WASHINGTON — Even government snoops have to pay those infuriating “activation fees” to cellphone companies.
In the era of intense surveillance and secret court orders, the carriers are imposing hefty charges for access to their systems, according to industry data reported to Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.)
AT&T sets a $325 activation fee for each wiretap and $10 a day to maintain it. Smaller carriers Cricket and US Cellular charge only about $250 per wiretap. Getting the goods on a Verizon customer? That costs the government $775 for the first month and $500 each month after.
Luckily for taxpayers, e-mail records like those amassed by the National Security Agency are collected for free or very cheaply. Facebook says it doesn’t charge the government for access.
And while Microsoft, Yahoo and Google won’t discuss their fees, the American Civil Liberties Union found that e-mail records can be turned over for as little as $25.
Industry officials say they’re just billing enough to cover costs.