The telcos don't want to be stuck for the > $500,000,000 cost of installing the national surveillience infrastructure. http://www.newsday.com/ap/rnmpwh19.htm Reno: Impasse on Digital Wiretaps WASHINGTON (AP) -- Attorney General Janet Reno says an ``impasse'' between the government and telephone companies is delaying installation of new technology that would enable the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to wiretap into new digital phone lines. Under a 1994 law the government was to pay the phone companies up to $500 million to develop new computer codes and switches and have them installed by next October. The effort, however, was delayed for at least two years while the FBI and the phone companies battled with each other over the extent of how much wiretapping capability would be provided. Testifying Thursday before a House appropriations subcommittee, Reno conceded that meeting law enforcement's future needs will likely cost the phone companies more than $500 million. She said the phone companies have balked at moving forward unless the government agrees to reimburse their costs above that amount. ``We may be at an impasse,'' she said. ``Simply said, industry's proposal is that all equipment, services and facilities installed or deployed as of October 1998 would be deemed in compliance forever ... unless the government agrees to pay to modify or to upgrade it.'' Reno said the Justice Department likely will file a petition with the Federal Communications Commission next month ``stating that the proposed industry technical solution is deficient'' and asking the agency to make the phone companies meet law enforcement needs. She said the FBI's electronic surveillance is already being hampered because of the impasse. But given the six months that the FCC says it would need to decide the case and another 18 months required to install the necessary software and switches, Reno said it may be two years before police agencies' wiretapping capability fully is restored. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has asked for another $100 million in next year's budget to reimburse the phone companies. The subcommittee's chairman, Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky., told Reno to not expect any more money until the dispute is resolved. ``I not only hope that it's going to happen; I'm going to make it happen,'' he said, ``or you won't get any money. I don't know how more bluntly I can put it. You dragged your feet for three years ..., the industry has dragged their feet. I think it's a plague on both your houses.'' ------------------------------------------------------------ David Honig Orbit Technology honig@otc.net Intaanetto Jigyoubu The Internet Protocol's only guarantee is that your packets will not clog the network.