In June of last year, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed LD 946 “An Act To Protect the Privacy of Online Customer Information” into law; it takes effect on July 1 of this year. LD946 prohibits broadband Internet providers from using, sharing, or selling your personal information without your explicit consent. The providers don’t like this, so now four trade associations, representing hundreds of ISPs, telcos, and others, are suing Maine in order to be able to continue buying, selling, and otherwise exploiting your personal information and related data.
Explained Governor Mills, “With this common-sense law, Maine people can access the internet with the knowledge and comfort that their personal information cannot be bought or sold by their ISPs without their express approval.”
(By the way, Bangor, Maine has one cool police department, we featured them last year, and their Cop Selfies with the Duck of Justice.)
The organizations who are suing to defeat this privacy law include ACA Connects (‘America’s Communications Association’), CTIA (‘Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association’ a/k/a ‘The Wireless Association’), NCTA (‘National Cable & Telecommunications Association’ a/k/a ‘The Internet & Television Association’), and USTelecom (‘The Broadband Association’). Which, in turn, includes all of their members (complete list of members of ACA Connects, CTIA, NCTA, and USTelecom below).
In an announcement on her site, Gov. Mills explains “LD 946 “An Act To Protect the Privacy of Online Customer Information” prohibits a provider of broadband Internet access service from using, disclosing, selling or permitting access to customer personal information unless the customer expressly consents to that use, disclosure, sale or access. The legislation also prohibits a provider from refusing to serve a customer, charging a customer a penalty or offering a customer a discount if the customer does or does not consent to the use, disclosure, sale or access of their personal information.”
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This is, of course, exactly why those Internet service providers are suing.
In their complaint, the ACA, CTIA, NCTA, and USTelecom allege that the Maine law unfairly targets ISPs, and that it violates the 1st Amendment, stating that “The Statute violates the First Amendment because, among other things, it: (1) requires ISPs to secure “opt-in” consent from their customers before using information that is not sensitive in nature or even personally identifying; (2) imposes an opt-out consent obligation on using data that are by definition not customer personal information; (3) limits ISPs from advertising or marketing non- communications-related services to their customers; and (4) prohibits ISPs from offering price discounts, rewards in loyalty programs, or other cost – saving benefits in exchange for a customers consent to use their personal information. The Statute thus excessively burdens ISPs beneficial, pro-consumer speech about a wide variety of subjects, with no offsetting privacy-protection benefits.”
So who exactly are the members of these groups? See the below members lists for each of the CTIA, NCTA, ACA, and USTelecom. If you feel strongly about this, you may want to contact some of these members (the ACA even conveniently includes names and contact email for each member, which works out nicely as they are the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit).
List of ACA Members
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20210123172300/https://acaconnects.org/partners/associate-members-list/
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A+E Networks Adara Technologies Inc. Advanced Media Technologies Alianza Anthem Sports and Entertainment Buckingham Manufacturing Calix, Inc. CBHV Cinnamon Mueller CoBank CommSoft Cooperative Network Services (CNS) Crown Media Family Networks Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Discovery Networks eClerx Customer Operations Entertainment Studio Networks Evolution Digital, LLC EWTN Family Entertainment Television, Inc. FTX Broadband Game Show Network GLDS Gone Viral TV Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP Herring Networks, Inc. Hood & Associates CPAs, PC Hope Channel iGLASS Innovative Systems Insight TV INSP ION Media Networks ISPN Network Services JSI (John Staurulakis, Inc.) Kelley Drye & Warren LLP |
Kids Central MAV TV Maxxian Milestone Communications, Inc. Minerva Networks Mintz Levin Momentum Telecom Mosaic Marketing National Information Solutions Cooperative NBCUniversal NCTI NRBTV ONLINE Utility Exchange OpenVault Outdoor Sportsman Group Networks Ovation TV Pat Thompson Co. Phoenix Loss Control Plume QVC RBC Capital Markets REELZ Revolt Media & TV Ride Television Network, Inc. RocNet Supply, Inc. Ronin Technology Advisors Security Coverage SES Sterner Energy, LLC Trinity Broadcasting Networks The Weather Channel TV Media TV One Viacom Viamedia Vivicast Media |
