WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three major telecommunications companies responded to questions from Representatives Edward J. Markey (D-MA), John D. Dingell (D-MI) and Bart Stupak (D-MI) regarding their compliance or not with requests from the National Security Agency (NSA) for access to telephone records of millions of their customers without the customers’ knowledge or consent. The congressmen released the letters from AT&T, Qwest and Verizon today.
“The responses from these telecommunication companies highlight the need for Congress to continue pressing the Bush administration for answers. The water is as murky as ever on this issue and it’s past time for the administration to come clean,” said Rep. Markey, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
“While I thank the companies for responding promptly, given the current debate over the government’s surveillance powers, more congressional oversight is clearly necessary. I look forward to continuing our inquiry into this situation along with Chairman Dingell and Rep. Stupak.”
The three congressmen also sent letters to privacy advocate groups, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center, American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Democracy and Technology. In addition, Rep. Markey has been pressing the Federal Communications Commission to conduct their own inquiry into the allegations that telecommunications privacy laws were violated. The FCC has refused. (more information on those efforts HERE.)
The congressmen sent letters to the telecommunications companies on Oct. 2nd. Those original letters are available HERE.
