CALEA requirements is only deferred when (1) the FCC grants a section 109(b)(1) petition, and (2) DOJ declines to pay the additional reasonable costs to comply with one or more of the CALEA requirements. No qualifying carrier is exempt from CALEA.

Section 109(b)(1) petitions must be adequately supported, and the FCC decides whether to grant the petition strictly in reference to criteria set out in section 109(b)(1). Accordingly, carriers are encouraged to consult with competent legal and technical counsel before filing such a petition. Please note that a filing fee of $5,000.00 is required to accompany all CALEA section 109(b)(1) petitions filed with the FCC. See Appendix E entitled "Section 109(b)(1) Petitions for Cost-Shifting Relief: Filing Instructions," and paragraphs 38-57 of the CALEA Second Report and Order for detailed filing instructions and further explanation of the scope of relief, and its limitations, available under section 109(b).

Filing Procedures for Section 107(c)(1) And Section 109(b)(1) Petitions

All CALEA section 107(c)(1) and 109(b)(1) petitions must reference ET Docket No. 04-295.

  • Parties must file an original and four copies of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
  • All filings, orders and any other information provided in a section 109(b)(1) proceeding shall be treated as presumptively confidential pursuant to section 0.457(g) of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. § 0.457(g) and must be filed under seal by the petitioner. Petitioners must mark the top of each page of their petitions: "Confidential - Not for Public Inspection." Persons seeking access to any information from a section 109(b)(1) proceeding must request such access pursuant to section 0.461 of the Commission's rules. 47 C.F.R. § 0.461.
  • The filing fee for a section 109(b)(1) petition is $5,605.00. See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1102 (21).
  • The Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.
  • Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
  • U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington D.C. 20554.
  • Parties also should send a copy of their filings to: David Ward, Senior Legal Advisor, Policy Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.

Non-confidential documents in ET Docket No. 04-295 may be obtained from Best Copy and Printing, Inc., in person at 445 12th St., S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, via telephone at (202) 488-5300, via facsimile at (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail at fcc@bpciweb.com. Non-classified documents also will be available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Room CY-A257, 445 12th St. S.W., Washington, DC 20554, and through the Commission's Electronic Filing System (ECFS).

To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

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