The FBI's own cost analysis doesn't consider the price of mandatory compliance for computer networks, cable TV operations, digital cellular systems, or emerging personal communications systems. A key factor in the debate holding up the announcement of White House backed digital wiretap legislation is who will eventually be saddled with the bill. The FBI's answer to the digital wiretap problem lies in developing a software program that could be loaded into a telephone switch. What the FBI's cost estimate doesn't mention is the price for maintaining the software. Quality control and the integrity of the nation's telephone network isn't something the phone companies are willing to fuck with.
Software is a big, big deal.
The switch's software revision hadn't undergone rigorous enough testing before being installed in the local network. The FBI first wanted you to pay for all this work. That's right, through higher local telephone rates. That idea drew such withering fire from consumer groups and industry that the FBI deleted that language from its original bill. Neat trick if you can pull it off.