HR 5550
Lower Internet Costs Act
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
The Lower Internet Costs Act directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to create rules requiring broadband providers to clearly state the total price of their service on bills and in promotional materials. It also prohibits providers from charging certain fees, such as those for state or local government costs, network maintenance, or technical support. The goal is to increase transparency and reduce hidden costs for internet consumers.
Key provisions
- Requires broadband providers to display the total price of service on subscriber bills.
- Prohibits broadband providers from charging certain fees (State cost recovery, network maintenance, local access fees, tech assure fees, and similar charges).
- Mandates clear disclosure of aggregate prices in promotional materials.
- Requires providers to notify subscribers approximately 60 and 30 days before price changes.
- Allows providers to include an itemized explanation of the components of the aggregate price.
- Applies to bundled services, ensuring transparency for all services within the bundle.
- Defines ‘broadband service’ and ‘covered fee’ for regulatory clarity.
Who is affected
- Broadband internet service providers
- Residential internet subscribers
- Consumers
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Notable changes
- Establishes a requirement for clear and upfront disclosure of broadband service prices.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5550
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations requiring providers of broadband service to state the aggregate price for such service and prohibiting providers of broadband service from charging certain fees, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Lower Internet Costs Act
.
Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
to state the aggregate price for such service as a clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate single line item on the bill of a subscriber; and
if such provider communicates a price for such service in any promotional materials, to state the aggregate price for such service in a clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate manner in such materials; and
prohibit a provider of broadband service from charging a subscriber a covered fee.
either—
the length of such period; or
the date on which such period will end and the price charged will change; and
the price that will be charged after the end of such period; and
With respect to the statement in any promotional materials described in subsection (a)(1)(B), the regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall—
the price that will be charged after the end of such period (calculated on the date on which such materials are made available to consumers); and
the length of such period and the length of time for which the price described in clause (i) will be charged;
if part of the aggregate price stated fluctuates based on service location, require the provider of broadband service to state where and how a consumer may obtain the aggregate price specific to such consumer (such as electronically or by contacting a customer service or sales representative);
The regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall specify other charges related to the provision of broadband service (such as taxes, administrative fees, and equipment fees) that are not charged for the broadband service itself and are not required to be included in the aggregate price stated under such regulations.
The regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall provide that, if a provider of broadband service bills for or promotes broadband service as part of a bundle with other services—
the statements described in subsection (a)(1) are required with respect to any charges for such bundle that are specific to broadband service; and
the prohibition on charging a covered fee under subsection (a)(2) applies with respect to all services that are part of such bundle.
In this section:
The term broadband service
has the meaning given the term broadband internet access service
in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
The term covered fee
means, with respect to a fee charged by a provider of broadband service, the following:
A fee to cover the cost of compliance with State regulations and programs (commonly known as a State cost recovery charge
).
A fee to cover the cost of maintaining, building, or operating the network of such provider (commonly known as a network access and maintenance fee
, internet cost recovery fee
, broadband cost recovery fee
, or network enhancement fee
).
A fee imposed by a local government on such provider to compensate such local government for use of a public right-of-way (commonly known as a local access fee
).
A fee for the cost of technical support or repair of equipment (commonly known as a tech assure fee
).
Any other fee determined by the Commission to be charged for a purpose similar to a purpose described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (D).