§1006 Technical requirements and standards; extension of compliance date

Summary

The Attorney General must work with federal, state, and local law enforcement and must consult with telecom industry groups, users of telecom equipment and services, and state utility commissions so the assistance capabilities in section 1002 are put in place across the industry. A telecom carrier, equipment maker, or support service provider will be treated as meeting the rules in section 1002 or 1005 if it follows publicly available technical standards set by industry groups or by the Commission under subsection (b). If no standards exist, companies may still deploy technology, but they still must meet their duties under sections 1002 and 1005. If industry groups do not issue standards or someone says the standards are not good enough, that person or agency can ask the Commission to make rules. Any Commission rules must meet section 1002 by cost‑effective methods, protect the privacy and security of communications that may not be intercepted, minimize costs for residential customers, encourage new technologies and services, and give a reasonable time and conditions for compliance and transition. A carrier that put equipment or services in place before section 1002 became effective may petition the Commission, after the Attorney General is consulted, for one or more extensions if meeting the deadline is not reasonably achievable with available technology. An extension can last only until the date the Commission finds necessary or 2 years from the grant date, whichever is earlier, and only covers the part of the carrier’s business using that equipment or service.