The Patriot Post® · DOJ Bludgeons Sprint Over Wiretapping Law

The Department of Justice fined Sprint Communications, Inc. $15.5 million because it allegedly disobeyed a court ruling ordering communication companies to cover the cost of upgrades that allow the U.S. government the ability to wiretap their systems. Call us old fashioned, but forcing companies to spend their own money so the government can spy on its citizens runs against the grain of the Constitution. In a statement, the DOJ said, “In 2006, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that carriers were prohibited from passing on the costs of their [Communications Assistance in Law Enforcement Act] upgrades to law enforcement agencies in their intercept bills. The investigation by OIG and the U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that from 2007 to 2010, in violation of the FCC’s ruling, Sprint nevertheless included in its intercept charges the hidden costs of financing its CALEA upgrades. In the settlement agreement, Sprint agreed to pay $15.5 million to resolve the allegations in the complaint but did not admit to any wrongdoing or liability.” Kudos to Sprint for not admitting to the government that might makes right. But the communications company should have considered fighting the government to the last amicus brief in court, to resist what is clearly evidence of a burgeoning monitoring state. More…