IPCC Leads the Industry in Defining the First Set of CALEA Safe Harbor Requirements for Packet Communications Networks

SAN RAMON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2003--The International Packet Communications Consortium (IPCC), the premiere industry association dedicated to the advancement of the market for packet communications of all types, today announced the publication of an informational report entitled, "Lawfully Authorized Surveillance for Softswitch-based networks". While this informational report contains partial technical guidelines based on preliminary work performed by the IPCC LI Working Group and does not offer Safe Harbor under CALEA, it does address CALEA requirements for the benefit of any carriers, vendors and government agencies who might use this architecture or technology.

"As packet communications networks move into the mainstream, they will need to comply with the CALEA Safe Harbor Requirements. This informational report by our Legal Intercept Working Group, demonstrates for the first time how these requirements can be met in a packet communications network," said Michael Khalilian, Chairman and President of the IPCC. "Up until now these requirements have been defined for circuit switched networks but not for packet-based networks."

BizVantage – A Net clipping service that learns what you need: for business, investment or technology.
Try the free, no-hassle 6 month trial!

The informational report describes the interfaces between a Telecommunications Carrier that provides telecommunications services and a Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) to assist the LEA in conducting lawfully authorized electronic surveillance. It also describes services and features that support lawfully authorized electronic surveillance of packet-mode communications provided by Telecommunications Carriers. This informational report contains technical guidelines for Lawfully Authorized Electronic Surveillance and the interfaces to deliver intercepted communications and reasonably available call-identifying information to an LEA.

The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) has promulgated a Safe Harbor specification (J-standard) for Lawfully Authorized Electronic Surveillance for traditional voice telephony. Other organizations have promulgated safe harbor specifications for Lawfully Authorized Electronic Surveillance for telephony over cable network architectures. However, the electronic surveillance features provided for in J-Standard are not readily applicable to telephony provided by means of packet communications networks. Furthermore, the electronic surveillance features provided for in the cable standards were designed for use only by cable operators. This informational report fills the void left by other organizations with respect to implementing CALEA requirements in packet communications architectures of all types.

"This is the first time that an industry association has defined CALEA requirements implementation for packet-based communications networks. Much more work will follow," said Matt Holdrege, Chair of the IPCC's LI Working Group. "We will continue to monitor the efforts of standards groups for completeness with respect to the scope of packet communications and services and for consistency with the requirements and objectives of the IPCC carrier community, and lawful intercept requirements from around the world."

"The fact that representatives of the U.S. Government participated with us in this effort shows both the level of commitment of Law Enforcement and the validity of packet networks in today's society," Holdrege added. "The absence of the specifications contained in these informational documents would make it very difficult for service providers and vendors to move forward with their implementation plans for packet communications architectures."

In connection with certain facilities and services, CALEA requires telecommunications carriers to provide specified capabilities to law enforcement agencies (LEAs) when presented with the proper lawful authorization. CALEA also requires manufacturers of equipment used in connection with the covered telecommunications facilities and services to make available the features or modifications necessary to permit carriers to comply with these capabilities requirements. Topics covered in the IPCC's detailed informational report include:

-- Electronic Surveillance In A Packet Communications Network

-- Interface Between The Delivery Function & Collection Function

-- Call Content Connection (CCC) Interface

-- Call Data Connection (CDC)

-- Architectures

About the IPCC

The International Packet Communications Consortium (IPCC) is an international industry association dedicated to the development of the market for all products, services, applications and solutions that utilize packet-based communications technologies, over the broadest range of transport mediums including wireless, copper, broadband, and fiber optics. The IPCC membership is comprised of a diverse group of wireline and wireless service providers, governmental agencies, standards bodies, equipment and software vendors and enterprises, representing all network elements involved in next generation networks. Additional information about the IPCC can be found at www.packetcomm.org.