Trade Associations Urge FCC Pause on ISP Privacy Rules

CTA, CTIA, Mobile Future, NCTA, USTelecom and the Wireless ISP Association jointly urged the FCC to back away from privacy rules for ISPs. The record doesn't support heightened privacy rules for just ISPs, the groups said Monday in a joint blog post. “Opposition to the FCC’s proposed broadband privacy rules continues to grow,” they said. “The recently filed ‘reply round’ comments, new reports, and expert submissions to the Commission, and testimony before Congress all demonstrate a growing consensus that the Commission’s proposed approach is flawed and a new course must be taken -- one that protects consumer data, encourages innovation and growth online, and provides consistent and evenhanded standards for all internet companies.” The post cites numerous filings in opposition to the rules. “Many commenters echoed a fundamental point made by Ghostery in its two visits to the Commission -- that the proposed rules’ opt-in default and other problematic measures will undermine consumer choice and stifle innovation, depriving consumers of new choices, options, and alternatives online.”