Verizon's Cancels Service Because You Called South Korea

And so I thought this was my indoctrination into the Bush Administration’s new surveillance Protect America Act — the one that allows the tapping without warrants of telephone calls and e-mail routed through the U.S. Must admit I was nervous. I didn’t think that explaining to a South Korean media consultant, new media policies and advertising applications in the televisual realm in the U.S., was a breach of intelligence vital to the security of my fellow Americans.

By post, Thursday Aug. 23, an officious letter, dated Aug. 17, from Verizon arrives:

“Account Number: xxxxxxx (to protect my identity) Service Number: (left blank)

Dear Verizon customer

In an effort to protect customers, Verizon investigates and quickly attempts to notify customers of any unusual usage on their Verizon accounts. This usage may include invoiced or unbilled long distance charges. We have noticed unusual usage on your account, but have been unable to contact you by phone to verify the validity of the charges.

Your service has been interrupted as a security measure….”