In fact it probably wasn't covered, but only because the telecoms don't save that information because it is of no use to them. The metadata is very useful for billing, network performance measurment, social network analysis etc, but the content of the calls doesn't matter. Plus it is very expensive to store just the metadata - about 500 fields per call. Typically it's only stored for 90 - 120 days simply because of the volume and cost.
I understand, fog. I guess what I was saying (and I was the one that wasn’t clear) is that if they are doing this... I don’t believe they haven’t been listening. I may be jaded but with the whole press scandal, IRS/conservative group scandal... I personally believe more privacy has been violated than we know. (I need more coffee...)