> there is no encryption for there to be escrowed for large or critical parts of the infrastructure
That is to say that TLAs get access to records before encryption is ever applied to them (I would tend to agree with this) thus obviating the need for escrow. Laws requiring key escrow, then, become red herrings to the larger discussion about the legality of access.
I personally would classify 'partnerships' under extralegal pressure. Under this interpretation you do seem to agree with the GP comment - though I would understand if one were to argue that for some important semantic reason I asked the question with the wrong word. I would probably agree that 'partnerships' are only a strict subset and not synonyms for extralegal pressure.
It does appear that there are partnerships with some digital corporations and that PRISM is a program for corporations that resist 'partnered' access to records. Given the history of telecoms and their development of partnerships, current development of partnerships in our industry and known applications of extralegal pressure in our industry, we ought to be especially watchful.