FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN September 7, 2016
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
United States Senate
717 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Baldwin:
Thank you for your letter expressing your continued support of the Commission's efforts
to adopt privacy and data security rules protecting the privacy of broadband customers' personal
information.
I agree that protecting consumer privacy is of utmost importance and, as you highlight in
your letter, am proud of the Commission's long history of implementing and enforcing
Congress' legislative directive to steadfastly protect the "privacy of customer information." As
recognized in your letter, today's broadband Internet access service providers serve a similar
gatekeeping function as the phone companies that prompted the initial customer privacy
protections under Section 222, and consumers using modern telecommunications technologies
are no less deserving of protection of their personal information. For this important reason,
among others, the Commission adopted the March 2016 Broadband Privacy Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing rules requiring broadband Internet access service providers to
protect their customers' proprietary information.
In your letter, you urge the Commission to consider a number of issues as it finalizes its
rules. Among these, you note the importance of transparency, consumer consent, and security.
Similar to the suggestions in your letter, these were key concepts in the Commission's NPRM
and will be reflected in any final rules the Commission adopts. Regarding the specific
definitions you suggest for the scope of our rules, as with every rulemaking-e-definitions do
matter-and you are right to call attention to those questions.
Since the release of the NPRM, we have received thoughtful input from all sectors-
including broadband providers, public interest groups, businesses involved in the Internet
ecosystem, and government entities. Additionally, thousands of concerned citizens and other
interested stakeholders submitted comments, providing us with a robust record upon which we
will base our final rules. Commission staff are currently evaluating this extensive record and the
many complex issues involved as we work towards our ultimate goal of adopting rules to
safeguard consumers' privacy when using all telecommunications networks.
As the Commission continues to examine the substantial record in the proceeding, I can
assure you that we will carefully consider the important issues you raise in your letter to ensure
our final rules provide consumers with the protections needed to consistently safeguard
Page 2-The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
consumer data and to bolster consumer confidence in their use of these modem
telecommunications networks.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be added to the record of the
rulemaking proceeding and considered as we take the next steps in the Commission's broadband
privacy proceeding.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUN ICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 7, 2016
The Honorable Richard Blumenthal
United States Senate
706 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Blumenthal:
Thank you for your letter expressing your continued support of the Commission's efforts
to adopt privacy and data security rules protecting the privacy of broadband customers' personal
information.
I agree that protecting consumer privacy is of utmost importance and, as you highlight in
your letter, am proud of the Commission's long history of implementing and enforcing
Congress' legislative directive to steadfastly protect the "privacy of customer information." As
recognized in your letter, today's broadband Internet access service providers serve a similar
gatekeeping function as the phone companies that prompted the initial customer privacy
protections under Section 222, and consumers using modem telecommunications technologies
are no less deserving of protection of their personal information. For this important reason,
among others, the Commission adopted the March 2016 Broadband Privacy Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing rules requiring broadband Internet access service providers to
protect their customers' proprietary information.
In your letter, you urge the Commission to consider a number of issues as it finalizes its
rules. Among these, you note the importance of transparency, consumer consent, and security.
Similar to the suggestions in your letter, these were key concepts in the Commission's NPRM
and will be reflected in any final rules the Commission adopts. Regarding the specific
definitions you suggest for the scope of our rules, as with every rulemaking-defmitions do
matter-and you are right to call attention to those questions.
Since the release of the NPRM, we have received thoughtful input from all sectors-
including broadband providers, public interest groups, businesses involved in the Internet
ecosystem, and government entities. Additionally, thousands of concerned citizens and other
interested stakeholders submitted comments, providing us with a robust record upon which we
will base our fmal rules. Commission staff are currently evaluating this extensive record and the
many complex issues involved as we work towards our ultimate goal of adopting rules to
safeguard consumers' privacy when using all telecommunications networks.
As the Commission continues to examine the substantial record in the proceeding, I can
assure you that we will carefully consider the important issues you raise in your letter to ensure
our final rules provide corisurners with the protections needed to consistently safeguard
Page 2-The Honorable Richard Blumenthal
consumer data and to bolster consumer confidence in their use of these modem
telecommunications networks.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be added to the record of the
rulemaking proceeding and considered as we take the next steps in the Commission's broadband
privacy proceeding.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUN ICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 7, 2016
The Honorable Al Franken
United States Senate
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Franken:
Thank you for your letter expressing your continued support of the Commission's efforts
to adopt privacy and data security rules protecting the privacy of broadband customers' personal
information.
I agree that protecting consumer privacy is of utmost importance and, as you highlight in
your letter, am proud of the Commission's long history of implementing and enforcing
Congress' legislative directive to steadfastly protect the "privacy of customer information." As
recognized in your letter, today's broadband Internet access service providers serve a similar
gatekeeping function as the phone companies that prompted the initial customer privacy
protections under Section 222, and consumers using modem telecommunications technologies
are no less deserving of protection of their personal information. For this important reason,
among others, the Commission adopted the March 2016 Broadband Privacy Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing rules requiring broadband Internet access service providers to
protect their customers' proprietary information.
