Making Broadband Labels Work for You

This month, America celebrated a milestone birthday. In just 250 years we've gone from town criers to the Digital Age. That's a remarkable journey-and through our Build America agenda the FCC is continuing to revolutionize the way we communicate. Under FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, the Commission is focused on strengthening and modernizing our nation's communications networks and technologies. But that's only part of our job. Consumers also deserve clear, useful information about these communications services so they can make informed choices. That's why we are talking about effective labeling.

Broadband Labels Inform Consumer Choice

Several years ago, the FCC created Broadband Labels to help you, the consumer, know exactly what you are getting as you shop for and purchase broadband service. After all, you need to know clearly whether the high-speed internet product you are buying meets your needs for keeping in touch, telehealth, working, shopping, and everything else you do online.

Those first labels were just a start. And our experience over the last few years shows us that we can do better to make sure consumers get actionable information that is easier to digest.

What Is Changing

The FCC is working on a new label design that:
1. Removes details that distract from essential information
2. Visualizes the monthly cost of service more clearly
3. Removes outdated information
4. Lets a provider discuss the label conversationally over the phone rather than reading the label to you verbatim
5. Allows a provider to give you the label through links, QR codes, or icons so you can access the information when you need it and it's not in the way when you don't

These proposed changes help the label do what it does best: provide clear, accurate information about the cost and performance of high-speed internet services.

What Isn't Changing

Internet service providers will still be required to have a label for each standalone broadband service plan they offer. The labels must still show introductory rates, data allowances, and broadband speeds, and must also include links to information about network management practices and privacy policies.

We will also continue to ensure the labels are accessible to people with disabilities, and that labels are displayed in the same language used when marketing a service.

If the Commission adopts the new label at its Open Meeting in July, it will be in part because you helped us take something good and make it better. We heard you, America, when you told us you want relevant information that is easy to read, quick to access, and simple to understand. We listened, and we are refocusing our rules to make the labels a more useful shopping tool.

To find out what internet services are available where you live, check out the FCC's National Broadband Map.