CALEA - technical definition

In the United States, a federal law (1994) passed to protect public safety and ensure national security by preserving law enforcement's ability to conduct lawfully authorized electronic surveillance while preserving public safety, protecting the public's right to privacy, and the telecommunications industry's competitiveness. In 2006, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an order extending the act to facilities-based broadband Internet access providers and connected VoIP providers. See also broadband, FCC, Internet, VoIP, and wiretap.