Today:  FirstNet Announces More than 3,600 Public Safety Agencies Subscribed, FTC Announces PrivacyCon 2019 to Address Privacy and Data Security, and FTC EU-US Privacy Shield Settlement

FirstNet Announces More than 3,600 Public Safety Agencies Subscribed

FirstNet announced that more than 3,600 public safety agencies across the country have joined FirstNet. 

“FirstNet is being purpose-built to favor the important work first responders do. This is challenging and time consuming. It’s also necessary,” said Chris Sambar, senior vice president, FirstNet at AT&T. “Much work still needs to be done to make sure FirstNet is a solution that meets the needs of all first responders. But we’re proud of how FirstNet has been delivering for first responders and the communities they serve when help is most needed. And we’re honored to see public safety embrace their network.”

The release cited three areas where FirstNet was assisting local first responders:

• Staying connected during Hurricanes Florence and Michael;
• Providing rural coverage during search and rescues; and
• Monitoring restricted airspace at the 2018 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

FTC Announces PrivacyCon 2019 to Address Privacy and Data Security

The FTC announced its fourth annual PrivacyCon, to be held on June 27, 2019.  PrivacyCon 2019 aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including researchers, academics, industry representatives, consumer advocates, and government regulators, to discuss the latest research and trends related to consumer privacy and data security. 

The FTC is seeking research presentations on a wide range of consumer privacy and security issues, with a particular focus on the economics driving those issues. The call for presentations seeks empirical research responding to several questions, including:

• What new privacy and security issues arise from emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality?
• What are the greatest threats to consumer privacy today?
• How can one quantify the costs and benefits to consumers of keeping data about them private?
• What are the incentives for manufacturers and software developers to implement privacy and security by design in their goods or services and keep security up to date?
• Is there evidence that the market is able to provide efficient levels of privacy and data security?

FTC EU-US Privacy Shield Settlement

The Federal Trade Commission has gave final approval to a settlement with ReadyTech Corp., over allegations that it falsely claimed it was in the process of certifying its compliance under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.  That framework establishes a process to allow companies to transfer consumer data from European Union countries to the United States in compliance with EU law.

In its complaint, the FTC alleges that ReadyTech, which provides online training services, falsely claimed on its website that it is “in the process of certifying that we comply with the U.S.-E.U. Privacy Shield framework.” While ReadyTech initiated a Privacy Shield application in October 2016, the company did not complete the steps necessary to participate in the Privacy Shield framework.

As part of the settlement, ReadyTech is prohibited from misrepresenting its participation in any privacy or security program sponsored by a government or any self-regulatory or standard-setting organization, including but not limited to the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework and the Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield framework. It also must comply with standard reporting and compliance requirements.

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The Regulatory Mix, Inteserra’s blog of telecom related regulatory activities, is a snapshot of PUC, FCC, legislative, and occasionally court issues that our regulatory monitoring team uncovers each day. Depending on their significance, some items may be the subject of an Inteserra Briefing.