Telecom firms distance themselves from NSA flap

[struggle4progress]

By Anne Broache
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Published: May 12, 2006, 3:20 PM PDT
Last modified: May 12, 2006, 4:09 PM PDT

RCN Corporation, which offers cable, phone and Internet services, released a statement Friday afternoon assuring its customers that it had not contributed to the NSA's reportedly vast database of Americans' phone call records. The company hosts more than a million customers in some of the nation's largest metropolitan areas, including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. <snip>

The assertions came a day after a USA Today report that AT&T, BellSouth and Verizon had turned over to the NSA "call detail records," database entries that document details such as parties in the conversation and the length of the call--but not the content.

The same story noted that Qwest Communications, the smallest of the nation's four regional phone companies, had not turned over information requested by the NSA. That's because the company was concerned that doing so without a warrant in place would violate federal privacy laws, a lawyer to former CEO Joseph Nacchio told The New York Times on Friday. Qwest did not respond to requests for comment <snip>

http://news.com.com/Telecom+firms+distance+themselves+from+NSA+flap/2100-1028_3-6071860.html

[savemefromdumbya]

1. Customer services at Verizon haven't a clue what's going on

and they just send an acknow. email

[struggle4progress]

4. Send em a certified letter. Ask for a response. Drown em in paperwork.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

2. Far too late...they released customer records to the NSA without....

...any legal reason to do so.

As of today, Verizon is being sued for $5 billion for turning over records without a warrant.

[Warpy]

3. YES!

I wondered when somebody would slap them with a class action lawsuit!

That'll get their attention, all right. This is going to cost them a fortune.

[struggle4progress]

6. Don't pin hopes on class action suits: "tort reform" & BushCo judges ..

.. may limit their prospects.

Thousands of angry customers may be as important as, or more important than, a consolidated lawsuit ...

[rumpel]

5. I think it is 50 B. Verizon's recorded messge while you wait included

"your privacy is our utmost concern" (not verbatim) try it. call the billing #

what bull!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. Everyone should write Verizon and e-mail them asking them

Questions regarding their breaking the law.