Voters Telecomm Watch (VTW) Legislative Action Alert vtw-list-request@panix.com 5/3/94 House Clipper/Digital Telephony hearings being held HERE'S WHERE TO CALL TO VOICE YOUR OPINION ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================================================================ On May 3rd there will be hearings on Digital Telephony. This is the bill proposed by the FBI which would mandate wiretapping equipment be built into all communications devices. The FBI has done little to assure the public that the scheme will not be: -prone to abuse because of a lack of safeguards, and -secure from malicious eavesdroppers And yet, without this proof, they are asking us to allow them to pass a law which would mandate building these wiretaps into every piece of communication equipment. Our privacy is too precious to be entrusted to bureaucrats who don't feel the need to answer to us. The House Science, Space, and Technology subcommittee on Technology, Environment, and Aviation will hold a hearing to address both the Clipper and Digital Telephony issues. If you see your representative below in the list, call them and tell them you oppose the Clipper chip and Digital Telephony as being a danger to your privacy. If you don't know who your representative is, or if you don't see them on the list, call in your comments to the House subcommittee at: (202) 225-8115 (voice) (202) 225-7815 (fax) [If you live in any of the states below, please try to call your Representative. Otherwise, the number above will be fine.] House Science, Space, & Technology subcommittee on Technology, Environment, and Aviation (Rep. Tim Valentine, Chairman) Dist ST Name, Address, and Party Phone Fax ==== == ======================== ============== ============== 2 NC Valentine, Tim (D) 1-202-225-4531 1-202-225-1539 2229 RHOB 4 KS Glickman, Daniel (D) 1-202-225-6216 na 2371 RHOB 12 TX Geren, Peter (D) 1-202-225-5071 1-202-225-2786 1730 LHOB 3 IN Roemer, Timothy (D) 1-202-225-3915 1-202-225-6798 415 Cannon 2 NH Swett, Richard N. (D) 1-202-225-5206 na 230 Cannon 8 NJ Klein, Herbert C. (D) 1-202-225-5751 na 1728 LHOB 15 PA McHale, Paul (D) 1-202-225-6411 1-202-225-5320 511 Cannon 36 CA Harman, Jane (D) 1-202-225-8220 na 325 Cannon 10 GA Johnson, Don (D) 1-202-225-4101 1-202-226-1466 226 Cannon 1 AZ Coppersmith, Sam* (D) 1-202-225-2635 1-202-225-2607 1607 LHOB 14 CA Eshoo, Anna G. (D) 1-202-225-8104 na 1505 LHOB 4 WA Inslee, Jay (D) 1-202-225-5816 1-202-226-1137 1431 LHOB 30 TX Johnson, Eddie Bernice (D) 1-202-225-8885 na 1721 LHOB 2 MN Minge, David (D) 1-202-225-2331 na 1508 LHOB 9 GA Deal, Nathan (D) 1-202-225-5211 1-202-225-8272 1406 LHOB 30 CA Becerra, Xavier (D) 1-202-225-6235 1-202-225-2202 1710 LHOB 9 NJ Torricelli, Robert (D) 1-202-224-5061 1-202-225-0843 2159 RHOB 15 FL Bacchus, James (D) 1-202-225-3671 1-202-225-9039 432 Cannon 5 MI Barcia, James A. (D) 1-202-225-8171 1-202-225-2168 1717 LHOB 40 CA Lewis, Jerry (R) 1-202-225-5861 1-202-225-6498 2312 RHOB 8 MD Morella, Constance (R) 1-202-225-5341 1-202-225-1389 223 Cannon 43 CA Calvert, Ken (R) 1-202-225-1986 na 1523 LHOB 7 MI Smith, Nick (R) 1-202-225-6276 na 1708 LHOB 6 MN Grams, Rod (R) 1-202-225-2271 1-202-225-9802 1713 LHOB 4 GA Linder, John (R) 1-202-225-4272 na 1605 LHOB 3 MA Blute, Peter I. (R) 1-202-225-6101 1-202-225-2217 1029 LHOB 6 MD Bartlett, Roscoe G. (R) 1-202-225-2721 na 312 Cannon 45 CA Rohrabacher, Dana (R) 1-202-225-2415 1-202-225-7067 1027 LHOB 12 NJ Zimmer, Richard A. (R) 1-202-225-5801 1-202-225-9181 228 Cannon 10 OH Hoke, Martin R. (R) 1-202-225-5871 1-202-226-0994 212 Cannon 39 CA Royce, Ed (R) 1-202-225-4111 na 1404 LHOB Faxes and phone calls tend to be brief chances at communication. Here is a sample, concise one that may give you ideas for your own. SAMPLE LETTER OR PHONE CALL The Honorable Representative ____________ I understand you will be attending the hearings on the Clipper chip and the FBI's Digital Telephony bill. I wanted to express my concern about the use of the Clipper chip in personal communications. The Clipper chip would mandate a privacy standard that is prone to significant abuse. Unlike most recent work in cryptography, the academic work surrounding the chip has been kept from the public, developed in secret. Decent cryptography exists today to protect my communications. The Clipper chip threatens my ability to use that technology. The Digital Telephony bill would mandate wiretaps be built into almost all communications equipment. Furthermore, it would arrange for "call setup" information (about who I call, and for how long) to be sent to the FBI over their networks. The potential for abuse of such a tool is great, while the ability to have it abused is even greater. Please oppose the Digital Telephony bill, as it does little to protect citizens from abuse of this technology once in the hands of computer intruders and corrupt law enforcement officials. Please oppose the Clipper chip and the Digital Telephony bill, Sincerely, __________________ ============================================================================ For more information about the VTW (Voters Telecomm Watch), write to vtw@panix.com. We are in no way affiliated with Panix Public Access.