Convergence of technologies has drastically changed the way that
Americans communicate and how they access goods, services, and
information. Consumers can use a single device to talk to
friends, edit and send work documents, pay bills, read the news,
watch videos, and listen to music. Convergence also allows
consumers to obtain service for those functions from many
sources. In this way, convergence has blurred the bright lines
dividing formerly compartmentalized industries. For example,
consumers can get phone service from Internet companies, video
programming from phone companies, and Internet services from
cable television companies. Consumers can benefit enormously
from the convenience and choices, but convergence also presents
many consumer protection challenges. Some of these include the
privacy and identity theft concerns raised by storing sensitive
personal information in one do-it-all device, and the ease with
which fraudsters may attack consumers. At the hearings, the
Commission asked panelists to ex