FCC Declines to Reconsider Rules for Consumer Access to Easy-To-Understand Info on Broadband Labels

The Federal Communications Commission largely rejected petitions to reconsider its Broadband Consumer Label rules. Today’s action preserves consumer access to clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the cost and performance of broadband services. Following the adoption of the Broadband Label Order, several petitions were filed asking the FCC to clarify and/or reconsider certain label requirements. This Order on Reconsideration largely affirms the rules adopted in the Report and Order while making some revisions and clarifications such as modifying provider record-keeping requirements when directing consumers to a label on an alternative sales channel and confirming that providers may state “taxes included” when their price already incorporates taxes. The rules will go into effect following the legally required review by the Office of Management and Budget. After this Paperwork Reduction Act analysis is complete, the majority of providers will have to display the label within six months of approval; providers with 100,000 or fewer subscriber lines face a deadline of twelve months after OMB approval