FCC Answers Broadband Label Order Petitions
Saying it's "preserv[ing] consumer access to clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information" about broadband costs, the FCC partially rejected and partially granted petitions on aspects of its 2022 broadband labeling order (see 2211180077). In its reconsideration order Tuesday, the FCC said…
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it's affirming its decision that providers itemize monthly discretionary fees on the label and say how much data is provided in the plan being offered. An industry coalition asked that providers be allowed to say on labels that additional fees may apply and the fees may vary depending on location (see 2303230068). The commission said it's clarifying that E-rate and Rural Health Care service providers don't need to include a broadband label for enterprise and special access services provided through those programs. It granted a CTIA request to clarify that wireless providers can state “taxes included” or use similar language when the provider has chosen to include taxes as part of its base price. And the agency, granting a request by a coalition led by ACA Connects, said it's revising its requirement to document all instances when a provider directs a consumer to a label at an alternative sales channel and to retain such documentation for two years. It said any burdens on ISPs to itemize fees above the monthly price on the label "are far outweighed" by the consumer benefit and ISPs could roll those discretionary fees into the base monthly price, ending any need for itemization on the label. It said CTIA's request that wireless providers be able to use multiple lines of data allowance descriptions on the label would lead to visual clutter undermining the label's intended simplicity.