[Infowarrior] - FCC won't probe disclosure of phone records

[Richard Forno]

FCC won't probe disclosure of phone records

By Peter Kaplan
Reuters
Friday, October 5, 2007; 6:00 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/05/AR2007100501
685_pf.html


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission declined to investigate reports that phone companies turned over
customer records to the National Security Agency, citing national security
concerns, according to documents released on Friday.

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin turned down a congressional request for an
investigation as a top intelligence official concluded it would "pose an
unnecessary risk of damage to the national security," according to a letter
National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell sent to Martin on Tuesday.

Intelligence officials "support your determination not to initiate an
investigation," McConnell wrote to Martin.

At issue are reports last year that some big telephone companies allowed the
U.S. government access to millions of telephone records for an
anti-terrorism program.

The reports have prompted scrutiny by the House Energy and Commerce
Committee. Democratic Rep. Edward Markey, the chairman of a key Energy and
Commerce subcommittee, asked Martin to investigate.

In his response, Martin included Tuesday's letter from McConnell. A
spokesman for the FCC declined further comment.

Markey, of Massachusetts, said McConnell's stance was "unsurprising given
that this administration has continually thwarted efforts by Congress to
shed more light on the surveillance program."

"I believe the agency could conduct its own examination of such reports in a
way that safeguards national security," Markey said in a statement.

The Energy and Commerce Committee also asked AT&T Inc (T.N), Verizon
Communications Inc (VZ.N) and Qwest Communications International Inc (Q.N)
on Tuesday to describe how U.S. government agencies sought to obtain
information about customer telephone and Internet use.
© 2007 Reuters