(Vermont) State to pursue probe of NSA access to phone records

[sabra]

Source: rutland herald

MONTPELIER — The state will continue pressing forward with its investigation of a surveillance agency's access to customer information from phone companies, despite federal opposition and a pending court decision that could affect the case.

On Wednesday, the Public Service Board, the state's quasi-judicial utility regulatory agency, reactivated the case. Both the Department of Public Service and the Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union had urged the board to continue looking into whether Verizon and AT&T had improperly given the National Security Agency access to customer records.

"We want to know if our phone companies are protecting the privacy of our citizens," said David O'Brien, commissioner of public service. "We are not seeking to undermine national security."

Allen Gilbert of the Vermont chapter of the ACLU said the ruling by the board — and its decision to for now limit the investigation to areas of the law over which the state explicitly has authority — was a good one.

"I think it is a carefully worded order that might allow the investigation to continue without the federal government being able to shut it down," he said. "This is focused on whether Verizon and AT & T violated the state privacy policies they agreed to adhere to, over which the PSB has the authority to investigate."


Read more: http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071101/NEWS03/711010366/1004/NEWS03

[Sam Ervin jret]

1. alleluia

[dickbearton]

2. Keep up the good work, Vermont Dept. of Public Service and the ACLU.

[Acadia Blue]

3. Bernie Sanders the great Senator is from Vermont. He is my hero.

[NastyRiffraff]

4. I wanna move to Vermont!

Not only is it a beautiful state, but most of the people are sane