ATIS Releases Technical Report Supporting Law Enforcement Agencies: Report Addresses Data Buffering

November 28, 2007, Washington, DC- ATIS announced today the release of its technical report on Data Buffering (Short Term Storage) in an Internet Access and Services LAES Environment ( ATIS-1000021). The report addresses law enforcement agencies’ (LEAs) ability to store intercepted communication content data packets and the communication-identifying information of lawful intercepts. It also covers the transfer of buffered information to LEAs. The report’s purpose is to assist LEAs in conducting Lawfully Authorized Electronic Surveillance (LAES) by increasing the probability that intercepted information is not lost in delivery due to factors such as link congestion or failure.

Data Buffering (Short Term Storage) in an Internet Access and Services LAES Environment was developed by the ATIS Packet Technologies and Systems Committee (PTSC). The Federal Bureau of Investigation CALEA Implementation Unit (FBI CIU) is a member of the PTSC and introduced the request for a standard to address data buffering to the committee. The FBI CIU also served as editor for the report.

“The FBI has long indicated that intercept solutions must include a reliable delivery solution which can be implemented in a timely manner in order to be of use to law enforcement agencies. This technical report offers one means by which to address this capability,” stated FBI Operational Technology Division (OTD) Assistant Director Marcus C. Thomas. “This is a positive step for ATIS in addressing a comprehensive technical solution for the interception of broadband access services which will empower law enforcement agencies to protect public safety and national security.”

The new technical report covers the voluntary buffering of intercepted packet data to and from an identified subject as well as information identifying the origin, direction, destination, or termination of each communication generated or received by a subject by means of any equipment, facility, or service of any Internet Access or Service Provider (IASP). It provides appropriate guidance for broadband access carriers on how to implement a reliable delivery mechanism when assisting law enforcement in effecting LAES. The technical report is available online via the ATIS web site at https://www.atis.org/docstore/product.aspx?id=22742 .

The ATIS Packet Technologies and Systems Committee (PTSC) develops and recommends standards and technical reports related to services, architectures, and signaling. It also addresses related subjects under consideration in other North American and international standards bodies. The PTSC LAES Subcommittee co-ordinates and develops standards, technical requirements, technical reports and other documents relevant to LAES of packet-mode technology in telecommunications networks. For more information about the ATIS PTSC, visit www.atis.org/ptsc

ATIS is a technical planning and standards development organization that is committed to rapidly developing and promoting technical and operations standards for the communications and related information technologies industry worldwide using a pragmatic, flexible and open approach. Participants from more than 300 communications companies are active in ATIS’ 22 industry committees and Incubator Solutions Program. www.atis.org