CALEA requirements shouldn’t apply to data networks run by educat...

to the FCC on applying CALEA to broadband Internet access services and VoIP providers (ET 04-295). “Imprecise wording in the Commission’s… order has resulted in potentially over- broad statements regarding the reach of CALEA,” the university said. “If Cornell is not providing services for hire, it should be exempt from CALEA.” Cornell also voiced concern about unclear “legal liabilities and inexact administrative and financial burdens.” CALEA compliance could “have an adverse effect on civil liberties and personal privacy,” said Information Technologies Vp Polley McClure. “Given its defects, its value does not compare to the value that would be lost in creativity, innovation and other unique contributions that higher education makes to American society,” she said in Nov. 10 comments. Subsentio, a firm that helps rural telephone companies build secure networks, said the FCC shouldn’t exempt rural carriers from CALEA. “The lack of surveillance by the nation’s LEAs [law enforcement agencies] in rural areas will allow criminals to communicate freely and without monitoring… using the new communication infrastructure being developed in… rural networks,” said Subsentio in comments filed Nov. 11. The company said it knows CALEA compliance could be a financial hardship on rural telcos so “universal service type funding” should be provided. Funding could be collected “through small fees” on subscribers, Subsentio said: “Subsentio would support a nationwide tax of $.01 per subscriber per month or less if it was spread across all ISP and/or VoIP subscribers nationwide.”