Statement of FBI Assistant Director Kerry E. Haynes, Operational Technology Division, on FCC’s Report and Order on CALEA

Washington D.C. – Kerry E. Haynes, FBI Assistant Director, Operational Technology Division today issued the following statement in response to a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) report addressing the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA):

“The FCC has taken an enormously important step in ensuring that court-authorized electronic surveillance capabilities keep pace with the complex evolution of communications technology. The FCC ruling goes a long way to discouraging the use of new communications systems as potential safe havens for criminals and terrorists intent on exploiting technology to evade law enforcement while facilitating their activities.

In unanimously approving this Order, the FCC has signaled its commitment to public safety, national security, and law enforcement’s continued ability to conduct electronic surveillance in a cost effective manner. The FCC has performed an important role in the continued implementation of CALEA. In short, the FCC has fulfilled its duty, as Congress originally envisioned, to address the evolving issues associated with the continued implementation of CALEA while balancing the interests of law enforcement, the communications industry, and the American public. The FBI looks forward to continuing to work collaboratively with industry as they develop for themselves technical standards to achieve these important law enforcement and national security capabilities.”