U.S. Military Requested Internet Bandwidth: Embassy

The U.S. Embassy Wednesday reiterated its denial that Washington was seeking to build a telecoms network in Lebanon, but acknowledged that an American law firm had contacted the Telecommunications Ministry on behalf of the U.S. military.

“The U.S. government is not seeking to build a telecommunications network in Lebanon as was alleged in an article published by As-Safir on Dec.15,” the embassy said in a statement.

As-Safir reported last week that the embassy had filed a request to Lebanon’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority on behalf of the U.S. army to build a large telecoms station in the country.

“We understand that a request for bandwidth access for Internet use on behalf of the U.S. military was made by a U.S. law firm acting for the private company that provides Internet service for the U.S. military,” the embassy statement added.

The request was made for a permit to use a satellite ground station, known as VSAT. The satellite station is commonly used to transmit narrowband and broadband data with a satellite in orbit, bypassing a central post such as Ogero.

The use of VSAT is illegal without authorization from the government.

Officials at the Telecommunications Ministry said that VSAT could be used for spying, although it added that a number of other embassies in Lebanon have received permits after applying through the proper diplomatic channels.

The embassy said that it was previously unaware that a U.S. law firm had submitted a request to the Telecommunications Ministry and added that it will follow up on the request with the Lebanese government.

Sallye Clark, an attorney at Mintz Levin law firm in Washington, D.C., contacted Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui to request permission for a VSAT, according to a letter obtained by The Daily Star.

“We wish to inform you that the U.S. army will use a ku-band satellite earth station [VSAT] in Lebanon. The army will use this VSAT to support operations in the region,” the letter says.

When asked by The Daily Star about the request, Clark said “I prefer you discuss this issue [request] with the embassy.”

A Parliamentary Media and Telecommunications Committee meeting that had been scheduled for Thursday was postponed after Sehnaoui contacted a number of lawmakers and politicians to discuss the issue.

Sehnaoui is likely to issue a statement to explain that the request made to the Telecommunications Ministry did not meet necessary diplomatic and legal conditions, sources said.

Earlier this week, Bint Jbeil MP Hasan Fadlallah, who chairs the Media and Telecommunications Committee, cast doubt on the intent of the request.

Daily Star