Score one for the consumer. The Washington Post is reporting that the federal government, speaking on behalf of former Verizon phone service customers, yesterday sent the communications company a stern message: Stop trying to woo back those consumers who have opted for a new provider.

The report said that Verizon had been using its proprietary customer data to repeatedly hound former customers and try and get them to rejoin the carrier. But a majority of FCC members ruled that this was illegal and violated consumer privacy rights.

"Today we carry out Congress's unambiguous mandate to protect consumer privacy," said Robert M. McDowell, a Republican commissioner, according to the report.