Prosecutors, including Special Counsels, can subpoena telecommunications companies to obtain phone records as part of criminal investigations.
high
procedural
Subpoenas to telecom firms are an established investigative tool for collecting call and communication records.
Telecommunications companies assess the legal sufficiency of law-enforcement subpoenas and may either comply if a subpoena appears legally valid or challenge/refuse production when they question the subpoena's legal basis.
high
procedural
Carriers routinely evaluate subpoenas for customer records and may seek clarification from issuing authorities before producing data.
Subpoenas for telephone toll records typically specify a defined date range (for example, a multi-day period) for which call-detail records are sought.
high
procedural
Limiting subpoenas to a specific time window is a common practice when requesting call records.
Court-issued gag orders can direct third-party service providers (for example, telecommunications companies) not to notify subpoenaed individuals or entities about the existence of a subpoena.
high
legal
Gag orders may impose nondisclosure obligations on recipients of subpoenas or related process.