FCC Updates Telecom Data Breach Reporting Rules — March 27, 2024
The FCC modernized breach notification timelines and federal coordination requirements for carriers handling CPNI and customer data.
Executive briefing: On the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted updated data breach rules for telecommunications carriers. The order streamlines how providers disclose incidents affecting customer proprietary network information (CPNI) and other personally identifiable information.
Major changes
- Mandatory reporting to CISA and FBI. Carriers must alert both agencies through the FCC’s breach portal, closing the gap between telecom regulations and broader critical infrastructure expectations.
- 7-day customer notification window. Providers have no more than seven business days after notifying federal partners to inform affected subscribers, replacing the previous 30-day trigger.
- Expanded breach definition. The rule covers inadvertent disclosures and accidental exposures, not just malicious intrusions, compelling stronger configuration and vendor oversight.
Implications for compliance teams
- Faster forensics. Incident response playbooks must prioritize rapid scoping and evidence collection to meet the compressed notification timetable.
- Cross-regulator coordination. Carriers should harmonize FCC reporting with FTC Safeguards Rule, state breach statutes, and potential SEC disclosures for listed parents.
- Vendor accountability. Managed service providers handling call detail records or identity data need contractual obligations for prompt detection and reporting.
Next steps
- Update incident response runbooks to include FCC portal submission templates and escalation workflows to CISA and FBI.
- Review data inventory and retention schedules to minimize exposure of CPNI and related customer data sets.
- Conduct tabletop exercises simulating accidental disclosures to validate multi-jurisdictional notification requirements.