CEO DATELINE - Associations want FCC to reconsider broadband privacy rules
CEO DATELINE - Associations want FCC to reconsider broadband privacy rules
- January 6, 2017 |
-
Walt Williams
Consider joining CEO Update. Membership gives full access to the latest intelligence on association management, career advancement, compensation trends and networking events, as well as hundreds of listings for senior-level association jobs.
At least nine telecommunications and advertising industry associations want the Federal Communications Commission to rethink new broadband internet privacy rules adopted last year, possibly hoping they will find a friendlier commission under the incoming Trump administration.
Under the new rules, internet service providers first must seek customer permission before they use and share sensitive information with third parties. Geo-location, financial and health information, and Web browsing history are among the forms of protected data.
The rules were adopted by a party-line vote in October with the three Democrats favoring the restrictions while the two Republicans opposed them. Since then, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, a Democrat, has announced his intention to step down in late January, which will allow President-elect Donald Trump to appoint as new commissioner and swing the majority back to the GOP.
Many business groups opposed the new rules. Among them was USTelecom, which claims the limits on collecting information are "confusing" and were created without any cost-benefit analysis.
"The FCC's current order creates a confusing approach that does not serve consumer privacy interests well," USTelecom CEO Jonathan Spalter said. "And, by refusing to adopt the FTC's approach that also values innovation and competition, the FCC order threatens real harms to consumers and the Internet."
Along with USTelecom, at least eight other associations have petitioned FCC to reconsider the privacy rules, according to a blog post by law firm Morgan Lewis. They are NCTA-Internet and Television Association, Competitive Carriers Association, Association of National Advertisers, American Association of Advertising Agencies, American Advertising Federation, Data & Marketing Association, Interactive Advertising Bureau, and Network Advertising Initiative. http://bit.ly/2hXWYOI
MORE CEO DATELINE