HomeMy WebLinkAboutROSS.docxAugust 21, 1996
Susan L. Ross
Assistant General Council
Law Department
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
1 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10010-3690
Dear Ms. Ross:
The Idaho Public Utilities Commission received your letter dated June 6, 1996, concerning whether there have been changes to the laws and tariffs regarding the recording of two way telephone conversations in Idaho since 1990. The Commission has asked me to respond to your inquiry.
As you may know, Idaho Code § 18-6702 provides that any “interception” of a telephone conversation is felonious conduct within the state of Idaho. This section provides numerous exceptions, including Idaho Code § 18-6702(2)(d) which states that it is lawful for a person to tape or monitor a telephone conversation “when one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to such interception.” There have been no changes to this section since it was enacted in 1980.
Your letter references Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company’s basic local exchange tariff, Section A8 8.1(d). Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company is now known as U S WEST Communications. U S WEST provides basic local telecommunications service to most of southern Idaho. GTE Incorporated provides basic local telecommunications service to most of northern Idaho.
I am sending you a copy of the most current U S WEST tariff Section A8 8.1(d) regarding recording of two-way telephone conversations. It appears from a general comparison to the old Mountain Bell tariff that U S WEST adopted a similar policy regarding the recording of telephone conversations. Also, you might note that U S WEST has filed a general rate case before the IPUC in which all of its tariffs are subject to change. This case is expected to be completed in the beginning of 1997.
I have also enclosed a copy of the current tariff for GTE regarding the recording of two-way telephone conversations. It is slightly different from U S WEST’s tariff.
I hope you find this information helpful. If you have questions, you may contact me at (208) 334-0300.
Sincerely,
Susan Hamlin
Deputy Attorney General
SH/vld:L:Ross.sh
Enc.
SUSAN L. ROSS
ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNCIL
LAW DEPARTMENT
METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
1 MADISON AVE
NEW YORK, NY 10010-3690