Verizon raises issues on formats for phone data

WASHINGTON (AP) - Verizon says it mostly supports the president’s plan to move storage of Americans’ phone records from the government to the telecom companies.

But the company is objecting to possible changes in how companies would have to provide the data to the National Security Agency.

Verizon Communications Inc. is the largest U.S. cellphone carrier. Its general counsel says a revamped process for bulk collection shouldn’t require phone companies to store data in formats that differ from what they already do.

The White House says under its plan, companies would have to provide technical aid so that records are transferred “in a usable format.”