List of CTIA Members
Source: https://www.ctia.org/about-ctia/our-members
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CTIA Board of Directors American Tower Corporation Assurant Asurion AT&T Bluegrass Cellular, Inc. Bluewater Wireless Boingo Wireless Carolina West Wireless Cellcom Ericsson, Inc. GM Onstar HTC America, Inc. Intel Corporation King Street Wireless |
LG Electronics MobileComm USA, Inc. Nokia Corporation QUALCOMM, Inc. Samsung Electronics America Smith Bagley, Inc. DBA Cellular One of N.E. AZ Southern Linc Sprint Corporation Synchronoss Technologies Syniverse Technologies T-Mobile USA TracFone Wireless, Inc. Tristar License Group, LLC U.S. Cellular Verizon |
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CTIA Carrier & Industry Members 3Cinteractive Aegis Mobile LLC Allot Communications Amazon American Network Solutions American Tower Corporation Anritsu Company Apple, Inc Assurant Asurion AT&T Bandwidth Bluegrass Cellular, Inc. Bluetest AB Bluewater Wireless Boingo Wireless Boku Identity, Inc. Bureau Veritas ADT Canon USA Carolina West Wireless CDYNE Corporation Cellcom Cellpoint Corporation Chat Mobility Cisco, Inc. Communications Test Design, Inc. Corning Incorporated Dialpad DISH Network East Kentucky Network LLC dba Appalachian Wireless enTouch Wireless Ericsson, Inc. ETS-Lindgren, Inc. EZ Texting First Orion Corp. GCI Communication Corp. General Test Systems Inc. Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc. GM Onstar Harris Corporation HEAD acoustics GmbH Hiya HTC America, Inc. Hustle Inc. iconectiv Infobip Intel Corporation Inteliquent King Street Wireless Legacy Telecommunications LG Electronics MobileComm USA, Inc. Ligado Networks |
mGage LLC Modus NetNumber NextNav, LLC Nok Nok Labs, Inc. Nokia Corporation Northstar Wireless Nutanix, Inc. Ookla, LLC OpenMarket Opn Sesame Oracle Corporation Panasonic Systems Company of North America Payfone, Inc. PCTEST Engineering Pinger, Inc. Pioneer Cellular Proofpoint Inc. Q Link Wireless LLC QUALCOMM, Inc. QualTek SAM Seamless Network Samsung Electronics America SAP Digital Interconnect SGS North America Inc. SimpleTexting SlickText Smith Bagley, Inc. DBA Cellular One of N.E. AZ Sony Mobile Communications Southern Linc Southwire Company Sprint Corporation Synchronoss Technologies Syniverse Technologies TruConnect Wireless Teledrip TeleSign Telrite Corporation TextMe Inc. Textnow, Inc. The Security Solutions Group, LLC Tillman Infrastructure T-Mobile USA TracFone Wireless, Inc. Track Group, Inc. Transaction Network Services Tristar License Group, LLC Twilio, Inc. U.S. Cellular Union Telephone Company Verizon ViaOne Services LLC Vibes Media West Safety Services Inc. WMC Global Zipwhip, Inc. |
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CTIA General Members A Test Lab Corp Accenture Aero Wireless Group AGiRepair Akamai Technologies Allstate Altair Semiconductor American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Apkudo, LLC Arnold & Porter Arrow Civil Asfalis Inc. ATMC Labs, Inc. Axis Communications Batteries Plus Bulbs Beijing 7 layers Huarui Beijing Hwa-Tech Black & Veatch Management Consulting Blancco Services, LLC BluFlux, LLC Bragg Communications DBA Eastlink Wireless B-Stock Solutions Inc. BT Federal, Inc. BTL Inc. CableLabs Cetecom GmbH Cleantech San Diego Clover Wireless Comcast Communications Global Certification Inc. Continental Automotive Services CTTL China Telecommunication Technology Labs Custom Communications Inc. Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Dekra Certification Dell Technologies Deloitte & Touche, LLP Delta Enterprise USA DLA Piper LLP DVT&C Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations East China Institute of Telecommunications Electro Magnetic Test, Inc. Element Materials Technology Elite Electronic Engineering EMITE Ing SL Encore Repair Eurofins E&E Exponent FedEx Supply Chain Fitbit, Inc. FutureDial, Inc. Global Resale Google LLC Guangzhou MCM Certification Geotab HCT Co. Ltd Hidden Level, Inc. HOBI International, Inc. Hogan Lovells HP Inc. Hydsoft Testing Co. Ltd. Hyla Mobile Hyper Taiwan Technology, Inc. Ingram Micro, Inc. Injured Gadgets Integrated Service Technology Inc. (iST) Intertek iQmetrix Itron, Inc. Keysight Technologies KORE Wireless Korea Compliance Testing Laboratories (KCTL) Korea Testing Laboratory Kyocera International, Inc. |
