Cellphone carriers warn FCC not to regulate privacy protections

Wireless carriers are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) not to impose aggressive new regulations aimed at protecting the privacy of cellphone users.

In filings with the FCC on Friday, the companies argued that voluntary guidelines are preferable to mandatory rules for how they must handle their customers' personal information.

The FCC opened a proceeding in May on what it should do to better protect the privacy of cellphone users, and asked for comments from the public. 

The commission noted that because of technological advancements, people's phones can now collect increasingly personal information, such as the websites they visit, the contents of their text messages and even their physical locations.

The cellphone companies came under fire when a computer researcher revealed late last year that many of them use a software called Carrier IQ that collects detailed data about how people use their phones.

The companies said they only used Carrier IQ to analyze general information about the performance of their phones and networks. 

In a filing on Friday, CTIA, the wireless industry's trade group, warned the commission not to adopt new regulations aimed at restricting the use of network diagnostic tools like Carrier IQ.



Verizon acknowledged the importance of protecting its customers' privacy, but said the FCC should allow the Commerce Department to take the lead on addressing the issue.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), a Commerce Department agency, is currently leading talks between privacy groups and companies about how to better protect people's privacy online.

The goal of the discussions is to develop voluntary codes of conduct for companies to follow.

"NTIA's initiative presents the opportunity to develop a comprehensive approach that will protect consumers while helping promote continued innovation," Verizon wrote.

AT&T argued in its filing that any regulations should affect other companies involved in providing mobile services, such as device makers, operating systems, search engines, social networking sites and Web browsers.

"Rules that single out telecommunications services, while ignoring the large majority of other services and service providers that obtain and use substantially the same (or more) consumer information, are anachronistic in the new mobile landscape," AT&T wrote.

Because the government should take a broad approach to mobile privacy, NTIA and the Federal Trade Commission are in a better position than the FCC to enforce privacy protections, AT&T argued.