FCC Approves Net-Wiretapping Taxes

[kpete]

FCC approves Net-wiretapping taxes
By Declan McCullagh and Anne Broache
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Published: May 3, 2006, 10:53 AM PDT

WASHINGTON--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 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.

"The first obligation is...the safety of the people," said FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, a Democrat. "This commission supports efforts to protect the public safety and homeland security of the United States and its people."

Federal police agencies have spent years lobbying for mandatory backdoors for easy surveillance, saying "criminals, terrorists and spies" could cloak their Internet communications with impunity unless centralized wiretapping hubs become mandatory. Last year, the FCC set a deadline of May 14, 2007, for compliance. But universities, libraries and some technology companies have filed suit against the agency, and arguments before a federal court are scheduled for Friday.

more at:
http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6067971.html?part=rss&tag=6067971&subj=news

[Kelvin Mace]

1. They are going to illegally violate our rights

then charge us for it?

FUCK THEM!

[alfredo]

7. Mom would make me cut the switch she used to beat me when

I was bad. Sounds like the same thing.

[Selatius]

2. They will pass on the costs to consumers, not pay out of pocket

In the end, the working class stiff gets the short-end of the stick in more ways than one. I think the government should take its desire to become Big Brother and shove it up its ass sideways.

[Robbien]

3. Not only do we lose our right to privacy, we now have to pay

to build the system for them.

What bunk.

[Lance_Boyle]

4. another page out of *'s hero's playbook...

"Go dig a hole over there, prisoner, about 6 feet deep ought to do it."

[orwell]

5. The Con...

..."War of Terra" continues unabated. Maybe next they can have us pay to imprison ourselves in well apointed gulags.

Actually...

[crikkett]

6. What a joke

:rofl:

Isn't this why there was a Boston Tea Party? Stupid taxes?
I'm almost ashamed to send my Brit friends postcards this July 4.
Freedom, schmeedom.

[acmejack]

8. Quick, tell me that part about of the People & for the People again

It must have expired