Markey led the call for the FCC to finalize broadband privacy rules

Washington (January 26, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee today blasted proposals to undermine the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) broadband privacy rules. Last year, The FCC finalized broadband privacy rules that give consumers more power to prevent their information from being collected and used, and protect information that has been gathered. The FCC’s rules promote transparency by requiring ISPs (Internet Service Providers) to disclose what information is being collected and how it is used, give consumers more choice over how ISPs use their personal information, and promote data security and establish breach notification requirements. In July, Senator Markey led a letter with six other Senators urging the FCC to finalize the rules.

“The FCC’s broadband privacy rules finally put consumers in control over their sensitive information, not corporations,” said Senator Markey. “But now, the big broadband barons want to turn back the clock and undo these fundamental consumer protections so they can freely collect and profit from customer’s sensitive personal information.  I will strongly oppose any efforts to roll back the broadband privacy rules either by Congress or at the FCC.”