Media Contact: 
David Grossman, (202) 418-2100 Josh Tzuker, (202) 326-3279
david.grossman@fcc.gov jtzuker@ftc.gov
For Immediate Release
JOINT STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER MIGNON CLYBURN AND 
FTC COMMISSIONER TERRELL MCSWEENY
On Indefinite Suspension of Data Security Rules
  -
WASHINGTON, February 24, 2017 – “Today Chairman Pai has created an unfortunate 
dilemma: accept a Bureau-level action that indefinitely unwinds key consumer privacy 
protections established by the FCC last year, or accept four business days (rather than the usual 
three weeks) to evaluate and vote on a decision that has massive ramifications for the security of 
private information held by broadband providers,” said FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.
“I am very troubled by the news that the data security protections of the Broadband Privacy Rule 
will be put on hold. What this means, in effect, is that consumers with a broadband subscription 
will be less protected because the only cop on the beat has been taken off their patrol. In an age 
of Internet connected everything, removing security requirements from broadband providers is 
needlessly dangerous for American consumers. The rules the FCC adopted conform to long 
standing FTC practice and provide clear rules on how broadband companies should protect their 
customers’ personal information. This action weakens the security requirement guarding every 
consumers’ most personal data and should be reconsidered,” said FTC Commissioner Terrell 
McSweeny.
“The outcome is clear. Chairman Pai is determined to take action that leaves consumers without 
a cop on the beat protecting their personal information from misuse by their broadband service 
provider. This means no federal data security requirements whatsoever for broadband providers. 
This is the antithesis of putting #ConsumersFirst,” said Clyburn and McSweeny.
“Then-Commissioner Pai said in 2014 that ‘FCC decisions issued on the bureau level cut the 
commissioners out of the decision-making process entirely.’ Today, he is using the very same 
tool as Chairman that he criticized as a Commissioner. I could not agree with his 2014-self more 
that ‘bad process makes bad policy.’ And that is exactly what we see here today,” continued 
Clyburn.
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Office of FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: (202) 418-2100
Twitter: @MClyburnFCC
www.fcc.gov
Office of FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeny: (202) 326-3279
Twitter: @TMcSweenyFTC
www.ftc.gov
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a 
Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).