CTIA asks FCC to halt anti-competitive rule - Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association

Mobile Phone News, May 4, 1998 by Malcolm E. Spicer, Ellen B. Mullally

The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) is asking the FCC to stay its rules regarding Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) relating to wireless carriers. CTIA's motion argues that the FCC is misinterpreting section 222 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. That section seeks to achieve a balance between pro-competitive marketing and customer privacy.

The new CPNI rules restrict the use of information that telecommunications carriers have collected about their own customers. For example, the rule would prohibit cellular providers from looking at customer records in order to offer digital handsets to their best analog customers.