Xref: demon alt.activism:16880 alt.fan.rush-limbaugh:74428 alt.motherjones:3221 alt.politics.datahighway:4212 alt.politics.libertarian:33990 alt.politics.org.nsa:675 alt.privacy:9046 alt.privacy.clipper:3334 alt.security:5211 alt.society.civil-liberties:2101 Path: demon!pipex!oleane!jussieu.fr!univ-lyon1.fr!swidir.switch.ch!scsing.switch.ch!news.belwue.de!zib-berlin.de!informatik.tu-muenchen.de!lrz-muenchen.de!colin.muc.de!ftp.space.net!stasys!sungy!brinkley.East.Sun.COM!newsworthy.West.Sun.COM!koriel!cs.utexas.edu!convex!news.duke.edu!MathWorks.Com!news.kei.com!ddsw1!panix!not-for-mail From: shabbir@panix.com (Shabbir J. Safdar) Newsgroups: alt.activism,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.motherjones,alt.politics.datahighway,alt.politics.libertarian,alt.politics.org.nsa,alt.privacy,alt.privacy.clipper,alt.security,alt.society.civil-liberties Subject: ACTION: FBI wiretap bills (SB 2375 & HR 4922) coming closer to passage Followup-To: talk.politics.crypto Date: 30 Sep 1994 10:30:34 -0400 Organization: Voters Telecomm Watch (vtw@vtw.org) Lines: 275 Distribution: usa Message-ID: <36h7ea$bmf@panix3.panix.com> Reply-To: vtw@vtw.org (Voters Telecomm Watch) NNTP-Posting-Host: panix3.panix.com ********************************************************************* DISTRIBUTE WIDELY (though no later than October 15, 1994) ********************************************************************* [If you've only got 2 minutes, skip down to the "What You Can Do" section.] Both the House and the Senate Judiciary Committees have reported the bills out of committee. The Senate version was slightly amended to address some issues of cost, but not significantly enough to change the inherently bad nature of the bill. Although there is only a little bit of time left in the session, there is a move afoot to end-run the normal judicial process. Because of the subtlety and speed with which the FBI's Louis Freeh and the bills' sponsors are working, it may already be too late by the time you read this. Waste no time in acting. Backers of the bill are frantically trying to get unanimous approval in the Senate so they won't have to bring the bill before a normal floor debate. This would allow it to be passed quickly and without meaningful debate. This would be akin to a "midnight passage". The FBI has not yet made public their case data explaining why they need this bill. Furthermore, the bill has been rushed through the process so quickly that adequate public debate has not taken place. VTW appreciates the FBI's sense of duty which impels them to urgency in this matter, but we cannot condone the significant impinging of privacy this bill mandates without having the appropriate public debate. Furthermore, the FBI has refused to make public the case data which they claim might prove their case. The public needs to weigh both sides of this. We need to see this data. This is not an issue to be taken lightly. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT YOU CAN DO Unless this bill is stopped in the House or Senate, it will become law since President Clinton is certain to sign it. Don't let this bill pass the Senate without adequate debate. Contact your Senators and Representative and ask them to oppose the bill because there has not been adequate public debate. Faxes are best, phone calls are second best; email is probably not the greatest method of contacting them. Congress just doesn't handle email well yet. Step 1. Conclude which state you're in. :-) Find your two Senators on the lists appended. Step 2. Pick up the phone or type up your letter. Step 3. Express your opinion. If you're at a loss for words, use our sample communique below: SAMPLE PHONE CALL The FBI is trying to rush through its wiretap bill (SB 2375 & HR 4922) much too quickly. Without the FBI's case evidence to prove the need for this bill, the public cannot adequately assess the balance between law enforcement needs and the sacrifice of the public's privacy. Please oppose SB 2375/HR 4922. Thank you, ___________________ SAMPLE FAX Dear Honorable _______________, The FBI's Digital Telephony bills (SB 2375/HR 4922) are being rushed through Congress much too quickly. Without the FBI making available the data to support these bills, we the public cannot adequately assess whether or not this bill is an acceptable balance between privacy and law enforcement's need to wiretap. I feel that I have done my part to be fair with the