"Are you a telecom attorney?"
The Law is the
US Communications Act of 1934 and it's not particularly complicated although you seem to be having trouble reading it.
It very explicitly prevents the government from gathering personally identifiable information without a court order.
Here is is
AGAIN for your reading pleasure. Please tell me how this can
possibly be construed to mean the government can collect personally identifiable information without a court order.
(h) Disclosure of information to governmental entity pursuant to court order
A governmental entity may obtain personally identifiable information concerning a cable subscriber pursuant to a court order only if, in the court proceeding relevant to such court order -
* (1) such entity offers clear and convincing evidence that the subject of the information is reasonably suspected of engaging in criminal activity and that the information sought would be material evidence in the case; and
* (2) the subject of the information is afforded the opportunity to appear and contest such entity's claim.
The Law is the US Communications Act of 1934 and it's not particularly complicated although you seem to be having trouble reading it. I believe the 1934 law has been superceded by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Victoria Toensig was on FOXNEWS earlier, stating that this law specifically authorizes the Telecommunications companies themselves to cooperate with the government in furnishing information to track terrorists. I haven't read it yet.
Perhaps you should.