Cybertelecom Federal Internet Law & Policy An Educational Project

Broadband :: Consumer Protection

On September 23, 2005, the Commission released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in WC Docket No. 05-271 (NPRM).  In the NPRM, the Commission sought comment on the need for any non-economic regulatory requirements necessary to ensure that consumer protection needs are met by all providers of broadband Internet access service, regardless of the underlying technology.  A summary of the NPRM was published in the Federal Register on October 17, 2005, triggering the cycle for comments and reply comments. - Public Notice Oct. 17

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The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) initiates this rulemaking to explore whether regulations we would adopt pursuant to the Commission's ancillary jurisdiction under Title I of the Communications Act (Act) should apply to broadband Internet access service, regardless of the underlying technology providers use to offer the service. The rulemaking seeks comment on whether the imposition of regulations in the areas of consumer privacy, unauthorized changes to service, truth-in-billing, network outage reporting, discontinuance of service, rate averaging requirements, and the corresponding ability of consumers to take advantage of Commission avenues for resolution of these consumer protection issues, is desirable and necessary as a matter of public policy, or whether we should rely on market forces to address some or all of the areas listed. The rulemaking also explores whether there are other areas of consumer protection not listed above for which the Commission should impose regulations. Overall, this rulemaking will determine whether any non-economic regulatory requirements are necessary to ensure that consumer protection needs are met by all providers of broadband Internet access service. -- 70 Fed. Reg. 60259 (Oct. 17, 2005)

• Public Notice Oct. 17
• 70 Fed. Reg. 60259 (Oct. 17, 2005)