FBI. I have long traded some of my privacy in return for giving them the tools they find useful and expedient in performing their duties. However they need to be fair to me as well, and allow for there to be public debate and their evidence presented, so I can assess whether I agree with this new balance they are asking for. This bill expands the law enforcement's powers. No longer does the FBI have the *right* to attempt wiretapping, but they would (under this bill) have that ability built into every communications system. I urge you to oppose the FBI's Wiretapping bills (SB 2375/HR 4922). Sincerely, ___________________ Step 4. Feel good about yourself. You've just participated in democracy without leaving your seat. Step 5. [Extra special bonus step for activists :-] Before you hang up, ask your legislator's staff member what their position is on SB 2375/HR 4922. It's not an unreasonable question, they were elected to represent people like you. Mail the answer to vtw@vtw.org. * NOTE * We'll be handing out awards to the legislator who "ducks" this issue the worst this session. Help keep your legislator from receiving this award; pressure them to give you a position today! For more information about the Digital Telephony bills, check the Voters Telecomm Watch gopher site (gopher.panix.com) or contact Steven Cherry, VTW Press Contact at (718) 596-2851 or stc@vtw.org. VTW posts a Digital Telephony FAQ monthly to several Usenet newsgroups including comp.org.cpsr.talk and comp.org.eff.talk. Look for it or contact us at vtw@vtw.org for a copy. Complete list of Senators: p st name phone fax = == ======================== ============== ============== R AK Murkowski, Frank H. 1-202-224-6665 1-202-224-5301 R AK Stevens, Ted 1-202-224-3004 1-202-224-1044 D AL Heflin, Howell T. 1-202-224-4124 1-202-224-3149 D AL Shelby, Richard C. 1-202-224-5744 1-202-224-3416 D AR Bumpers, Dale 1-202-224-4843 1-202-224-6435 D AR Pryor, David 1-202-224-2353 na D AZ DeConcini, Dennis 1-202-224-4521 1-202-224-2302 R AZ McCain, John 1-202-224-2235 na D CA Boxer, Barbara 1-202-224-3553 na D CA Feinstein, Diane 1-202-224-3841 na D CO Campbell, Ben N. 1-202-225-4761 1-202-225-0228 R CO Brown, Henry 1-202-224-5941 na D CT Dodd, Christopher J. 1-202-224-2823 na D CT Lieberman, Joseph I. 1-202-224-4041 1-202-224-9750 D DE Biden Jr., Joseph R. 1-202-224-5042 na Note: Sen. Biden is a co-sponsor of the bill R DE Roth Jr., William V. 1-202-224-2441 1-202-224-2805 D FL Graham, Robert 1-202-224-3041 na R FL Mack, Connie 1-202-224-5274 1-202-224-8022 D GA Nunn, Samuel 1-202-224-3521 1-202-224-0072 R GA Coverdell, Paul 1-202-224-3643 na D HI Akaka, Daniel K. 1-202-224-6361 1-202-224-2126 D HI Inouye, Daniel K. 1-202-224-3934 1-202-224-6747 D IA Harkin, Thomas 1-202-224-3254 1-202-224-7431 R IA Grassley, Charles E. 1-202-224-3744 na R ID Craig, Larry E. 1-202-224-2752 1-202-224-2573 R ID Kempthorne, Dirk 1-202-224-6142 1-202-224-5893 D IL Moseley-Braun, Carol 1-202-224-2854 na D IL Simon, Paul 1-202-224-2152 1-202-224-0868 R IN Coats, Daniel R. 1-202-224-5623 1-202-224-8964 R IN Lugar, Richard G. 1-202-224-4814 na R KS Dole, Robert 1-202-224-6521 1-202-224-8952 R KS Kassebaum, Nancy L. 1-202-224-4774 1-202-224-3514 D KY Ford, Wendell H. 1-202-224-4343 na R KY McConnell, Mitch 1-202-224-2541 1-202-224-2499 D LA Breaux, John B. 1-202-224-4623 na D LA Johnston, J. Bennett 1-202-224-5824 na D MA Kennedy, Edward M. 1-202-224-4543 1-202-224-2417 D MA Kerry, John F. 1-202-224-2742 na D MD Mikulski, Barbara A. 1-202-224-4654 1-202-224-8858 D MD Sarbanes, Paul S. 1-202-224-4524 1-202-224-1651 D ME Mitchell, George J. 1-202-224-5344 na R ME Cohen, William S. 1-202-224-2523 1-202-224-2693 D MI Levin, Carl 1-202-224-6221 na D MI Riegle Jr., Donald 1-202-224-4822 1-202-224-8834 D MN Wellstone, Paul 1-202-224-5641 1-202-224-8438 R MN Durenberger, David 1-202-224-3244 na R MO Bond, Christopher S. 1-202-224-5721 1-202-224-8149 R MO Danforth, John C. 1-202-224-6154 na R MS Cochran, Thad 1-202-224-5054 na R MS Lott, Trent 1-202-224-6253 1-202-224-2262 D MT Baucus, Max 1-202-224-2651 na R MT Burns, Conrad R. 1-202-224-2644 1-202-224-8594 R NC Faircloth, D. M. 1-202-224-3154 1-202-224-7406 R NC Helms, Jesse 1-202-224-6342 na D ND Conrad, Kent 1-202-224-2043 na D ND Dorgan, Byron L. 1-202-225-2611 1-202-225-9436 D NE Exon, J. J. 1-202-224-4224 na D NE Kerrey, Joseph R. 1-202-224-6551 1-202-224-7645 R NH Gregg, Judd 1-202-224-3324 na R NH