| In the U.S.A., Customer Proprietary Network | | | | and the customer's telecommunications carrier. |
| Information, better known as CPNI, is information | | | | Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, in |
| created by virtue of the relationship that exists | | | | accordance with clarifications from the FCC (Federal |
| between a subscriber and their carrier. This information | | | | Communications Commission), the use of CPNI |
| generally includes the type, location, destination, amount, | | | | information is generally prohibited without the express |
| technical configuration, and quantity of a customer's | | | | permission of the subscriber, even if the purpose is for |
| telecommunications services (e.g. local, long distance, | | | | marketing the subscriber's other services. |
| and wireless phone service, etc.) that have been | | | | If a subscriber switches their service provider for |
| purchased. | | | | another, their initial service provider is strictly prohibited |
| More specifically, what type of information does the | | | | from using the information as an attempt to get the |
| CPNI include? CPNI includes a variety of information | | | | customer back. |
| typically found on a customer's monthly telephone bill | | | | That being said, not everything regarding Customer |
| such as: | | | | Proprietary Network Information is prohibited. For |
| • The type of telephone line - technical | | | | instance, the CPNI rules do not prohibit the assembling |
| characteristics | | | | and publishing of aggregate customer information. |
| • The class of service | | | | Furthermore, it does not ban the use of subscriber |
| • Current phone charges | | | | information for creating directories. |
| • Directory assistant charges | | | | Remember that in order to share a customer's CPNI |
| • Local service and long distance billing | | | | with their agents, affiliates, or parent companies, |
| records | | | | telecommunications service providers need the |
| • Calling patterns | | | | customer's permission first. If the customer gives their |
| • Usage data | | | | consent, their carrier will be permitted to share the |
| • Optional services that have been | | | | customer's CPNI, which helps them to learn how to |
| subscribed to | | | | better serve and meet their customer's service needs. |
| The information CPNI does not include is the more | | | | Finally, a customer can withdraw their consent to have |
| personal details of a customer such as their name, | | | | their CPNI shared at any time. They simply have to |
| address, or phone number. The only parties that should | | | | notify their carrier. |
| be aware of the CPNI information are the customer, | | | | |