Lowering Broadband Costs for Consumers Act of 2025

This bill aims to lower internet costs by updating who pays into the Universal Service Fund, which helps keep phone and internet service available and affordable. It tells the FCC to expand the contribution base so that broadband providers and large online services (“edge providers”) also pay in, with rules due within 18 months and updates allowed over time. Smaller edge providers are exempt if they carry less than 3% of U.S. broadband data and make under $5 billion in U.S. revenue, or if the required payment would be too small to matter. “Edge providers” are online content or service providers.

It also requires the FCC, within 18 months, to create a new support tool under the Universal Service Fund’s high‑cost program to help cover the costs of serving high‑cost areas, with only one eligible carrier per area receiving this support. The FCC enforces these rules using its existing powers, and the bill does not give the agency new authority over providers beyond collecting these contributions. The stated purpose is to promote affordable and available broadband.

• Who is affected: broadband providers; online content/service providers (“edge providers”); internet customers in high‑cost areas .
• What changes: expand who pays into the Universal Service Fund; add a new high‑cost support tool; limit support to one eligible carrier per area; FCC can revise rules as needed .
• When: FCC must finish the contribution and support‑tool rulemakings within 18 months of enactment .