In your letter, you urge the Commission to consider a number of issues as it fmalizes its
rules. Among these, you note the importance of transparency, consumer consent, and security.
Similar to the suggestions in your letter, these were key concepts in the Commission's NPRM
and will be reflected in any final rules the Commission adopts. Regarding the specific
definitions you suggest for the scope of our rules, as with every rulemaking-defmitions do
matter-and you are right to call attention to those questions.
Since the release of the NPRM, we have received thoughtful input from all sectors-
including broadband providers, public interest groups, businesses involved in the Internet
ecosystem, and government entities. Additionally, thousands of concerned citizens and other
interested stakeholders submitted comments, providing us with a robust record upon which we
will base our final rules. Commission staff are currently evaluating this extensive record and the
many complex issues involved as we work towards our ultimate goal of adopting rules to
safeguard consumers' privacy when using all telecommunications networks.
As the Commission continues to examine the substantial record in the proceeding, I can
assure you that we will carefully consider the important issues you raise in your letter to ensure
our final rules provide corisurners with the protections needed to consistently safeguard
Page 2-The Honorable Al Franken
consumer data and to bolster consumer confidence in their use of these modem
telecommunications networks.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be added to the record of the
rulemaking proceeding and considered as we take the next steps in the Commission's broadband
privacy proceeding.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 7, 2016
The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy
United States Senate
437 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Leahy:
Thank you for your letter expressing your continued support of the Commission's efforts
to adopt privacy and data security rules protecting the privacy of broadband customers' personal
information.
I agree that protecting consumer privacy is of utmost importance and, as you highlight in
your letter, am proud of the Commission's long history of implementing and enforcing
Congress' legislative directive to steadfastly protect the "privacy of customer information." As
recognized in your letter, today's broadband Internet access service providers serve a similar
gatekeeping function as the phone companies that prompted the initial customer privacy
protections under Section 222, and consumers using modem telecommunications technologies
are no less deserving of protection of their personal information. For this important reason,
among others, the Commission adopted the March 2016 Broadband Privacy Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing rules requiring broadband Internet access service providers to
protect their customers' proprietary information.
In your letter, you urge the Commission to consider a number of issues as it fmalizes its
rules. Among these, you note the importance of transparency, consumer consent, and security.
Similar to the suggestions in your letter, these were key concepts in the Commission's NPRM
and will be reflected in any final rules the Commission adopts. Regarding the specific
definitions you suggest for the scope of our rules, as with every rulemaking-definitions do
matter-and you are right to call attention to those questions.
Since the release of the NPRM, we have received thoughtful input from all sectors-
including broadband providers, public interest groups, businesses involved in the Internet
ecosystem, and government entities. Additionally, thousands of concerned citizens and other
interested stakeholders submitted comments, providing us with a robust record upon which we
will base our final rules. Commission staff are currently evaluating this extensive record and the
many complex issues involved as we work towards our ultimate goal of adopting rules to
safeguard consumers' privacy when using all telecommunications networks.
As the Commission continues to examine the substantial record in the proceeding, I can
assure you that we will carefully consider the important issues you raise in your letter to ensure
our final rules provide consumers with the protections needed to consistently safeguard
Page 2-The Honorable Patrick J. Leahy
consumer data and to bolster consumer confidence in their use of these modem
telecommunications networks.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be added to the record of the
rulemaking proceeding and considered as we take the next steps in the Commission's broadband
privacy proceeding.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Sincerel~/(/
h#'?c;fi--
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COM MISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 7, 2016
The Honorable Edward J. Markey
United States Senate
255 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Markey:
Thank you for your letter expressing your continued support of the Commission's efforts
to adopt privacy and data security rules protecting the privacy of broadband customers' personal
information.
I agree that protecting consumer privacy is of utmost importance and, as you highlight in
your letter, am proud of the Commission's long history of implementing and enforcing
Congress' legislative directive to steadfastly protect the "privacy of customer information." As
recognized in your letter, today's broadband Internet access service providers serve a similar
gatekeeping function as the phone companies that prompted the initial customer privacy
protections under Section 222, and consumers using modem telecommunications technologies
are no less deserving of protection of their personal information. For this important reason,
among others, the Commission adopted the March 2016 Broadband Privacy Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing rules requiring broadband Internet access service providers to
protect their customers' proprietary information.
In your letter, you urge the Commission to consider a number of issues as it finalizes its
rules. Among these, you note the importance of transparency, consumer consent, and security.
Similar to the suggestions in your letter, these were key concepts in the Commission's NPRM
and will be reflected in any final rules the Commission adopts. Regarding the specific
definitions you suggest for the scope of our rules, as with every rulemaking--defmitions do
matter-and you are right to call attention to those questions.
Since the release of the NPRM, we have received thoughtful input from all sectors-
including broadband providers, public interest groups, businesses involved in the Internet
ecosystem, and government entities. Additionally, thousands of concerned citizens and other
interested stakeholders submitted comments, providing us with a robust record upon which we
will base our final rules. Commission staff are currently evaluating this extensive record and the
many complex issues involved as we work towards our ultimate goal of adopting rules to
safeguard consumers' privacy when using all telecommunications networks.