Smith, Robert 1-202-224-2841 1-202-224-1353 D NJ Bradley, William 1-202-224-3224 1-202-224-8567 D NJ Lautenberg, Frank R. 1-202-224-4744 1-202-224-9707 D NM Bingaman, Jeff 1-202-224-5521 na R NM Domenici, Pete V. 1-202-224-6621 1-202-224-7371 D NV Bryan, Richard H. 1-202-224-6244 na D NV Reid, Harry 1-202-224-3542 1-202-224-7327 D NY Moynihan, Daniel P. 1-202-224-4451 1-202-224-9293 R NY D'Amato, Alfonse M. 1-202-224-6542 1-202-224-5871 D OH Glenn, John 1-202-224-3353 na D OH Metzenbaum, Howard 1-202-224-2315 1-202-224-6519 D OK Boren, David L. 1-202-224-4721 na R OK Nickles, Donald 1-202-224-5754 1-202-224-6008 R OR Hatfield, Mark O. 1-202-224-3753 na R OR Packwood, Robert 1-202-224-5244 na D PA Wofford, Harris 1-202-224-6324 1-202-224-4161 R PA Specter, Arlen 1-202-224-4254 na D RI Pell, Claiborne 1-202-224-4642 1-202-224-4680 R RI Chafee, John H. 1-202-224-2921 na D SC Hollings, Ernest F. 1-202-224-6121 na R SC Thurmond, Strom 1-202-224-5972 1-202-224-1300 D SD Daschle, Thomas A. 1-202-224-2321 1-202-224-2047 R SD Pressler, Larry 1-202-224-5842 1-202-224-1630 D TN Mathews, Harlan 1-202-224-1036 1-202-228-3679 D TN Sasser, James 1-202-224-3344 na R TX Hutchison, Kay Bailey 1-202-224-5922 1-202-224-0776 R TX Gramm, Phil 1-202-224-2934 na R UT Bennett, Robert 1-202-224-5444 na R UT Hatch, Orrin G. 1-202-224-5251 1-202-224-6331 D VA Robb, Charles S. 1-202-224-4024 1-202-224-8689 R VA Warner, John W. 1-202-224-2023 1-202-224-6295 D VT Leahy, Patrick J. 1-202-224-4242 na Note: Sen. Leahy is the sponsor of the bill R VT Jeffords, James M. 1-202-224-5141 na D WA Murray, Patty 1-202-224-2621 1-202-224-0238 R WA Gorton, Slade 1-202-224-3441 1-202-224-9393 D WI Feingold, Russell 1-202-224-5323 na D WI Kohl, Herbert H. 1-202-224-5653 na D WV Byrd, Robert C. 1-202-224-3954 1-202-224-4025 D WV Rockefeller, John D. 1-202-224-6472 1-202-224-1689 R WY Simpson, Alan K. 1-202-224-3424 1-202-224-1315 R WY Wallop, Malcolm 1-202-224-6441 1-202-224-3230 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STATUS OF THE BILLS Sep 29, 94 HR 4922 marked up and reported out of the Hse. Jud. Comm to the full House (call your Representative) Sep 28, 94 SB 2375 amended, marked up, and reported out of the Sen. Jud. Comm. to the full Senate (call your Senator) Sep 15, 94 HR 4922 hearing held in the Telecommunications Comm. Aug 18, 94 HR 4922 reported back to committee (write to Rep. Jack Brooks!) Aug 11, 94 Sen. Leahy & Rep. Edwards hold a joint hearing on the bills in Wash. DC at 1pm in Rayburn 2237. Aug 10, 94 HR 4922 referred to Subcomm. on Civil and Constitutional Rights Aug 10, 94 SB 2375 referred to Subcomm. on Technology and the Law Aug 9, 94 Rep. Hyde officially cosponsors HR 4922 Aug 9, 94 HR 4922 referred to House Judiciary Committee Aug 9, 94 SB 2375 referred to Senate Judiciary Committee Aug 9, 94 Identical House and Senate bills are announced by their respective sponsors, Rep. Don Edwards (D-CA) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) EFF states the legislation is "not necessary". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT ARE THE FBI'S WIRETAPPING BILLS? The FBI's Wiretap bills (also known as the DT - Digital Telephony bills) mandate that *all* communications carriers must provide wiretap-ready equipment so that the FBI can more easily implement their court-ordered wiretaps. The costs of re-engineering all communications equipment will be borne by the government, industry and consumers. The bill is vague and the standards defining "wiretap ready" do not exist. Furthermore, the FBI has yet to make a case which demonstrates that they have been unable to implement a single wiretap. Although we as a society have accepted law enforcement's need to perform wiretaps, it is not reasonable to mandate this functionality as a part of the design. In itself, that would be an important balance. However without any proof that this is indeed a realistic and present problem, it is unacceptable and premature to pass this legislation today. The Voters Telecomm Watch (VTW) does not believe the FBI has made a compelling case to justify that all Americans give up their privacy. Furthermore, the VTW does not believe the case has been made to justify spending 500 million Federal dollars over the next 4 years to re-engineer equipment to compromise privacy, interfere with telecommunications privacy, and fulfill an unproven government need. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------