Washington, D.C. – Consumer Federation of America (CFA) applauds the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for moving forward to protect the personal information of broadband Internet users. In a 3-2 vote yesterday the FCC approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on broadband data privacy and security. “We welcome the FCC’s action and will push for the strongest possible rules to give consumers meaningful control of their personal information when they use broadband services,” said Susan Grant, CFA’s Director of Consumer Protection and Privacy. “Internet service providers should be required to get consent before they use or share information about customers and their online activities for purposes other than providing the services to which they have subscribed.”

Ms. Grant also noted that consumers should not have to pay an extra charge to protect their privacy. “Broadband customers should have true freedom to decide whether and how their personal information can be used for any secondary purposes, without being constrained by their financial circumstances or locked into one-sided company ISP policies,” said Ms. Grant. As for arguments that it would be unfair to require Internet service providers (ISPs) to abide by rules that do not apply to other Internet companies, Ms. Grant observed that ISPs have a unique role as the gateways to the Internet through which consumers must pass. “You can choose not to visit websites whose privacy practices you do not like but you have little choice about doing business with Internet service providers,” Ms. Grant said. “What the FCC does here should serve as a model for what the Federal Trade Commission and Congress should do to provide Americans with the privacy rights that they deserve and that citizens enjoy in other advanced democracies.”

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CFA is an association of more than 250 nonprofit consumer groups that was founded in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy and education.