As the Commission continues to examine the substantial record in the proceeding, I can
assure you that we will carefully consider the important issues you raise in your letter to ensure
our final rules provide consumers with the protections needed to consistently safeguard
Page 2-The Honorable Edward J. Markey
consumer data and to bolster consumer confidence in their use of these modem
telecommunications networks.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be added to the record of the
rulemaking proceeding and considered as we take the next steps in the Commission's broadband
privacy proceeding.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 7, 2016
The Honorable Bernard Sanders
United States Senate
332 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Sanders:
Thank you for your letter expressing your continued support of the Commission's efforts
to adopt privacy and data security rules protecting the privacy of broadband customers' personal
information.
I agree that protecting consumer privacy is of utmost importance and, as you highlight in
your letter, am proud of the Commission's long history of implementing and enforcing
Congress' legislative directive to steadfastly protect the "privacy of customer information." As
recognized in your letter, today's broadband Internet access service providers serve a similar
gatekeeping function as the phone companies that prompted the initial customer privacy
protections under Section 222, and consumers using modem telecommunications technologies
are no less deserving of protection of their personal information. For this important reason,
among others, the Commission adopted the March 2016 Broadband Privacy Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing rules requiring broadband Internet access service providers to
protect their customers' proprietary information.
In your letter, you urge the Commission to consider a number of issues as it finalizes its
rules. Among these, you note the importance of transparency, consumer consent, and security.
Similar to the suggestions in your letter, these were key concepts in the Commission's NPRM
and will be reflected in any final rules the Commission adopts. Regarding the specific
definitions you suggest for the scope of our rules, as with every rulemaking--definitions do
matter-and you are right to call attention to those questions.
Since the release of the NPRM, we have received thoughtful input from all sectors-
including broadband providers, public interest groups, businesses involved in the Internet
ecosystem, and government entities. Additionally, thousands of concerned citizens and other
interested stakeholders submitted comments, providing us with a robust record upon which we
will base our final rules. Commission staff are currently evaluating this extensive record and the
many complex issues involved as we work towards our ultimate goal of adopting rules to
safeguard consumers' privacy when using all telecommunications networks.
As the Commission continues to examine the substantial record in the proceeding, I can
assure you that we will carefully consider the important issues you raise in your letter to ensure
our final rules provide consumers with the protections needed to consistently safeguard
Page 2-The Honorable Bernard Sanders
consumer data and to bolster consumer confidence in their use of these modem
telecommunications networks.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be added to the record of the
rulemaking proceeding and considered as we take the next steps in the Commission's broadband
privacy proceeding.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
Tom Wheeler
FEDERAL COM MUN ICATIONS COM MISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 7, 2016
The Honorable Elizabeth Warren
United States Senate
317 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Warren:
Thank you for your letter expressing your continued support of the Commission's efforts
to adopt privacy and data security rules protecting the privacy of broadband customers' personal
information.
I agree that protecting consumer privacy is of utmost importance and, as you highlight in
your letter, am proud of the Commission's long history of implementing and enforcing
Congress' legislative directive to steadfastly protect the "privacy of customer information." As
recognized in your letter, today's broadband Internet access service providers serve a similar
gatekeeping function as the phone companies that prompted the initial customer privacy
protections under Section 222, and consumers using modem telecommunications technologies
are no less deserving of protection of their personal information. For this important reason,
among others, the Commission adopted the March 2016 Broadband Privacy Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM), proposing rules requiring broadband Internet access service providers to
protect their customers' proprietary information.
In your letter, you urge the Commission to consider a number of issues as it fmalizes its
rules. Among these, you note the importance of transparency, consumer consent, and security.
Similar to the suggestions in your letter, these were key concepts in the Commission's NPRM
and will be reflected in any final rules the Commission adopts. Regarding the specific
definitions you suggest for the scope of our rules, as with every rulemaking--defmitions do
matter-and you are right to call attention to those questions.
Since the release of the NPRM, we have received thoughtful input from all sectors-
including broadband providers, public interest groups, businesses involved in the Internet
ecosystem, and government entities. Additionally, thousands of concerned citizens and other
interested stakeholders submitted comments, providing us with a robust record upon which we
will base our final rules. Commission staff are currently evaluating this extensive record and the
many complex issues involved as we work towards our ultimate goal of adopting rules to
safeguard consumers' privacy when using all telecommunications networks.
As the Commission continues to examine the substantial record in the proceeding, I can
assure you that we will carefully consider the important issues you raise in your letter to ensure
our final rules provide consumers with the protections needed to consistently safeguard
Page 2-The Honorable Elizabeth Warren
consumer data and to bolster consumer confidence in their use of these modem
telecommunications networks.
I appreciate your interest in this matter. Your letter will be added to the record of the
rulemaking proceeding and considered as we take the next steps in the Commission's broadband
privacy proceeding.
Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
~l~t
Tom Wheeler