FCC Rule Changes in Breach Notifications and Privacy Impact Telecoms Suppliers

Telecommunications networks are of paramount importance as vital elements of the national infrastructure. Consequently, the government diligently monitors the delivery of these services and enacts stringent regulations to ensure they align with the national interest. These regulations play a pivotal role in shaping how telecommunications companies enhance their services, particularly in response to ongoing changes that affect the protection of confidential data and the handling of malware.

Entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding equitable usage of communication services, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) assumes a central role in establishing comprehensive telecommunications laws and regulations.

Net Neutrality’s Meandering Path

Over the years, several significant issues have emerged in the realm of telecommunications. In 2015, the FCC implemented Net Neutrality rules with two primary objectives: preventing discriminatory practices that withhold telecom services from specific users and prioritizing emergency communication and essential local and national needs. These rules aimed to ensure that internet service providers (ISPs) treat all internet traffic impartially, without blocking or throttling specific content or favoring certain types of content.

However, two years later, these rules were repealed by the FCC. The focus shifted more towards determining who bears the cost of internet infrastructure rather than analyzing traffic patterns. The concept of Network Neutrality allowed high-traffic companies, such as social media platforms, to utilize the communication lines without additional payments. Consequently, the burden of infrastructure expenses fell largely on telecommunications companies.

In 2017, a rule change allowed these companies to recoup a portion of their investments by treating high-bandwidth users differently from others, thereby enabling them to manage their resources more effectively.  

Ensuring Network Access for All

Broadband availability is a crucial issue, particularly due to the significant disparity in access between urban and rural areas in the US. The FCC has undertaken efforts to promote broadband deployment in remote regions. However, achieving a balance between ensuring widespread broadband access and considering the associated deployment costs and impact remains a challenge.

Currently, the federal government appears to maintain its existing guidelines without pursuing major changes. This provides stability to telecommunications suppliers, who can rely on their current business plans in the near term, understanding that they will continue to be effective.

Breach Notifications Updated

However, the FCC is currently implementing a series of subtle alterations. One notable change is the update to breach notification requirements for telecommunications carriers. Specifically, they have eliminated the previous mandatory waiting period of seven days before companies are obligated to inform customers about a breach.

This area of breach notification has been a contentious issue, with California taking the lead in addressing it through the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). The CCPA mandates that companies provide consumers with transparency regarding the collection and use of their personal information. It grants individuals the right to opt-out of data sharing or selling and provides them with the ability to delete their personal information and correct any inaccuracies.

The FCC aims to align federal telecommunications’ data breach notification rules with those of states and other sectors. To initiate this process, the agency has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which sets the stage for reviewing the regulations pertaining to notifying customers and federal law enforcement about breaches involving customer proprietary network information (CPNI). Consequently, further changes may be forthcoming.

Stemming the Robotext Tide

Robotexts have emerged as the next form of spam, flooding individuals’ smartphone message boxes with unwanted junk. According to the FCC, the number of robotext complaints skyrocketed from approximately 3,300 in 2015 to 18,900 per year by 2022.

To address this issue, the FCC has taken measures to close the “lead generator loophole.” This loophole allows companies to share users’ information with numerous marketers using a single consent form. Marketers then inundate consumers with texts on various topics, often unrelated to their interests.

To combat this problem, the FCC proposed three new rules.

• Telecom providers in the US will be required to implement measures to block robotexts that are highly likely to be illegal. (these messages can originate from invalid, unallocated, or unused phone numbers)
• The regulatory order prohibits messages from phone numbers identified by government agencies as unsuitable for SMS transmission
• Carriers are directed to establish a point of contact where text senders can report mistakenly blocked messages

Conclusion

The government has played a crucial role in shaping and regulating the telecommunications market, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) serving as the central authority responsible for establishing rules and regulations. Through its actions, the agency has been instrumental in addressing important issues such as dismantling monopolies, ensuring equal access to telecommunications services, and safeguarding user information.

In recent times, the FCC has made changes aimed at enhancing the telecommunications landscape, including efforts to reduce spam and other unwanted solicitations. These updates, while significant, have generally been characterized as minor adjustments rather than major overhauls. Nonetheless, they carry substantial implications for carriers, who must closely monitor the agency’s directives to align their business operations accordingly. Adhering to these regulations is crucial for carriers to avoid potential fines associated with non-compliance.

Despite the regulatory framework, telecommunications service providers still enjoy a considerable degree of flexibility and autonomy in terms of innovation and differentiation. This latitude allows them to develop unique solutions and distinguish their services from those offered by their competitors. Thus, while complying with FCC rulings is essential, carriers have the opportunity to differentiate their offerings within the established guidelines.

Access the latest articles in our Telecoms series to learn more:

The next chapter for fiber to the home (FTTH)

Telecom security in the digital age: Protecting confidential information in the face of evolving threats

Digital transformation in the telecoms industry

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