Verizon Refuses Phone Records Query

(AP)  Now that Congress has given immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the government spy on Americans in suspected terrorism cases, a Maine legislator is asking Verizon anew if it turned over any customer records to the federal government.

As it has in the past when faced with such queries, Verizon Communications Inc. says it is not commenting on matters involving national security.

State Rep. Herbert Adams posed the question about phone records on July 18, eight days after President Bush signed into law a bill that overhauled government eavesdropping rules and granted immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the government monitor Americans in suspected terrorism cases.

The law in effect nullified a lawsuit by Maine which sought to know what kind of phone customer information was turned over to the National Security Agency as part of its anti-terror efforts. That and several other similar cases brought by consumers, privacy advocates and others had been consolidated before Congress granted immunity.

Adams, a member of the Legislature's Utilities and Energy Committee, posed similar questions about phone records to an executive for FairPoint Communications earlier this year. FairPoint is taking over Verizon's landline phone and Internet service in northern New England. While FairPoint said it had not turned over records, it said it could not speak for Verizon.

Adams posed the question anew on July 18, saying that Verizon could answer "under protection of Federal law (and) without fear of lawsuits."

"At any time prior to the 2008 sale of FairPoint Communications, did Verizon ever surrender, voluntarily or under subpoena, any individual or aggregate customer information to any agency of the U.S. government?" says his letter.

A copy was furnished to company spokesman John Bonomo, who said there would be no response.

"We do not comment on matters involving national security," Bonomo said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Adams, D-Portland, had anticipated his query would not be answered.

"Possibly tens of thousands of Mainers have had their private phone records leaked to the federal government without their knowledge or say-so, and now none of them may ever know," he said.

[colinhunt]

OK America

To be fair, my country did it''s own bit of imperialist conquering and subjugation, but we''ve stopped that now apart from Iraq and Afghanistan, which I deplore). But we gave them back (in your case you won it back. Fair go.)

But in the 20th and 21st Century the US has been the biggest sponsors of terrorist insurgency ever.

Panama
Nicaragua
Venezuela (tried but not succeeded)
Vietnam
Cambodia
Korea
Iraq
Iran
Afghanistan (spot the irony of the last two)
Northern Ireland (ask us how you deal with a terrorist organisation that killed 3000 people over 30 years, and is now over, despite YOUR funding of the main known terrorist organisation)
Taiwan
Tibet
East Timor

Makes Hitler look a tinpot sergeant. Proud of yourselves, are you?

[robertsgt40-2009]

I don''t see what the problem is. Why should Verizon be in trouble? You have an administration that lied us into war, destoyed the Constitution, tortures people, bankrupts the country and has melded the three branches of govt into the executive. What''s the rub?

[pensacola88]

Verizon can be forced to answer any subpoena from the US House of Representatives or US Senate. In fact, Verizon is making heavy political action committee contributions to campaigns hoping that such subpoenas never happen. Such an event will cause a backlash against Verizon for a few years and hurt them for being too cozy with the government and totally disreguarding client pleas for privacy protection in post-911 era.

Both Verizon and AT&T participated in streamlining the processes that were already in place and legal.

The best thing for AT&T and Verizon to do is to actually stop trying to fight public opinion and go forward with a high profile congressional inquiry and clear the air. It will give them more publicity than advertising while the elections are gaining heat on the airwaves. They both stand to gain respect and force voters to reconsider their public criteria for defining patriotism.

[gunfighter51]

Of course the liberals voted with Bush on the Fisa bill. Did you think the liberals were going to give up the ability to spy if they should attain office, not on your life.

[rudy654-2009]

I hope Verizon sticks to its decision.
**********
I hope Verizon goes belly up and their executives to jail.

[rudy654-2009]

As far as I am concerned, Verizon will get NO business from me. Traitors to Americans and the Constitution, but azz kissers to Bush and Scrooges.

[antizion]

A quote from the constitution that your scumbag members of congress violated when they wrote the illegal law that Bush signed:

No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

[brianbwb-2009]

Verizon''s service sux anyway. Unlock your iPods, and boycott them.

[pirmin3]

The companies are only too happy to work with Herr Bush and his jack booted regime. Sieg Heil Georgie

[apprxam]

Every fair-minded American should leave Verizon, AT&T and the other companies involved with hiding records and documents requested by state and federal reps.