SCTE 165-13 2019

SCTE 165-13 2019 IPCablecom 1.5 Part 13: Electronic Surveillance Standard
standard by Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers, 2019

More info

Full Description

This specification defines the interface between a telecommunications carrier that provides telecommunications services to the public for hire using IPCablecom capabilities (a "PC/TSP") and a Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) to assist the LEA in conducting lawfully authorized electronic surveillance. Companies using IPCablecom capabilities will not in the normal case be "telecommunications carriers." Instead they will be providers of information services. However, some companies using IPCablecom capabilities may, by virtue of other actions, be "telecommunications carriers" for purposes of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) with respect to their use of IPCablecom capabilities. The purpose of this specification is to assist those companies in meeting their obligations under CALEA. In this regard, a telecommunications carrier that complies with a publicly available technical requirement or standard adopted by an industry association or standards-setting organization shall be found to be in compliance with the assistance capability requirements of CALEA.

As noted, cable operators are not ordinarily telecommunications carriers, but if a cable operator has taken the steps to become a carrier, and uses IPCablecom to provide carrier services, then CALEA might apply to the equipment used to implement IPCablecom. For this reason, we are providing consideration of CALEA concerns as part of the IPCablecom specification, for the benefit of anyone who might use this architecture/technology as part of their carrier activities.

Accordingly, a PC/TSP, manufacturer, or support provider that is in compliance with this document will have "safe harbor" under Section 107 of CALEA, Public Law 103-414, codified at 47 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.

This specification defines services and features to support Lawfully Authorized Electronic Surveillance, and the interfaces to deliver intercepted communications and reasonably available call-identifying information to a LEA when authorized.