Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
FCC TAKES STEP TOWARDS ENSURING CONSUMERS HAVE 
UNIFORM ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTIONS
  --
WASHINGTON, March 1, 2017 – The Federal Communications Commission today announced 
that it had taken a step towards ensuring that consumers have uniform online privacy protections.  
Specifically, it has issued a temporary stay of a data security regulation that would have subjected 
Internet service providers (ISPs) to a different standard than that applied to other companies in 
the Internet ecosystem by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).  The regulation would have 
gone into effect on March 2.  
Today’s decision will maintain a status quo that has been in place for nearly two years with 
respect to ISPs and nearly a decade with respect to other telecommunications carriers.  The stay 
will remain in place until the Commission is able to act on pending petitions for reconsideration.    
The Commission’s stay will provide time for the FCC to work with the FTC to create a 
comprehensive and consistent framework for protecting Americans’ online privacy.  The FTC 
had proven to be an effective cop on the beat for safeguarding digital privacy.  But in 2015, the 
FCC stripped the FTC of its authority over ISPs’ privacy and data security practices when it 
adopted the Title II Order.  Today’s stay will also ensure that ISPs and other telecommunications 
carriers do not incur substantial and unnecessary compliance costs while the Commission 
considers modifications to the rule.  
ISPs have been – and will continue to be – obligated to comply with Section 222 of the 
Communications Act and other applicable federal and state privacy, data security, and breach 
notification laws.  In addition, broadband providers have released a voluntary set of “ISP Privacy 
Principles” that are consistent with the Federal Trade Commission’s long-standing privacy 
framework. For other telecommunications carriers, the Commission’s preexisting rules 
governing data security will remain in place.  
The stay does not address those rules that became effective earlier this year as well as those that 
are scheduled to become effective later this year.  
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Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @FCC
www.fcc.gov/office-media-relations
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order 
constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).