Big Brother is Spying on YOU, With YOUR Help

In 1994 and ‘95, the term “Unfunded Mandate” was the Republicans’ favorite buzzword. Those were the days. Looks like the party of local autonomy and limited government did a Big 180 somewhere along the way.

The federal government is now requiring hundreds of universities, libraries and cities to overhaul their Internet computer networks. This will make it easier for law-enforcement authorities to monitor online communications.

Purchasing the necessary Internet switches and routers will cost universities at least $7 billion. That amount doesn’t include the installation or the hiring and training of new staff to run the new equipment.

And guess who’s paying? The universities of course. YOU will finance the government’s new improved ability to spy on YOU.

This order was issued by the FCC two months ago. It’s an extension of a 1994 federal wiretap law. The law is now being extended to include universities, libraries, airports providing wireless service, and municipal governments that provide Internet access to residents.

Spring of 2007 is the deadline for complying with the new order.

The American Council on Education is planning to appeal the order before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Another legal challenge is being filed by the non-profit Center for Democracy and Technology.

A spokesman for the American Council on Education said “this is the mother of all unfunded mandates.”

Limited-government Conservatives: Where’d you all go? Anybody out there?