Public Hearing on Broadband Consumer Labels

The first of a series of virtual public hearings as a part of its broadband consumer labels rulemaking proceeding. The purpose of the first hearing will be to evaluate the effectiveness of the current transparency rule, as required by the Infrastructure Act, and provide necessary background for the new label requirement, including whether additional disclosure requirements are necessary. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Infrastructure Act) instructed the agency to conduct a series of public hearings to assess how consumers evaluate internet service plans and whether current disclosures are sufficient.

Agenda

1:30 pm – 1:45 pm: Welcoming Remarks and Introductions 

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm:  Testimony from Grassroots Navigators 

·         Maribel Martinez, Consultant, Digital Access to All, supporting digital navigators for UnidosNow, the Women's Resource Center, and Goodwill Manasota 

·         Matt Sayre, Onward Eugene 

2:00 pm – 3:10 pm: Panel Presentations 

·         Deb Berlyn and Ann Berkowitz (of the FCC's 2015/2016 Consumer Advisory Committee) 

·         Diana Eisner, U.S. Telecom 

·         Dr. Margaret Nygren, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 

·         Joshua Stager, Open Technology Institute, New America Foundation 

·         Greg Guice, Public Knowledge 

·         Crystal Rhoades, Commissioner, Kansas Public Service Commission 

3:10pm – 3:30 pm: Panel Q&A 

Questions in advance of or during the hearing can be submitted by sending an email to BroadbandLabelsHearing@fcc.gov. 

The first hearing will stream free to the public at FCC.gov/live. The hearing will also be recorded and archived on the FCC’s website. Event attendees can submit questions in advance of or during the hearing by sending an email to BroadbandLabelsHearing@fcc.gov 

The public hearings will be part of the record in response to the FCC’s recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which sought comment on a requirement that broadband providers display simpleto-understand labels that disclose, at the point of sale, accurate information about prices, introductory rates, data allowances, broadband speeds, and management practices, among other things. Information on the Commission’s work on broadband information labels, including relevant documents, is available at FCC.gov/broadbandlabels

For additional information about the webinar’s logistical details, please contact Diana Coho, Consumer Affairs and Outreach Specialist, at Diana.Coho@fcc.gov. For additional information about the ongoing broadband consumer labels rulemaking, contact Erica H. McMahon, Consumer Policy Division, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-0346 (voice) or e-mail at Erica.McMahon@fcc.gov.