Sponsor
Josh Harder
Representative · D-CA
Representative · D-CA
The bill boosts consumer billing clarity by requiring an aggregate broadband price, advance notice of price changes, and banning certain line‑item fees, but risks providers offsetting savings through higher base rates or excluded charges and may produce short‑term regulatory and disclosure gaps for some customers.
Consumers (including low‑income, middle‑class, and other taxpayers) will see a single clear "aggregate price" on broadband bills and advertisements, making it easier to compare offers and avoid surprise add‑on charges.
Subscribers will get 60‑ and 30‑day notices before introductory/promotional prices expire, helping consumers anticipate and avoid bill shock from unexpected price increases.
Prohibiting specified "covered fees" (e.g., network maintenance, state cost recovery, tech support, local access) will reduce or simplify recurring line‑item charges for subscribers who had been paying those add‑ons.
Subscribers (particularly low‑ and middle‑income households) may face higher overall costs because providers could raise base rates or shift costs into charges that the FCC allows to be excluded from the advertised aggregate price.
The FCC's 90‑day rulemaking deadline may force rushed rule development with limited stakeholder input, creating regulatory uncertainty for providers and consumers and increasing the chance of implementation problems.
Customers on legacy or grandfathered plans will be exempted from certain promotional disclosure rules, which can reduce protections for those customers and cause confusion when they receive offers or marketing.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs the FCC to require a single clear aggregate broadband price and bans specified commonly hidden fees in billing and promotions.
Official title: 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.
Introduced September 23, 2025 by Josh Harder · Last progress September 23, 2025
Requires the FCC to create rules so broadband providers show one clear "aggregate price" on bills and in promotions and stops providers from charging a set of common extra fees. The FCC must issue the rules within 90 days, disclose post-introductory prices and time limits, allow itemized breakdowns with the aggregate price, and identify charges that may be excluded (for example taxes).