Earlier this week, the FCC passed new regulations regarding privacy issues affecting the practices of phone companies. The regulations are geared towards making personal data safer over all phone systems (from wireless to VoIP) which seems to be a consumer-friendly course of action. However, executives at some of the telecommunications companies argue that, despite the benefits to consumers in terms of privacy, the strain that the new rules put on companies will greatly impede competition in the industry and so have costs to consumers as well. There have been concerns that wireless companies such as Sprint would be prevented from receiving information from their cable associates under the new laws but those fears seem to be unwarranted.