Broadband Internet Bill Too High? Here’s How You Can Fix That.

Broadband billing struggles are a symptom of a larger issue. Policy experts point to a lack of competition among broadband providers, which has led to higher prices, lower quality and unequal access. President Biden issued an executive order that calls for new protections for broadband subscribers. Among the proposals directed at the Federal Communications Commission are a standardized “nutrition label” format for explaining speeds and fees, a limit on early-termination fees and a restriction on carrier-landlord deals that leave tenants with one option. Unfortunately, there is no proposed curb on the popular “promotional pricing” technique that carriers use to lure many of us in. Still, encouraging increased market competition could mean lower prices overall. The companies deny their bills are opaque. One effective solution, says Yosef Getachew, media and democracy director at Common Cause, is municipal networks—publicly owned fiber-optic networks deployed by local governments. Additional tips: Call your broadband provider and ask for a more affordable rate; downgrade your speeds; buy your own modem and router; switch providers, if you can; beware of promotional pricing; file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission.