FCC expected to rule Verizon violated privacy laws

The ruling could come as early as Friday, according to this person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision was not yet public.

The ruling would uphold a complaint brought by Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable Inc. and privately owned Bright House Networks, and it goes against an earlier staff recommendation that Verizon did not violate any consumer privacy laws.

In that April recommendation, FCC's enforcement bureau said the commission needs further public input on rules governing competition for voice, video and Internet services and whether further regulation is needed.

Verizon's competitors complained in February to the agency that after customers requested a cancellation of their Verizon voice services, New York-based Verizon improperly tried to retain them.

"The FCC Commissioners consistently call for competition and customer choice. It's hard to believe a majority of the FCC believes consumers have real choice if people only get information from the cable company," Tom Tauke, Verizon's executive vice president of public affairs, policy and communications, said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press.

Shares of Verizon rose 52 cents Thursday to close at $36.50.