47 U.S. Code § 551 - Protection of subscriber privacy
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(a)
Notice to subscriber regarding personally identifiable information; definitions
(1)
At the time of entering into an agreement to provide any cable service or other service to a subscriber and at least once a year thereafter, a cable operator shall provide notice in the form of a separate, written statement to such subscriber which clearly and conspicuously informs the subscriber of—
(A)
the nature of personally identifiable information collected or to be collected with respect to the subscriber and the nature of the use of such information;
(B)
the nature, frequency, and purpose of any disclosure which may be made of such information, including an identification of the types of persons to whom the disclosure may be made;
(D)
the times and place at which the subscriber may have access to such information in accordance with subsection (d) of this section; and
(E)
the limitations provided by this section with respect to the collection and disclosure of information by a cable operator and the right of the subscriber under subsections (f) and (h) of this section to enforce such limitations.
In the case of subscribers who have entered into such an agreement before the effective date of this section, such notice shall be provided within 180 days of such date and at least once a year thereafter.
(2)
For purposes of this section, other than subsection (h) of this section—
(A)
the term “personally identifiable information” does not include any record of aggregate data which does not identify particular persons;
(B)
the term “other service” includes any wire or radio communications service provided using any of the facilities of a cable operator that are used in the provision of cable service; and
(C)
the term “cable operator” includes, in addition to persons within the definition of cable operator in section
522 of this title, any person who
(b)
Collection of personally identifiable information using cable system
(c)
Disclosure of personally identifiable information
(1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2), a cable operator shall not disclose personally identifiable information concerning any subscriber without the prior written or electronic consent of the subscriber concerned and shall take such actions as are necessary to prevent unauthorized access to such information by a person other than the subscriber or cable operator.
(2)
A cable operator may disclose such information if the disclosure is—
(A)
necessary to render, or conduct a legitimate business activity related to, a cable service or other service provided by the cable operator to the subscriber;
(B)
subject to subsection (h) of this section, made pursuant to a court order authorizing such disclosure, if the subscriber is notified of such order by the person to whom the order is directed;
(C)
a disclosure of the names and addresses of subscribers to any cable service or other service, if—
(D)
to a government entity as authorized under chapters 119, 121, or 206 of title
18, except that such disclosure shall not include records revealing cable subscriber selection of video programming from a cable operator.
(d)
Subscriber access to information
A cable subscriber shall be provided access to all personally identifiable information regarding that subscriber which is collected and maintained by a cable operator. Such information shall be made available to the subscriber at reasonable times and at a convenient place designated by such cable operator. A cable subscriber shall be provided reasonable opportunity to correct any error in such information.
(e)
Destruction of information
A cable operator shall destroy personally identifiable information if the information is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and there are no pending requests or orders for access to such information under subsection (d) of this section or pursuant to a court order.
(f)
Civil action in United States district court; damages; attorney’s fees and costs; nonexclusive nature of remedy
(1)
Any person aggrieved by any act of a cable operator in violation of this section may bring a civil action in a United States district court.
(g)
Regulation by States or franchising authorities
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to prohibit any State or any franchising authority from enacting or enforcing laws consistent with this section for the protection of subscriber privacy.
(h)
Disclosure of information to governmental entity pursuant to court order
Except as provided in subsection (c)(2)(D) of this section, a governmental entity may obtain personally identifiable information concerning a cable subscriber pursuant to a court order only if, in the court proceeding relevant to such court order—
Source
(June 19, 1934, ch. 652, title VI, § 631, as added Pub. L. 98–549, § 2,Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2794; amended Pub. L. 102–385, § 20,Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1497; Pub. L. 107–56, title II, § 211,Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 283.)
References in Text
For “the effective date of this section”, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), as 60 days after Oct. 30, 1984, except where otherwise expressly provided, see section 9(a) ofPub. L. 98–549, set out as an Effective Date note under section
521 of this title.
Amendments
2001—Subsec. (c)(2)(D). Pub. L. 107–56, § 211(1), added subpar. (D).
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 107–56, § 211(2), substituted “Except as provided in subsection (c)(2)(D) of this section, a governmental entity” for “A governmental entity” in introductory provisions.
1992—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–385, § 20(a), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “For purposes of this section, the term ‘personally identifiable information’ does not include any record of aggregate data which does not identify particular persons.”
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102–385, § 20(b), inserted before period at end “and shall take such actions as are necessary to prevent unauthorized access to such information by a person other than the subscriber or cable operator”.
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 102–385effective 60 days after Oct. 5, 1992, see section 28 ofPub. L. 102–385, set out as a note under section
325 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective 60 days after Oct. 30, 1984, except where otherwise expressly provided, see section 9(a) ofPub. L. 98–549, set out as a note under section
521 of this title.
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