Trump Signs Hugely Unpopular Repeal of Broadband Privacy Rules President Trump has quietly signed an extremely unpopular repeal of broadband privacy rules designed to protect consumer data. The signing comes after both the House and Senate voted along strict party lines to use the Congressional Review Act to eliminate the FCC's rules, which would have take effect last month. The relatively modest rules simply required that ISPs be transparent about what's collected and sold, provide working opt out tools, and have consumers opt in to the collection of more sensitive financial data or browsing history.

But ISPs, many of which eagerly expect to make billions as they shift from broadband to advertising, lobbied lawmakers relentlessly to have the rules repealed. While small ISPs opposed the repeal, Large ISPs have tried to argue that the FTC will rush to fill the vacuum created by the repeal. But the FTC lacks real authority over broadband -- and ISPs know that gutting the FCC rules means less oversight overall as they become larger and more powerful than ever. As comedian Stephen Colbert joked last week, there's few if any consumers that actually wanted the rules eliminated. "I can't believe they're publicly taking the side of big internet cable companies," Colbert said. "Taking the side of a cable company? The only thing less popular would be if they passed a bill allowing traffic jams to call you during dinner, to give you gonorrhea." That's supported by a Yougov poll this week indicating that 80% of Democrats, 69% of Independents, and 75% of Republicans wanted Trump to veto the vote. Even many of Donald Trump's more fervent online supporters were somehow shocked to realize that he supported repealing the rules, in violent contrast to his election-trail "populist" campaign rhetoric. Granted many of those same folks likely have additional hard lessons to learn as Trump and the Pai-lead FCC shift their gaze toward killing net neutrality -- eroding FCC and FTC authority over giant broadband providers like Comcast-- and approving AT&T's $79 billion acquisition of Time Warner. »twitter.com/williamjorda ··· 56859648









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Most recommended from 112 comments

Angrychair

join:2000-09-20

Jacksonville, FL 29 recommendations Angrychair Member This is what America wanted If you like what you're seeing, keep voting republican. Otherwise be sure to vote Democratic party down the ticket in 2018 to put a check on the insanity.

maartena

Elmo

Premium Member

join:2002-05-10

Orange, CA 27 recommendations maartena Premium Member Trump lies All Trump does is LIE to the American people. A running report that keeps track of what he has said, and what he has done has concluded that so far, in less than 3 months in office, he has actually broken 64 campaign promises, and only kept 7 of them.



This repeal is heavily opposed by Republican voters as well, but we have already found that Trump does not listen to voters, he does not listen to the people..... he only listens to corporations.



He's going to find out that "bringing coal back" isn't as easy as it seems, because coal is MORE EXPENSIVE than other alternatives to generate electricity, including gas fired plants and oil fired plants. He made empty promises to the people that make no economic sense whatsoever, and the voters fell for it. b10010011

Whats a Posting tag?

join:2004-09-07

Bellingham, WA 26 recommendations b10010011 Member Government by the business and for the business King Trump does not care what the people want, never has never will.