FCC Seeks Comment on Repeal of Retention of Telephone Records Rules

On August 4, 2015, a number of public interest advocates (including the Benton Foundation) filed a petition for rulemaking asking the Federal Communications Commission to repeal Section 42.6 of the Commission’s rules, Retention of Telephone Records, that requires telephone companies to retain the detailed call records of their customers. The petitioners explained that the regulation was unduly burdensome and ineffectual and posed an ongoing threat to the privacy and security of American consumers. The FCC is seeking comment on the petition. Comments are due June 16; reply comments are due July 3.