FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
March 23,2015
The Honorable Edward J. Markey
United States Senate
218 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Markey:
Thank you for your letter regarding the use by Verizon of a mobile tracking technology
and its reported exploitation by a third-party advertising company. Your longstanding record of
leadership supporting consumer privacy is to be commended, and we greatly appreciate your
forwarding a copy of the response that you received from Verizon.
I wholeheartedly agree that ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive personal
information about consumers' use of communications services is of utmost importance. The
Federal Communications Commission serves a crucial role as our nation's expert agency on
communications networks to preserve certain core values, including protection of customers'
personal information, even as technology advances.
As you are aware, telecommunications companies have access to very sensitive personal
information about their customers, including call details, billing data, location information, and
information on customers' mobile devices. The Communications Act requires them to protect
the privacy of that information. Consistent with this statutory directive, the Commission is
continually examining its policies and rules in light of developments in technologies and
business practices. Moreover, we are looking specifically into carriers' injection of header
information and the collection and use of information about their subscribers' Internet activity.
As you suggest, we will be considering the extent to which our rules and policies relating to
consumer privacy, data security, and transparency may be implicated. Your exchange of letters
with Verizon will be a helpful part of that effort.
Thank you again for bringing this to my attention and being a leading advocate on this
important issue. I look forward to working with you and your staff in the future on these and
other important privacy issues.
Sincerely,
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
March 23,2015
The Honorable Richard Blumenthal
United States Senate
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Blumenthal:
Thank you for your letter regarding the use by Verizon of a mobile tracking technology
and its reported exploitation by a third-party advertising company. Your longstanding record of
leadership supporting consumer privacy is to be commended, and we greatly appreciate your
forwarding a copy of the response that you received from Verizon.
I wholeheartedly agree that ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive personal
information about consumers' use of communications services is of utmost importance. The
Federal Communications Commission serves a crucial role as our nation's expert agency on
communications networks to preserve certain core values, including protection of customers'
personal information, even as technology advances.
As you are aware, telecommunications companies have access to very sensitive personal
information about their customers, including call details, billing data, location information, and
information on customers' mobile devices. The Communications Act requires them to protect
the privacy of that information. Consistent with this statutory directive, the Commission is
continually examining its policies and rules in light of developments in technologies and
business practices. Moreover, we are looking specifically into carriers' injection of header
information and the collection and use of information about their subscribers' Internet activity.
As you suggest, we will be considering the extent to which our rules and policies relating to
consumer privacy, data security, and transparency may be implicated. Your exchange of letters
with Verizon will be a helpful part of that effort.
Thank you again for bringing this to my attention and being a leading advocate on this
important issue. I look forward to working with you and your staff in the future on these and
other important privacy issues.
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Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
March 23,2015
The Honorable Bill Nelson
Ranking Member
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
United States Senate
425 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Nelson:
Thank you for your letter regarding the use by Verizon of a mobile tracking technology
and its reported exploitation by a third-party advertising company. Your longstanding record of
leadership supporting consumer privacy is to be commended, and we greatly appreciate your
forwarding a copy of the response that you received from Verizon.
I wholeheartedly agree that ensuring the privacy and security of sensitive personal
information about consumers' use of communications services is of utmost importance. The
Federal Communications Commission serves a crucial role as our nation's expert agency on
communications networks to preserve certain core values, including protection of customers'
personal information, even as technology advances.
As you are aware, telecommunications companies have access to very sensitive personal
information about their customers, including call details, billing data, location information, and
information on customers' mobile devices. The Communications Act requires them to protect
the privacy of that information. Consistent with this statutory directive, the Commission is
continually examining its policies and rules in light of developments in technologies and
business practices. Moreover, we are looking specifically into carriers' injection of header
information and the collection and use of information about their subscribers' Internet activity.
As you suggest, we will be considering the extent to which our rules and policies relating to
consumer privacy, data security, and transparency may be implicated. Your exchange of letters
with Verizon will be a helpful part of that effort.
Thank you again for bringing this to my attention and being a leading advocate on this
important issue. I look forward to working with you and your staff in the future on these and
other important privacy issues.
Sincerely,