FCC Giving Veto Power to FBI Over VoIP?

An anonymous reader writes "In this article, the FCC reveals that if you're using VoIP products at your own behest then you may have personal legal requirements to provide the FBI with access to information they might want to intercept. Or to put it another way, using encryption with VoIP can prevent the FBI from implementing wire taps."

Comments

FCC 05-151

[TripMaster Monkey]

Since the 'obscure policy document' mentioned in TFA is in PDF format, here is the text of that document, formatted and stripped of the numerous bibliographical references:

POLICY STATEMENT
Adopted: August 5, 2005 Released: September 23, 2005
By the Commission:

I. INTRODUCTION

1. The availability of the Internet has had a profound impact on American life. This network of
   networks has fundamentally changed the way we communicate. It has increased the speed of
   communication, the range of communicating devices and the variety of platforms over which we can send
   and receive information. As Congress has noted, "[t]he rapidly developing array of Internet . . . services
   available to individual Americans represent an extraordinary advance in the availability of educational
   and informational resources to our citizens." The Internet also represents "a forum for a true diversity of
   political discourse, unique opportunities for cultural development, and myriad avenues for intellectual
   activity." In addition, the Internet plays an important role in the economy, as an engine for productivity
   growth and cost savings.
2. In section 230(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act or Act),
   Congress describes its national Internet policy. Specifically, Congress states that it is the policy of the
   United States "to preserve the vibrant and competitive free market that presently exists for the Internet"6
   and "to promote the continued development of the Internet."7 In section 706(a) of the Act, Congress
   charges the Commission with "encourag[ing] the deployment on a reasonable and timely basis of
   advanced telecommunications capability" - broadband - "to all Americans."
3. In this Policy Statement, the Commission offers guidance and insight into its approach to the
   Internet and broadband that is consistent with these Congressional directives.
   
   II. DISCUSSION
4. The Communications Act charges the Commission with "regulating interstate and foreign
   commerce in communication by wire and radio."9 The Communications Act regulates
   telecommunications carriers, as common carriers, under Title II.10 Information service providers, "by
   contrast, are not subject to mandatory common-carrier regulation under Title II."11 The Commission,
   however, "has jurisdiction to impose additional regulatory obligations under its Title I ancillary
   jurisdiction to regulate interstate and foreign communications." As a result, the Commission has
   jurisdiction necessary to ensure that providers of telecommunications for Internet access or Internet
   Protocol-enabled (IP-enabled) services are operated in a neutral manner. Moreover, to ensure that
   broadband networks are widely deployed, open, affordable, and accessible to all consumers, the
   Commission adopts the following principles:
   
   To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected
   nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to access the lawful Internet content of
   their choice.
   
   To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected
   nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to run applications and use services of their
   choice, subject to the needs of law enforcement.
   
   To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected
   nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to connect their choice of legal devices that
   do not harm the network.
   
   To encourage broadband deployment and preserve and promote the open and interconnected
   nature of the public Internet, consumers are entitled to competition among network providers,
   application and service providers, and content providers.
   
   III. CONCLUSION
5. The Commission has a duty to preserve and promote the vibrant and open character of the
   I

The FBI now owns us. We have no right to privacy.

[elucido]

You see, our FBI and federal government has the right to tap all our phones, wiretap everything, spy on us, use satelites to watch our every move, and to control our thoughts and remove our freedom of speech. The FBI owns you, you do not own the FBI.

So just let them search your house and tap your phone, its not like you can stop them and its not like anyone cares about the constitution anymore or privacy. For all the talk I hear on slashdot, none of you actually care about privacy or the constitution. If you do, then prove it and defend the constitution.

See for yourself how you can defend the constitution if you actually care about it. Save the constitution