LGMS/LE Global Services Sdn Bhd LS Enterprise Group Luna Systems LLC Liquidity Services, Inc MasTec North America, Inc. MiCOM Labs Inc. Microwave Factory Co. Ltd. Mobile Defenders Motorola Mobility, Inc. Motorola Solutions, Inc. MTCC (Mobile Technology Convergence Center) MVG, Inc. Nexus Cellular Novatel Wireless NTT DoCoMo USA, Inc. Omnilert, LLC Onward Security Corporation Palindrome Technologies PCS Wireless Phoenix Innovations LLC Project Wing Quick Ship Brands Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster (RTCC) Rohde & Schwarz USA, Inc. Screened Images Inc dba Corrections.com Securus Technologies, Inc. Sensible Innovations, LLC ServiceCentral Technologies, Inc. SETAR-Servicio Di Telecomunicacion Shanghai Tejet Communications Technology Co. Ltd. Shenzhen Academy of Metrology & Quality Inspection Shenzhen BALUN Technology Co. Ltd. Shenzhen Duubee Intelligent Technologies Co. Ltd. Shenzhen Hua Mei Na Testing Technology Co. Ltd. Shenzhen Morlab Communications Technology Co. Ltd. Shenzhen Sunway Communication Co. Ltd. Shenzhen Sunyield Technologies Co., Ltd Shine Electronics Co. Inc. Sierra Wireless, Inc. Sinch Smart Crossing SPEAG (Schmid & Partner Eng. AG) Spirent Communications Sporton International Inc. Strategy Analytics, Inc. Taoglas USA, Inc. TA Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. Tech Mahindra Inc. TECORE, Inc. Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) TEOCO Corporation The State Radio Monitoring Testing Center Thompson Coburn LLP Transit Wireless TUV Rheinland of North America Inc. TUV SUD PSB Pte. Ltd. TA Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. Tech Mahindra Inc. TECORE, Inc. Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) The State Radio Monitoring Testing Center Transit Wireless TruWeather Solutions, Inc. TUV Rheinland of North America Inc. TUV SUD PSB Pte Ltd Uber Elevate Ubicquia UL Verification Services Inc. United Smart Tech Universal Standard Service, Inc. (USS Taiwan) Verkotan OY W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. WE Certification Oy Werx Repair Services Wiley Rein LLP Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP Wireless Research Center of North Carolina Zebra Technologies |
List of NCTA Members
Source: https://www.ncta.com/about-ncta
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A+E Networks Africa Channel Alticast, Inc. AMC Networks Inc. ARRIS Blonder-Tongue Labs, Inc. Bortz Media & Sports Group, Inc. Broken Bow TV Carlsen Resources, Inc. Casa Systems Castalia Communications Corp. CEA Associates, LLC Charter Communications Cim-Tel Cable, Inc. Clear Creek Mutual Telephone Comcast NBCUniversal CommScope, Inc. Conax As Cox Communications, Inc. C-SPAN Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Discovery, Inc. Disney Media Networks Duff & Phelps, LLC Eagle Communications EWTN Global Catholic Network Federated Wireless Inc Fox Networks Group GCI Cable Inc. Hallmark Channel (Crown Media Holdings) Hood Canal Cablevision Horowitz Associates, Inc. |
ION Media Networks Mediacom Communications Corporation Mega Broadband Investments Midco Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C. Mountain Zone TV National Geographic Channel (NGC) Nelson County Cablevision Inc. Ovation TV Rasenberger Media LLC RBC Daniels ReelzChannel REVOLT Media & TV RIDE TV Sand Cherry Associates Service Electric Cablevision Showtime Networks Sjoberg’s, Inc Sony Movie Channel Stifel Financial Corporation Technetix Telecon TV One Univision Communications Inc. UP Viacom Media Networks Viamedia Vyve Broadband WarnerMedia Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice Xavient Information Systems Zodiac Interactive |
List of USTelecom Members
Source: https://www.ustelecom.org/ustelecom-community/our-members/#0
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Alaska Communications Amherst Telephone Company Arcadian Infracom AT&T Baca Valley Telehone Beggs Telephone Company Big Bend Telephone Blackfoot Blanca Telephone Company Capital Communications CenturyLink Chapin Telephone Chariton Valley Chickasaw Holding Company Cisco Clarksville Mutual Telephone Comporium Consolidated Communications Coon Valley Telephone Cooperative Telephone Exchange CostQuestAssociates Darien Telephone Company Doylestown Telephone Company EATEL EpicTouch Ericsson Fort Jennings Telephone Company Frontier Communications Grand Telephone Company Great Plains Communicationis GTC Broadband GVTC Communications Hamilton.net Hargray Hat Island Telephone Company Highland Telephone Cooperative Hinton Telephone Company HomeTel Hot Springs Telephone Company iconectiv Ironton Telephone Jefferson Telecom JTC Companies |
Kalida Telephone Company Kinsman Mutual Telephone Company Lincoln County Telephone System, Inc. McCormack Ellington Telecom MVTel Monon Telephone MTCO NEC NTT NNTC Wireless Oneida County Telephone Oracle Pattersonville Telephone Company Pennsylvania Telephone Company Pioneer Pottawatomie Telephone Company Rainier Connect Reynolds Telephone Company Rice Belt Internet & Voice Riviera Telephone Company Shawnee Communications Shentel Silver Star Communications SmartCity Telecom Smithville Fiber Sodtown Telephone Company Telefonica TeleMedia TelSerCo Thacker Grigsby The Grandview Mutual Telephone Company Tonica Telephone TotelCSI Twilio Union Springs Telephone Company Verizon Wabash Communications Watch Communications Wilkes Communications Windstream WNM Communications WWest Communications |
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