en.Wedoany.com Reported - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed on July 10, 2026, to redesign broadband labels, aiming to simplify disclosed information and make it more accessible. Ed Bartholme, Director of the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, stated in a blog post that the redesign would remove unnecessary details, make monthly fees more prominent, and eliminate outdated information. Bartholme said the original labels were just a starting point, and years of practice have shown that improvements can be made to ensure consumers receive actionable and more understandable information.
The proposal has already faced opposition from consumer advocacy groups and some lawmakers. Critics warn that simplifying the labels could weaken the consumer transparency tool mandated by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The law requires internet service providers (ISPs) to display prices, speeds, and service terms to consumers at the point of sale in a nutrition-label format. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, accused the proposal of altering multiple existing disclosure requirements designed to enhance transparency in the cost and performance of high-speed internet services.
The FCC is scheduled to vote on the order on July 22. The order would eliminate some label requirements adopted in April 2024 under former Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. Gomez stated in October that if these proposals pass, the information Congress intended to ensure consumers have to make informed decisions would no longer be accessible through online consumer portals. She called it "one of the most anti-consumer proposals" she has seen during her tenure. According to the draft order, providers would no longer need to itemize discretionary recurring monthly fees, which vary by consumer location and represent costs passed on to consumers at the provider's discretion. The FCC argues this will simplify price comparisons, while opponents contend consumers may find it harder to understand actual costs.
The proposal would also allow providers to offer broadband labels via hyperlinks, QR codes, or icons, rather than displaying the full disclosure directly during the purchasing process, potentially making pricing information less prominent. Additionally, the requirement for labels to be available through customer account portals would be eliminated, as would machine-readable label data used by research institutions and third parties to track broadband pricing trends. The requirement for providers to archive labels for two years after discontinuation would be terminated, limiting access to historical pricing records.
The final proposal retains some disclosure requirements still under review. For example, the FCC still requires providers to display broadband labels in English and any other languages used for marketing their services. Gomez warned that eliminating requirements for fee disclosure, online availability, and machine-readable data could make it harder for consumers to compare plans. If the order passes on July 22, it will take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
