15 Attorneys General Want FCC to Impose Set-top Privacy Safeguards

Fifteen state attorneys general encouraged the FCC to follow the FTC's recommendation to address privacy concerns about third-party set-top boxes, said an ex parte filing posted online Monday in docket 16-42. Multichannel video program distributors "should provide access only to third-party set-top boxes that have provided consumer facing privacy statements,” the filing said. “Requiring consumer-facing statements would enhance the States’ abilities to pursue consumer protection actions against third-party set-top box manufacturers.” That logic is consistent with a letter sent to the FCC by the FTC earlier this year (see 1604220063). The 15 AGs represented in the letter included those from California, Vermont, Oregon, Massachusetts, Iowa and Washington, D.C.