~nih~o ~httes ~.enat.e \VASIIINGTON. DC 205 10-{)905 BILL NELSON f l Oil IDA The Honorable Tom Wheeler Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 Twelfth Street, SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Wheeler: October 28, 2014 I am writing in reference to the Commission's action last Friday against two companies, TerraCom, Inc. and YourTel America, Inc., for allegedly posting the sensitive personal information of over 300,000 Americans on a public website. I strongly support Commission efforts to take action against telecommunications carriers who fail to reasonably protect the personally identifiable information (PII) that they collect from consumers, or timely notify consumers in the event of a breach involving that information. Furthermore, notwithstanding the dissents of two of your fellow Republican Commissioners, I believe the Commission has clear authority to act under sections 201 and 222 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, against those carriers who fail to protect PII or other sensitive consumer information. I am very concerned, however, that the proposed fine of $1 0 million does not provide an appropriate detetTent effect - and may be seen merely as a cost of business to these carriers. Accordingly, I would urge the Commission to use all available authorities and penalties -up to and including a revocation of the right to participate in the Lifeline program or provide other teleconununications services- for companies that willfully fail to protect the PII or other sensitive information of consumers. Thank you in advance for your attention to this issue, and continued efforts to protect telecommunications consumers from fraudulent and deceptive practices. Sincerely, ~N~ 1146