Talk about getting hit over the head for being upfront, Charter Communications' plans to track and sell customer web-surfing data--set to begin in June in four of the company's markets across the country--has raised concerns and drawn the attention of two congressmen who've asked the company to postpone its implementation.
Charter notified high-speed Internet customers in Fort Worth, Texas; San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Oxford, Mass.; and Newtown, Conn. of its planned partnership with online ad firm NebuAd to gather data from a "few hundred" customers to help develop targeted online ads.
Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Joe Barton, R-Texas, wrote to Charter asking it to hold off until they speak with CEO Neil Smit. Markey is chair of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet; Barton is ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Neither NebuAd or gathering web surfing data is new, NebuAd has been working with Embarq on a similar project for months. The difference is Embarq announced its deal quietly and avoided play in the media. Lesson learned Charter? Shame on you for being transparent.
For more:
See the story [1] at STL Today
Links:
[1] http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/A516E8EE1A4AE92F8625744C0004F0F5?OpenDocument