FCC Proposal Looks to Expand Privacy Rules to Broadband Companies

The Communications Act imposes regulations on the communications industries in the United States, including telephone and radio, to protect sensitive customer information, but broadband Internet providers aren’t subject to these rules.  FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler hopes to change this. In March he distributed a Proposal to Give Broadband Consumers Increased Choice, Transparency & Security With Respect to Their Data, which proposes applying the privacy requirements of the Communications Act to broadband Internet access service. 

This article examines Wheeler’s proposal and addresses the importance of ensuring the security of personal data for broadband consumers.