Which means: At some point in the past, NSA “made plans” to collect this data in bulk, or did so, for a period of time. Apparently, such collection ended before October 20… a point “prior to such plans being put into place.”

Not surprising: NSA would not self-limit what it could collect legally. No need to be opaque about it: Geolocation information is produced by the interaction of the cell device you own or rent with the wireless towers and transmission infrastructure that phone companies own. The companies must collect the data in order to make your call get to where it needs to go. It is a “business record.” There is no reason why NSA would not think itself entitled to these records. The police can get it, often without a warrant, albeit from individuals. The government apparently wanted it in bulk, and I assume made this request to the phone companies at some point. Geolocation data, collected in bulk, does not enjoy any special protections, although it probably should.