FCC proposes broadband price labels with single "up to" fee total

The Federal Communications Commission proposed on October 28, 2025, to eliminate six broadband-label requirements, including the rule that providers itemize state and local passthrough fees that vary by market. Those line-by-line fees can push a monthly bill above the advertised rate. The change would let an internet company show a single “up to” total instead of spelling out every add-on that lands on the bill.

The labels were ordered by Congress in 2021 and began rolling out nationwide on April 10, 2024 for most providers, with smaller providers following later in 2024. The standardized format shows pricing, promotional rates, data allowances, speeds and fees in one place so households can compare plans and avoid surprise charges. The FCC proposal would trim that format back just as consumers were starting to rely on it to separate the teaser rate from the final cost.

The revisions aim to reduce compliance burdens while preserving the labels’ consumer benefit. FCC Chair Brendan Carr framed the move as bringing the rules back in line with what Congress intended under the Infrastructure Act. The FCC’s fact sheet lists six requirements for elimination while seeking comment on other ways to streamline the disclosures.

Consumer advocates warned that the rollback would cut into one of the few tools consumers have for comparing internet plans on equal footing. Consumer Reports points to labels that clearly present pricing, additional fees, promotional discounts and the length of those discounts, along with performance information. Public Knowledge says eliminating broadband-label compliance requirements is especially troubling because affordable, reliable internet access is essential to daily life.

Adam Schiff, Ben Ray Luján and Amy Klobuchar urged Carr to reverse the weakening of the rules. The labels are meant to show consumers the real, total cost of service, not a headline price that leaves out the fees most likely to vary by neighborhood. The FCC’s updated comment period closed January 16, 2026, with reply comments due February 16, 2026.