nology allows information gatherers to compile high-
ly detailed personal histories of both children and
adults who are network users.
(10) Regardless of the technology that consum-
ers use, their privacy rights and expectations remain
a constant. Consumers must have knowledge that
personal information is being collected about them;
consumers must be given conspicuous notice if the
recipient of that information intends to reuse it for
other purposes, or disclose, or sell it; and finally,
consumers must have the right to prohibit or curtail
any reuse or sale of their personal information.
(11) Our Nation’s communications networks,
including the Internet, have developed extremely
rapidly over the last 2 years, and changes in stand-
ards, protocols, and digital technologies have enabled
consumers to make decisions about access to infor-
mation and services, such as the types of content on
the Internet.
(12) New innovative technology may empower
consumers and parents to better control dissemina-
tion of personal information by restoring decision-
making power to the consumer or parent.
(13) Industry efforts, with Government encour-
agement and oversight, to assist consumers through
the development of standards, protocols, and prac-
tices for the collection and dissemination of personal
information is critical to help parents and consumers
better control dissemination of their personal infor-
mation.
(14) Adoption of strong, fair information poli-
cies, standards, and practices, along with the wide-
spread implementation and utilization of consumer
empowerment tools, may limit the need for Govern-
ment regulation of personal information collection
and dissemination practices on the Internet.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION EXAMINATION.
(a) PROCEEDING REQUIRED.—Within 6 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Com-
mission shall commence a proceeding—
(1) to determine whether consumers are able,
and, if not, the methods by which consumers may be
enabled—
(A) to have knowledge that consumer in-
formation is being collected about them through
their utilization of various telecommunications
services and systems;
(B) to have conspicuous notice that such
information could be used, or is intended to be
used, by the entity collecting the data for rea-
sons unrelated to the original communications,
or that such information could be sold (or is in-
tended to be sold) to other companies or enti-
ties; and
(C) to stop the reuse, disclosure, or sale of
that information;
(2) to determine whether, in the case of con-
sumers who are children, the abilities described in
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1)
are or can be exercised by their parents;
(3) to propose changes in the Commission’s reg-
ulations as necessary to correct any defects identi-
fied pursuant to this section in the privacy rights
and remedies of parents and consumers generally;
(4) to review responses and suggestions from
affected commercial and nonprofit entities, as well
as from the National Telecommunication and Infor-
mation Administration, to the proposed changes
made pursuant to paragraph (3); and
(5) to prepare recommendations to the Con-
gress for any legislative changes required to correct
such defects.
(b) SCHEDULE FOR FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
RESPONSES.—The Federal Trade Commission shall, with-
in 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act—
(1) complete any rulemaking required to revise
Commission regulations to correct any defects in
such regulations identified pursuant to subsection
(a); and
(2) submit to Congress a report containing the
recommendations required by subsection (a)(5).
SEC. 4. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION EXAM-
INATION.
(a) PROCEEDING REQUIRED.—Within 6 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Federal Commu-
nications Commission shall commence a proceeding—
(1) to examine the impact of interconnected
communications networks of telephone, cable, sat-
ellite, wireless devices, and other technologies on the
privacy rights and remedies of the consumers of
those technologies, as described in paragraphs (1)
and (2) of section 3(a);
(2) to determine whether consumers are able,
and, if not, the methods by which consumers may be
enabled to exercise such rights and remedies;
(3) to propose changes in the Commission’s reg-
ulations to ensure that the effect on consumer pri-
vacy rights is considered in the introduction of new
telecommunications services and that the protection
of such privacy rights is incorporated as necessary
in the design of such services or the rules regulating
such services;
(4) to propose changes in the Commission’s reg-
ulations as necessary to correct any defects identi-
fied pursuant to this section in such rights and rem-
edies;
(5) to review responses and suggestions from
affected commercial and nonprofit entities, as well
as from the National Telecommunications and Infor-
mation Administration, to the proposed changes
made pursuant to paragraph (4); and
(6) to prepare recommendations to the Con-
gress for any legislative changes required to correct
such defects.
(b) SCHEDULE
FOR FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION RESPONSES.—The Federal Communications
Commission shall, within 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act—
(1) complete any rulemaking required to revise
Commission regulations to correct defects in such
regulations identified pursuant to subsection (a);
and
(2) submit to the Congress a report containing
the recommendations required by subsection (a)(6).
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