House Republicans Say FCC Must Protect Consumer Privacy

House Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden, R-Ore., and more than 50 other House Republicans sent a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Friday urging the agency to protect the privacy of consumers. The letter directs Pai to “continue ensuring that ISPs fulfill their promises to consumers regarding their use of data until the FCC remedies the [Communications Act] Title II reclassification, which incorrectly removed ISP’s from the jurisdiction of the Federal Trade Commission,” said a committee news release. White House Director-Legislative Affairs Marc Short predicted last week the FCC will “take a fresh look” at ISP privacy rules once it has a full contingent of five commissioners (see 1704050027), after President Donald Trump signed a Congressional Review Act resolution repealing the rules (see 1704040059). “Protecting consumer privacy while allowing for innovation has been critical to American innovation,” the letter said. “Maintaining an environment that permits innovation without sacrificing consumer privacy is critical to our nation's future prosperity and the creation of new consumer services.”