Ahead of Hearing, New Report Shows the High Cost to Consumers of Brendan Carr’s FCC

Carr implementing policies pushing households toward higher monthly bills, fewer options, and more market power for a handful of giant companies.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ahead of today's hearing with Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, released a Snapshot Report highlighting the increasing costs to American consumers of policies being pushed and actions taken by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under Brendan Carr's leadership.

"Americans are facing an affordability crisis," the report says. "Household connectivity costs - for TV content, cellphone service, and broadband access - continue to rise across the nation. However, instead of leaning into competition, transparency, and supporting families, today's Federal Communications Commission is allowing a handful of giant companies to accumulate more and more market power that leaves consumers paying more while getting less."

Key findings from the report, "How Consolidation and Reduced Competition are Raising Your Internet and TV Costs":

TV Content Costs Are Up

1. Streaming costs rose 13% year-over-year in 2025 alone.
2. Over the last ten years, basic cable rates have more than doubled.
3. Retransmission fees have increased approximately 2,000% over the last decade.

Cellphone Service Costs Are Up

1. U.S. consumers pay the second-highest price for wireless service among 26 advanced economies.
2. The FCC is reducing competition by forcing Dish to abandon its nationwide network, effectively eliminating a fourth national carrier.
3. Verizon is adding over $1 billion a year in revenue primarily from price hikes, even as subscriber growth is sluggish.

Broadband Access Costs Are Up

1. 23 million low-income households lost $30-$75 per month in broadband support, forcing 70% of recipients to downgrade or discontinue their internet access.
2. The FCC is making it easier for broadband providers to hide fees from consumers.

"Congress directed the FCC to protect consumers and promote competition," states the report. "Instead, today's FCC has chosen to side with corporations at every turn. Current policies are steering the communications marketplace toward concentration and opacity rather than competition and affordability. Without a course correction, these warning signs can harden into a permanent reality where essential digital connectivity becomes more expensive, less reliable, and increasingly out of reach for millions of families."

The full Snapshot Report can be found HERE.

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