NSA Phone Database Investigation - MA. Mayors Demand Inquiry

Boston Globe article by Kathleen Burge on May 25, 2006 reports that four Massachusetts mayors are demanding that the state department overseeing telecommunications companies hold hearings. They want clear answers to the rumors about telecommunications giants allowing the NSA (National Security Administration) getting full tapes of all telephone conversations requested without warrants.

Evidently, Massachusetts may be the only state in the country that allows mayors to play such a role, thus forcing hearings to be public. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), about 20 states and the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) are all involved in inquiries.

The citation giving the mayors this authority is M.G.L. 25, section 4a.

PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

TITLE II. EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH

CHAPTER 25. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES

Chapter 25: Section 4A. Hearings on change of rates or reduction in or discontinuance of service; time and place

Section 4A. Upon request of the mayor of a city or the selectman of a town, or of a member of the general court or of twenty customers of the company affected, a public hearing ordered by the department, to be held in connection with any change in rates or reduction in or discontinuance of service, shall be held in the city or town or area wherein the company affected does business or in which any decision of the commission would apply. No public hearing on a discontinuance of service by a common carrier of passengers by motor vehicle shall take place until the expiration of thirty days from notice thereof to the public in the city, town or area affected thereby, and such notice shall be given in the manner provided by section three of chapter thirty A. The department shall, at least fourteen days prior to holding any public hearing under this section, notify in writing the mayor of each city and the selectmen of each town in which the company does business of the time and place of such hearing.