Pressure grows on FCC to kill state consumer protection laws

Mobile industry lobby group CTIA urged the Federal Communications Commission to preempt state laws on privacy and network neutrality in a recent meeting and filing. Comcast and Verizon had already asked the FCC to preempt such laws; CTIA represents AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile USA, Sprint, and other mobile companies. Carriers are urging the FCC to preempt states in the same regulatory proceeding that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai started in order to overturn the commission's net neutrality rules. Pai's proposal to eliminate net neutrality rules could be passed as soon as Dec—if carriers get their way, that same order will prevent states from imposing their own laws. "Earlier this year, legislators in various states attempted to countermand Congressional action on broadband privacy regulations," CTIA complained, referring to Congress' vote to eliminate consumer privacy protections. With the FCC about to repeal its net neutrality regulations, CTIA is worried states will try to fill the regulatory gap.