As expected,the FCC adopted a notice of proposed rulemaking, or NPRM, that proposes toestablish privacy guidelines for broadband Internet service providers.

The proposal has been designed to ensure broadband customershave meaningful choice, greater transparency and strong security protectionsfor their personal information collected by the ISPs, the agency said in aMarch 31 news release.

The scope of the NPRM is limited to broadband serviceproviders. The proposed rules do not apply to the privacy practices of websitesand other "edge services" over which the U.S. Federal TradeCommission has authority. Additionally, the proposed rules do notcover other services of a broadband provider, such as the operation of a socialmedia site, or issues such as government surveillance, encryption or lawenforcement.