Earlier today, the Federal Communications Commissions voted to launch a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking public comment on a proposed framework for ensuring that consumers have the tools they need to make informed choices about how their data is used and when it is shared by their broadband providers. The following statement may be attributed to Amina N. Fazlullah, Policy Director at the Benton Foundation:
We welcome the FCC's exploration of privacy protections for broadband consumers. Year after year, privacy concerns have been cited by digital inclusion experts as a barrier to robust broadband adoption. Unsophisticated consumers are most vulnerable to problems caused by a lack of strong and clear privacy protections. Benton looks forward to engaging in a robust public dialogue on broadband privacy led by the FCC.