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FCC Filing Deadlines Approach for Institutions Subject to CALEA

January 9, 2007

In the coming weeks, colleges and universities that are subject to the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act will need to file monitoring and system security and integrity (SSI) reports mandated by the act. According to a December 14th notice from the Federal Communications Commission, only facilities-based broadband Internet access and interconnected VoIP service providers subject to CALEA must file. 

Note: It is critical for colleges and universities to determine whether or not CALEA applies to their institution. Exempt institutions are not required to submit reports. Many higher education institutions, as private networks, may be exempt from the act.  The decision should be based on discussions with legal counsel, campus technical officers, and commerical service providers. 

Additional resources:

• a legal analysis from the American Council on Education; and
• a guide to "Thinking Through the CALEA Exempt/Non-Exempt Issue" from EDUCAUSE. 

For institutions that are subject to CALEA, the monitoring report is due to the FCC by February 12, and the SSI report is due March 12.  Copies of both reports and instructions for preparing and submitting them are available on the FCC's CALEA Resource Page.