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Feb.24,2015 
The Honorable Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12111 St., S.W. 
Washington, D.C. 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
On Feb. 23, The Washington Post published a front-page article "Secrecy around 
Police Surveillance Equipment Proves a Case's Undoing." That article indicated that the 
Tallahassee Police Department and other law enforcement agencies around the country 
have been using a device called the StingRay to collect cell phone call information. 
That article and previous others concerning the device reveal the StingRay was 
certified for use by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), contingent upon the 
conditions that StingRay's manufacturer sell these devices solely to federal, state, and 
local public safety and law enforcement; and that state and local law enforcement 
agencies must coordinate in advance with the Federal Bureau oflnvestigation (FBI) 
before acquiring or using this equipment. According to the article, these devices now 
have been purchased by 48 law enforcement agencies in 20 states and the District of 
Columbia and used in hundreds of cases. 
The use of these devices (also known as ISM! catchers) raises a number of 
potential privacy and constitutional concerns. 
Therefore, I am asking that the FCC report to me on its certification process for 
the StingRay and any other devices that have similar functionality. In particular, I would 
like information on the following: 
• 
• 
What information the FCC may have had about the rationale behind the 
. restrictions placed on the certification of the StingRay, and whether similar 
restrictions have been put in place for other devices; 
Whether the FCC inquired about what oversight may be in place to make sure that 
use of the devices complied with the manufacturer's representations to the FCC at 
the time of certification; and 
179
Honorable Wheeler 
Page 2of2 
Feb.24,2015 
• A 'status report on the activities of the "task force" you previously formed to look 
at questions surrounding the use of the StingRay and similar devices. 
Thank you and I look forward to your response. 
cc: John Thune, Chairman 
Sincerely, 
e;tt AJJrrn__ 
Bill Nelson 
Ranking Member