An FCC Commissioner, Michael Copps, has called for an investigation of the phone companies that turned over customer records to the FCC.
"Recent news reports suggest that some - but interestingly not all - of the nation's largest telephone companies have provided the government with their customers' calling records. There is no doubt that protecting the security of the American people is our government's number one responsibility. But in a Digital Age where collecting, distributing, and manipulating consumers' personal information is as easy as a click of a button, the privacy of our citizens must still matter. To get to the bottom of this situation, the FCC should initiate an inquiry into whether the phone companies' involvement violated Section 222 or any other provisions of the Communications Act. We need to be certain that the companies over which the FCC has public interest oversight have not gone - or been asked to go - to a place where they should not be.
The statement can be found here at the FCC website.
Copps is a Democratic member of the FCC commission. Now, I'm not familiar with how investigations get started with the FCC, but the Commission is currently split 2-2, with one vacancy.
For a look at Section 222 of the Communications Act, go here.
Every telecommunications carrier has a duty to protect the confidentiality of proprietary information of, and relating to, other telecommunication carriers, equipment manufacturers, and customers, including telecommunication carriers reselling telecommunications services provided by a telecommunications carrier.
{hat tip to Josh}