Lookout for Broadband Labels

Beginning in June 2024, nearly 24 million consumers who signed up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will no longer receive a discount on their monthly internet bill. While some providers are keeping their low-cost plans for the time being, it is expected that subscription plans will immediately increase. Now is a good time to familiarize oneself and make full use of the mandatory broadband labels the FCC is requiring of Internet Service Providers. The intent of broadband labels is to capture all the pertinent details of an internet subscription plan and avoid unexpected terms or fees before a consumer signs up. Major ISPs began rolling out their broadband labels in April and every ISP regardless of size must display their labels by October 2024. Below are two examples from Comcast and Spectrum, respectively:

Broadband labels should be clearly visible anywhere you shop for internet subscription plans. If you have accessibility questions call 202-418-2517 or email dro@fcc.gov.

Read the original article published for The Patterson Foundation’s Digital Access for All blog.