Verizon Wiretapping - Miller's Comments

Christopher F. Miller

January 22, 2007 Ms. Karen Geraghty, Administrative Director Maine Public Utilities Commission 242 State Street, 18 State House Station Augusta Maine 04333-0018 RE: MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, Docket No. 2006-274 Request for Commission Investigation into Whether Verizon is Cooperating in Maine With the National Security Agency’s Warrantless Domestic Wiretapping Program Dear Ms. Geraghty: I write not as a legal counsel, but as a party to this complaint with the point of view of a former gubernatorial candidate. My first concerns are with the State of Maine, its people, its agencies and the ability of those agencies to fulfill their mission. The Maine Legislature created the Public Utilities Commission and the complaint process. The Legislature intends the Commission carry out that process. Once a complaint meets the statutory tests - and this one has - it is not up to the Commission to decide whether or not to move on the complaint. It must move promptly. If the Commission is prevented from doing its work, the responsibility to move forward at that point then falls to the Legislature and the Governor. The context in this case is exceptional, but the Commission’s role remains unchanged - to do its job as charged by the Legislature. Public hearings in such an exceptional case will require extra attention; they should be scheduled immediately to provide as much notice to the public as possible. Verizon’s potential liablities for violating the privacy of customers across the entire State of Maine - a ”paramount concern to the State [of Maine]” - are large. Given that Verizon is moving to sell its properties in Maine, the Public Utilities Commission must recommend against that sale until this case is resolved. Sincerely,

Christopher F. Miller

http://www.mainecommonwealth.com/ 208 Portland Road, Gray ME 04039

[email protected] 207.657.4963