The Falls Township Supervisors have introduced an amendment to its Cable Television Franchise ordinance. If adopted, the ordinance would prevent cable companies from releasing “personally identifiable information” without a customer’s consent.
The amendment is a response to the federal government’s action this spring which made it legal for online service providers such as Comcast and Verizon to share private information without their customers’ consent. The Falls Supervisors voted unanimously during its September 19 meeting to introduce and advertise the ordinance and its adoption will be considered in mid-October.
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The local ordinance amendment would require cable providers to obtain customers’ written or electronic permission prior to sharing information. The ordinance defines personally identifiable information as a customer’s login credentials, the extent of viewing of video or other services, shopping choices, interests, energy uses, medical and banking information, web browsing activities, application usage, as well as any other private information.
A provision of the proposed amendment would require cable companies to email or mail privacy notices and opt-out forms annually to all customers. In addition, notices would be provided to customers at the time the service was set up.
Lower Makefield Supervisors enacted a similar privacy protection ordinance and Middletown Supervisors have said they are considering one as well.
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