FCC Boss Says Broadband Users Deserve Working Privacy Tools Ever since the FCC passed net neutrality rules, the agency has been under relentless assault by ISP-loyal politicians in the Senate intent on punishing the regulator for standing up to large telecom campaign contributors. That continued this week with yet another taxpayer hearing intended to shame the agency and claim its predominately (and frankly, uncharacteristic) recent pro-consumer behavior is simply a case of agency "over reach." As such, lawmakers have also been trying to eliminate both FCC funding and authority using sneaking riders attached to budget provisions.

Under particular assault lately has been the FCC's plan to open the cable box sector to competition, and the FCC's plan to introduce some basic privacy protections for broadband users. Under the FCC's proposal, ISPs would simply need to be transparent about what they collect and who they sell it to, and provide working opt out tools. But to hear some politicians and ISPs frame the plan, you'd think it was akin to setting off a nuclear weapon in Central Park. Advertisers recently went so far as to insist providing opt out tools would horribly burden and confuse American consumers. But Wheeler says all he's really trying to do is give broadband consume some fundamental control over their own data. "This proposal rests on the belief that you should have control over how your data is used and shared by your ISP," Wheeler tried to tell the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology at a hearing this week. "We propose to require that broadband providers give consumers the tools they need to make smart choices about protecting their information," said Wheeler. "The proposal does not prohibit ISPs from using or sharing customer data. It simply proposes that consumers receive notice of their providers’ privacy practices and give consent before ISPs use or share that data." Again though, because informed and empowered consumers might actually opt out of having their every behavior monetized, the broadband and marketing industries have been engaged in absolute histrionics over the possibility of losing that potential income. The public comment period for the FCC's proposed privacy rules closed last week, and the agency hopes to present final broadband privacy rules later this year. Again though, because informed and empowered consumers might actually opt out of having their every behavior monetized, the broadband and marketing industries have been engaged in absolute histrionics over the possibility of losing that potential income. The public comment period for the FCC's proposed privacy rules closed last week, and the agency hopes to present final broadband privacy rules later this year.







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Most recommended from 23 comments



SysOp

join:2001-04-18

Atlanta, GA 4 edits 7 recommendations SysOp Member "What ISP's collect and who they sell it to" Data in transport should not be considered "public domain" for an ISP to pilfer for profit/share/use for their own gain because it's being transported to or from their subscriber in the clear.



Because of how vast the IP network is, it's not feasible to have all parties opt-in or opt-out of TOS. Just because data touches their network it should not automatically be assumed consent was given by the owners/licensees of the data in transport.



Fax is protected. Analog voice is protected. Postal Mail is protected. Data packets in transport should also be protected.



Which leads us to needing ISP regulation, hence the phrase dumb pipe.

Anon2e116

@teksavvy.com 6 recommendations Anon2e116 Anon Someone has to regulate I don't think it matters who does it. The industry and their paid political reps clearly do not have the interests of consumers at heart or in mind. If the ISP thinks they need to raise the price because they take into account the money they make from monetizing their customers (yeah, right) if they are denied that, let them. I think they are more afraid of customers finding out just how much money a company makes from abusing their position.



The internet is a tool, not a marketing firm.