Senate resolution would allow broadband companies to use, share, and sell sensitive information about subscribers without affirmative consent

Washington (March 7, 2017) –Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today released the following statement after Senator Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced a Senate resolution that would undo the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) broadband privacy rules by utilizing the Congressional Review Act (CRA).

“Big broadband barons and their Republican allies want to turn the telecommunications marketplace into a Wild West where consumers are held captive with no defense against abusive invasions of their privacy by internet service providers,” said Senator Markey.  “Consumers will have no ability to stop internet service providers from invading their privacy and selling sensitive information about their health, finances, and children to advertisers, insurers, data brokers or others who can profit off of this personal information, all without their affirmative consent. I strongly oppose this resolution, and will fight to ensure that consumers, not broadband companies, have control over their personal, sensitive information.”