*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 51950* Federal Communications Commission FCC 05- 153 STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS Re: Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act and Broadband Access and Services, First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ET Docket No. 04- 295, RM- 10865) The first duty of a public servant is to advance public safety. CALEA is a critical part of our public safety responsibilities. By ensuring that law enforcement has access to the resources CALEA authorizes, we support efforts to combat crime and promote homeland security. Though I approve today’s decision, I continue to note that it is built on very complicated legal ground. The statute is undeniably stretched to recognize new service technologies and pushed very hard to accommodate new and emerging telecommunications platforms. If, however, CALEA is not judged to apply to these new services, our efforts here will have done more harm than good. I am hopeful that is not the case. Thank you to the Bureau for its work on this item. 1