Opinion ID: 784224
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Scope of the Order

Text: 55 The Company contends that even if it falls within the list of entities in § 2518(4), the statute precludes the orders issued here. In support of this contention, the Company points to the following language in the Senate Report on the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986: [Title III] should not be construed as authorizing issuance of an order for land line telephone company assistance which either requires a company to actually accomplish or perform the wiretap or requires that law enforcement wiretap activity take place on land line telephone company premises. S.Rep. No. 99-541, at 29-30 (1986), reprinted in 1986 U.S.C.C.A.N. 3555, 3583-84. From this language, we are asked to infer that no order requiring either use of any entity's premises or hands-on assistance by a company's personnel is permissible. 56 We may not read the legislative history to limit a statute's unmistakable directive. See United States v. Hagberg, 207 F.3d 569, 574 (9th Cir.2000); Or. Nat. Res. Council, Inc. v. Kantor, 99 F.3d 334, 339 (9th Cir.1996). The language of the statute explicitly permits an order that requires covered entities to provide not only information, but also facilities and technical assistance. The legislative history cannot take back authority indisputably granted by the statute. 57 Nor do we think the Committee Report meant to indicate that the statute means something other than what it says. Instead, the Senate Report signifies the Committee's understanding of the practical realities encountered in wiretapping traditional telephones: Such wiretapping requires only minimal assistance from carriers, because law enforcement is familiar with the technology and needs only access to wires remote from the carrier's premises. See S.Rep. No. 99-541, at 29-30. Section 2518(4) limits assistance to only that which is necessary to accomplish the interception: [A] provider of wire or electronic communication service ... or other person shall furnish the applicant forthwith all information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the interception.... Id. (emphasis added). Because, as the report indicates, no such hands-on assistance or access to company premises is necessary with regard to land line telephones, none may be required. 58 In contrast to standard land line wiretaps, the FBI cannot intercept communications in the vehicle without the Company's facilities [or] technical assistance. Since such hands-on assistance is necessary, assistance may be mandated by an order under § 2518(4). Cf. S.Rep. No. 99-541, at 29 (recognizing that cellular service providers allow law enforcement to use their premises and that Congress did not intend to alter this arrangement with any of its 1986 amendments to title III).