The FBI has quietly built a sophisticated, point-and-click surveillance system that performs instant wiretaps on almost any communications device, according to nearly a thousand pages of restricted documents newly released under the Freedom of Information Act.

The surveillance system, called DCSNet, for Digital Collection System Network, connects FBI wiretapping rooms to switches controlled by traditional land-line operators, internet-telephony providers and cellular companies. It is far more intricately woven into the nation’s telecom infrastructure than observers suspected.

It’s a “comprehensive wiretap system that intercepts wire-line phones, cellular phones, SMS and push-to-talk systems,” says Steven Bellovin, a Columbia University computer science professor and longtime surveillance expert.

More at Wire.com

EFF.org has the System Security Plan for the push button survielance system:

The DCS 3000 is an Electronic Surveillance (ELSUR) collection system that supports
Criminal Law Enforcement (CLE) as well as Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Pen
Register investigations. The Operational Technology Division (OTD), Electronic Surveillance
Technology Section (ESTS), Telecommunications Intercept and Collection Technology Unit
(TICTU) developed and deployed the DCS 3000 system in Central Monitoring Plants (CMPs) in
various FBI offices. This SSP documents the security policies and procedures for the DCS
3000 system. In addition, this plan delineates responsibilities and expected behavior of all
individuals who access the system. This plan establishes the approved operational baseline
and configuration and is the basis for the type certification and accreditation of the DCS 3000,
regardless of the physical location of systems within the FBI. This document has been prepared
in accordance with guidance provided by the FBI Certification and Accreditation (C&A)
Handbook Version 2.1, June 1, 2005.

The entire System Security Plan Certification & Accreditation Plan for the DCS3000