House Commerce Committee members said Fri. they sent letters demanding answers from operators of Internet sites such as phonebust.com and datafind.org that offer to sell detailed records of a person’s phone calls made on cellular, wireline or VoIP phones. The letters are the first stage of an investigation by the Commerce Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, which has subpoena power to obtain records and testimony from uncooperative witnesses.
House Commerce Committee members said Fri. they sent letters demanding answers from operators of Internet sites such as phonebust.com and datafind.org that offer to sell detailed records of a person’s phone calls made on cellular, wireline or VoIP phones. The letters are the first stage of an investigation by the Commerce Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, which has subpoena power to obtain records and testimony from uncooperative witnesses.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may soon implement "Phase 4", CBP's next step in enforcing mandatory advance electronic information requirements for truck carriers, as required by the Trade Act of 2002.
CBP has posted to its Web site a revised version of a document entitled: Operating Procedures for Trade Community Regarding Implementation of the Wood Packaging Materials (WPM) Regulation." (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/15/05 news 05091505 for BP summary of initial version.)
T-Mobile sought injunctions in Wash. against data brokers Anderson Private Investigators and Global Information Group, which it believes “unlawfully obtained and sold call records.” Last week, T-Mobile sought a temporary restraining order against Locatecell.com. The carrier has also sent cease and desist orders against companies it believes illegally obtained and sold calling records. AT&T, meanwhile, said in a statement it was working with the FCC after it was hit this week with a proposed penalty for failure to protect customer proprietary network information. AT&T submitted a certificate for SBC but not for premerger AT&T (CD Feb 1 p5). “A copy of the officer’s certificate attesting to those procedures hasn’t been located,” the company said. “The company is rectifying the mistake and is working with the FCC to ensure full compliance.”
A Mo. state court issued a temporary injunction requiring 2 data brokers to cease all trade in telephone customer call records and cease all attempts to obtain call records from wireless or wireline carriers. The defendants, First Data Solutions and First Source Information Specialists, are barred from contacting any telecom service provider about anything other than their own telephone service. The Cole County Circuit Court granted the injunction requested by Mo. Attorney Gen. Jay Nixon (D), in his suit that alleges the companies used illegal and deceptive means to obtain call records, and falsely represented to customers that phone records were obtained legally. Attorneys Gen. in Fla. and Ill., have also filed suits to stop trafficking in phone records, and at least 7 states have introduced bills to ban this trade.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the fourth tranche of low-duty fiscal year (FY) 2006 refined sugar tariff rate quota (TRQ) additional allocation did not oversubscribe at opening moment on January 24, 2006. As a result, all entries presented at opening have been charged and may be released. (See ITT's Online Archives or 01/25/06 news, 06012545, for BP summary of the opening of the fourth tranche.)(QBT-06-511, dated 01/25/06, available at http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/import/textiles_and_quotas/qbts/qbt2006/06_511.ctt/06_511.doc.)
The FCC proposed financial penalties against Alltel and AT&T on accusations of failure to certify they have properly protected customer proprietary network information (CPNI). Each would have to pay a $100,000 “forfeiture” unless it can show it has the required certificates. The FCC also ordered all carriers, wireless and wireline, to submit a copy of their compliance certificates to the Commission by Jan. 6. The actions come with Chmn. Martin expected to testify today (Wed.) at a House Commerce Committee hearing on why phone records aren’t safe from “pretexting.”
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site information on its containerized cargo sealing policy, which took effect on August 8, 2005.
Sprint Nextel Fri. filed a lawsuit in Fla. against the parent company of 4 online data brokers it alleges use “illegal and deceptive practices” to obtain and sell customer call records. The lawsuit, the first by Sprint against a data broker, means all 4 major national carriers have filed such suits. Meanwhile, Senate Commerce Committee announced Fri. it will hold a hearing Feb. 8 in the consumer subcommittee chaired by Sen. Allen (R-Va.) to look more closely at the theft of consumer cellphone records. The House Commerce Committee plans a hearing Feb. 1.