§1003 Notices of Capacity Requirements

Summary

The Attorney General must publish two public notices within 1 year after October 25, 1994, after talking with state and local law enforcement, phone companies, support providers, and equipment makers and asking for public comment. One notice must say how many interceptions, pen registers, and trap and trace devices the government expects to run at the same time by the date four years after October 25, 1994. The other notice must give the maximum capacity needed to handle all such devices after that four-year date. The notices can use measures like equipment type, service type, subscriber counts, or service area, and should say where capacity is needed when possible. Telecommunications carriers must make their systems able to handle the first number and be able to expand to the maximum. They have 3 years after the Attorney General’s notice or 4 years after October 25, 1994 (whichever is later) to do this. After that date they must be able to add capacity quickly up to the maximum if needed. The Attorney General will publish any increases to the maximum, and carriers then have 3 years (or longer if the Attorney General allows) to meet the new level. Within 180 days after any notice, carriers must tell the Attorney General which systems cannot meet the required capacity. The Attorney General may agree to pay reasonable costs for needed changes if funds are available. Until payment is agreed, the carrier is treated as being in compliance.