As others said, I made an oversight in that the FBI also provides some info to the NSA. Info goes both ways. There are some restrictions on using domestic intercepts, and this is where the FBI comes in. Using businesses to do dirty work is also a way that the government circumvents certain controls and accountability that don't apply to companies. All major telecom companies have worked closely and secretly with government spying since their inceptions. Both need each other. You should also look into FBI's DITU in addition to DCSNet, Red Hook, and such specific technologies. On 03-Jun-15 15:26, yotm wrote: The NSA provides data to the FBI and DEA, among others. Although it was known previously, this is part of what Snowden released with corroborating documentation. That it hasn't gotten more attention, by Greenwald, Snowden, et al, is one of the major credible complaints since the releases began in June 2013. Thanks M373, this was what I couldn't put my finger on, it's all been NSA, NSA s o far... if the FBI has its own capacity to monitor phone, email, chats, etc., i n addition to whatever NSA shares with them, that's a whole other data-sucking s tructure that needs attention. Nigel