Washington, May 17 (RHC)-- The release of court documents regarding Sprint and the U.S. National Security Agency comes weeks after the administration revealed details about a separate instance in which a phone company had challenged the NSA’s ability to collect the records.

That company, which was later reported to be Verizon, petitioned the surveillance court in January to “vacate, modify or affirm the current production order” after a federal judge last year said the program was likely unconstitutional.

Under the NSA’s phone records program, the agency collects records about who people call, how often and for how long. Defenders of the agency say that it has been crucial to getting tips about terrorist suspects, but it has infuriated civil liberties advocates since unveiled by Ed Snowden last summer.