Wiretap-happy Verizon "sorry" to lose privacy-conscious customer [priv]

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

---

> From: Jeffrey.Nelson () VerizonWireless com
> To: georgegetz () hq lp org, nels1je () HQ VerizonWireless com
> Cc: declan.mccullagh
> Subject: RE: [Politech] FCC votes 5-0 for Internet wiretapping;Verizon app
>         lauds [priv]
> Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 11:27:16 -0400
>
> Mr. Getz,
>
> I'm certainly sorry to hear that you've decided not to join the more than 40
> million customers who have chosen Verizon Wireless for their wireless
> communications needs.  Should you be interested in learning more about us
> and our best-in-class national wireless network, please let me know and I'd
> be happy to arrange for an expert in one of our stores to show you what
> we've got.
>
> Best wishes,
> Jeffrey Nelson
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: George Getz [mailto:georgegetz () hq lp org]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 11:29 AM
> To: Jeffrey.Nelson () verizonwireless com
> Cc: 'Declan McCullagh'
> Subject: FW: [Politech] FCC votes 5-0 for Internet wiretapping;Verizon
> applauds [priv]
>
>
> Dear Jeff:
>
> I was in the process of deciding whether to go with Cingular or Verizon when
> my contract expires next week.
>
> After reading this I chose Cingular.
>
> George Getz
> Communications Director
> Libertarian Party
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: politech-bounces () politechbot com
> [mailto:politech-bounces () politechbot com] On Behalf Of Declan McCullagh
> Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 8:33 AM
> To: politech () politechbot com
> Subject: [Politech] FCC votes 5-0 for Internet wiretapping;Verizon applauds
> [priv]
>
> ---
>
> My article on the decision itself:
> http://news.com.com/Feds+back+wiretap+rules+for+Internet/2100-7352_3-5296417
> .html
> "Broadband providers and Internet phone services must comply with
> wiretapping requirements designed for the traditional phone network, the
> Federal Communications Commission said in a preliminary decision Wednesday."
>
> My column on questions to ask John Ashcroft and the FBI:
> http://news.com.com/Fahrenheit+FBI/2010-7352_3-5300198.html
> .  Your request to the FCC said that broadband and VoIP companies may raise
> prices to "recover their CALEA implementation costs from their customers."
> How do you square higher prices with President Bush's speech in March
> calling for "affordable broadband" for all Americans?
> .  Congress gave telephone companies $500 million to buy new equipment to
> comply with CALEA. Why should Internet companies not receive the same
> treatment? Is it because Verizon, SBC and the other former Bells have
> well-connected lobbying outposts in Washington, D.C.--but Vonage, 8x8 and
> other VoIP start-ups do not?
> .  Skype CEO Niklas Zennstrom told me last fall that "we do not have any
> legal obligation to provide any means for interception" in his company's
> VoIP software. How will you force a company based in Luxembourg to insert
> backdoors in its software when it has no obligation to do so?
> [...remainder snipped...]
>
> ---
>
> http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=SVBIZINK3.story&STORY=/www
> /story/08-04-2004/0002225257&EDATE=WED+Aug+04+2004,+02:20+PM
>
> Verizon Wireless Applauds FCC for Law Enforcement Assistance
>
>      BEDMINSTER, N.J., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Communications
> Commission (FCC) today ruled that CALEA, the Communications Assistance for
> Law
> Enforcement Act, covers all voice telecommunications services, regardless of
> technology used to transmit voice.   Steven Zipperstein, vice president and
> general counsel at Verizon Wireless, commended the FCC, making the following
> statement:
>      "The Federal Communications Commission struck directly at criminals and
> terrorists today in deciding that all voice communications -- irrespective
> of
> technology -- are covered under the nation's wiretap laws.  Verizon Wireless
> advocated this result and strongly agrees that law enforcement, when armed
> with court-sanctioned authority, needs the ability to listen into suspected
> criminals and terrorists whether they are communicating through traditional
> voice technologies or using newer VoIP or push-to-talk services."
>      About Verizon Wireless
>      Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless
> communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and
> data
> network and 40.4 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon
> Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and
> Vodafone
> (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at
> http://www.verizonwireless.com. To receive broadcast-quality video footage
> of
> Verizon Wireless operations, log onto
> http://www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.
>       MEDIA CONTACT:
>       Jeffrey Nelson
>       Verizon Wireless
>       908.306.4824
>       Jeffrey.Nelson () verizonwireless com
> _______________________________________________

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