At its March 31, 2016 open meeting, the FCC adopted a notice seeking comment on privacy rules for Internet service providers (ISPs). The rules would govern how ISPs can collect and use information about their customers' online activities, as well as prescribing cybersecurity requirements for protecting customer information. Much more detailed information will be available in the coming days when the agency releases the text of the notice. The proposal was adopted over the dissent of the two Republican commissioners who expressed concern that ISPs would be subject to restrictions not applicable to other entities that collect and use this information for targeted advertising.
The rules would directly govern how ISPs collect data. They do not purport to regulate other companies that collect the same kind of information, such as websites and operating systems. They will, however, likely affect the advertising ecosystem in which companies increasingly rely on information from ISPs to build customer profiles and use ISPs to help deliver ads across numerous screens, such as TVs, tablets, smartphones and laptops.
Privacy proposals
The general outline of the privacy rules as described during the FCC meeting and press release create a three tiered system of customer consent:
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No consent would be required to obtain customer data necessary to provide the broadband services and for marketing the same kind of broadband services;
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Customer data could be shared with affiliates to market "communications-related services" – a category that generally includes voice telephone service and Internet access – with notice and the opportunity for customers to opt-out.
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Customers would need to provide affirmative consent to any other uses of customer data. In particular, the proposal would require affirmative consent to collect, use, share or sell customer data for targeted advertising purposes.
Under the proposed rules, ISPs must provide "clear, conspicuous and persistent notice" about what information they collect and share with third parties and how customers can limit the use of that data.
The FCC also asks whether to ban three types of practices altogether:
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ISPs could not use so-called deep packet inspection technology to review the content of on-line transmissions, presumably except for network purposes.
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Some types of persistent tracking technology would be banned. It appears that this prohibition is aimed at technologies like "supercookies" that cannot be easily disabled.
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ISPs could not offer "financial inducements" to collect and use customer data. This prohibition would cover practices like offering lower broadband prices in exchange for the ability to share or sell customer data.
Data security proposals
The FCC would require ISPs to adopt cybersecurity risk management practices, institute training programs, implement strong authentication requirements, and undertake some form of periodic security risk management audits. The notice will ask questions and seek comment on steps to secure, retain and transmit sensitive customer information. Finally, the FCC proposes to require ISPs to notify their customers of security breaches within specified time frames.
Potential impacts
The FCC's proposals are broad-reaching and will affect the online advertising ecosystem in ways that are significant but as yet unclear. Companies that partner with ISPs or use ISP-collected information in developing profiles for targeted advertising are likely to see that information flow effectively ended if the FCC adopts the rules as proposed. ISPs also have their own ad networks that work with ad exchanges, data brokers, and ad servers. Those relationships also are likely to affected as well. The ability of ISPs to assist in serving or tracking ads across devices connected to that ISP may also be affected.
The FCC's proposed cybersecurity rules could also set a precedent for other federal or state agencies. At a minimum, it is likely that any requirements adopted by the FCC will create a baseline for best practices that will be applied in other contexts.
It also is important to note that the FCC's proposals are subject to change at any point in the rulemaking process, and that the FCC could change the scope of the information covered by the rules, the requirements for consent, the limits on use of customer data, or the cybersecurity standards it has proposed. As one commissioner said during the meeting "everything is on the table."
We will provide further information and analysis as further details are made available.
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