MADISON, WI — Wisconsin public officials are seeking an important block on President Donald Trump's controversial measure, that allows internet service providers like Verizon and AT&T to collect, share and even sell customer's personal data including web browsing history.

Trump's measure, which was signed the President on Monday, would strip away new protections pushed forward by President Barack Obama that would have taken effect in December. Wisconsin's block

Wisconsin state senators voted 33-0 on Tuesday to pass SB49, an Information Technology and Broadband Expansion bill. An amendment as part of that bill is aimed directly at Trump's measure and seeks to guarantee privacy protections for state internet users. The amendment's protections are twofold: barring internet providers from accessing customer data without their permission, and preventing ISPs from refusing internet service to customers who seek to maintain their privacy.

The amendment states, "a provider of Internet access services may not collect information about a customer's use of Internet access services that results from the customer's use of those services unless the provider of Internet access services receives express written approval from the customer." The amendment further reads, "a provider of Internet access services may not refuse to provide Internet access services to a person because the person does not approve the collection of information about the person's use of Internet access services."

State Sen. Chris Larson, who was one of the 13 state senators to offer the amendment, had this to say Wednesday, "while this amendment was a significant step in the right direction, the issue of privacy concerns is not going away. All of us in the State Legislature were elected to protect our communities and safeguard our neighbors and their personal information. To ensure that promise, I am working on additional legislation to protect our neighbors' privacy as well as their control over their private information."

Next Steps

Before Wisconsin's Information Technology and Broadband Expansion bill - and the internet protections amendment - can be passed into law, the bill has to clear a hurdle in the Assembly, and then reach Gov. Walker's desk. It remains to be seen whether these protections - in amendment form - can pass muster in either venues.



Trump's Measure: What does it mean for you?