FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION June 14,2012 ,JULIUS GENACHOWSKI CHAIRMAN The Honorable Mark Pryor United States Senate 255 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Pryor: Thank you for your letter rcquesting that the Commission look into the growing issue or stolen smartphones. Thanks to your leadership, on April 10,2012, wc werc ablc to announce a broad-bascd. five step approach to addressing this problem. As a result or our work together and with police commissioners and chiers rrom Ncw York, DC, Philadclphia and othcr cities, industry leaders have committed to support the PROTECTS Initiative, a live point action plan to: • Implement a database to 11I'event usc of stolen smartphones. Within six months. when Amcricans call their participating wireless provider and report their wireless deviccs stolen, their provider will block that devicc rrom bcing uscd again. This systcm will be rolling out globally using common databases across carriers over the next 18 months. • Encourage user's to lock their I}hones with passwords. Smartphonc makcrs willnotiry and educate users in the most highly visible ways-through messages on the smartphone itselr and through "Quick Start" user guides-about how to use passwords to deter then and protect their data. • Educatc users on lock/locate/wipe applications. Wirclcss providcrs will dircctly inrorm their customers about how to find and use applications that enable customers to lock/locate/and wipe smartphones remotely. • Undertake a public education campaign on how to protect your smartphone and yourself. The wireless industry will launch a campaign. with media buys. to educate consumers on how to protect their smartphones and themselves from crime. • Meet progress benchmarks and ongoing dialog. The wireless industry" ill publish quartcrly updates and submitthcm to thc FCC on progrcss on thcsc initiativcs. In addition. the FCC is committed to remain vigilant in this area. We" ill continue to engage the public sarety community and wireless carriers in an ongoing dialog with regular meetings to ensure that the most errective technological processes arc in place to deter smartphone then and data exposure. The first follow-up meeting is planned ror the end or June. 445 12TH STREET S.W. WASHINGTON. D.C. 20554 • 202-418-1000 Page 2-The Honorable Mark Pryor Again, thank you for raising awareness about this growing problem, and for fighting for a solution. I am pleased we were able 10 work together with stakeholders for a positive outcome. The FCC will serve as a resource on your important legislation that would make manipulation of the handsel International Mobile Equipment umber a crime.