First record mentioning the Technical Liaison Unit (TLU)

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the first record created (be it a brief, email, or any other document), on, about, mentioning, or concerning the FBI's Technical Liaison Unit (TLU).

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Runa A. Sandvik

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 28, 2013. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #1248567-000.

Thank you for your help.

To the FBI Freedom of Information Act Appeal Authority,

I am a published independent reporter and a current contributor to Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/sites/runasandvik/). I have also had my journalism published on domestic and international blogs.

According to 5 U.S.C. 552(a)(4)(A)(ii), codifying the ruling of Nat'l Security Archive v. Dept of Defense, 880 F.2d 1381 (D.C. Cir. 1989), the term "a representative of the news media" means any person or entity that gathers information of potential interest to a segment of the public, uses its editorial skills to turn the raw materials into a distinct work, and distributes that work to an audience.

I have a clear intent to "publish or otherwise disseminate information to the public." Id. at 1386 (quoting the following legislative history):

1) It is critical that the phrase "representative of the news media" be broadly interpreted if the act is to work as expected. . . . In fact, any person or organization which regularly publishes or disseminates information to the public . . . should qualify for waivers as a "representative of the news media." 132 Cong. Rec. S14298 (daily ed. Sept. 30, 1986).

2) "A request by a reporter or other person affiliated with a newspaper, magazine, television or radio station, or other entity that is in the business of publishing or otherwise disseminating information to the public qualifies under this provision." 132 Cong. Rec. H9463 (Oct. 8, 1986).

Therefore, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and relevant case law, I, Runa A. Sandvik, should be considered a representative of the news media and as such I am also requesting a public interest fee waiver.

Sincerely,

Runa A. Sandvik