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Open Internet, Privacy & Data

Broadband Privacy Cheat Sheet: Everything You Need to Know About the FCC’s New Privacy Rules for Broadband Providers

On October 27, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted on rules to protect internet users’ privacy by requiring broadband providers to get consent before using and sharing customers’ data. The rules implement a statutory obligation under 47 U.S.C. § 222 for telecommunications carriers to protect the confidentiality of customer information. The Commission has adapted this mandate for broadband internet access service (BIAS) providers, which it reclassified as telecommunications carriers in the 2015 Open Internet Order. The Commission also harmonized the rules for all telecommunications carriers, including telephone service providers. This cheat sheet is designed to give policy makers, members of media, and the public an overview and understanding of the important details in the rulemaking.