Dec 16 -- The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on additional proposals to implement the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Infrastructure Act). Specifically, the Commission seeks comment on refining broadband consumer labels to include more comprehensive information on pricing, bundled plans, label accessibility, performance characteristics, service reliability, cybersecurity, network management and privacy issues, the availability of labels in multiple languages, and whether the labels should be interactive or otherwise formatted differently so the information contained in them is clearer and conveyed more effectively. Comments are due on or before January 17, 2023, and reply comments are due on or before February 14, 2023.
1. In 2021, the President signed into law the Infrastructure Act, which, in relevant part, directs the Commission “[n]ot later than 1 year after the date of enactment of th[e] Act, to promulgate regulations to require the display of broadband consumer labels, as described in the Public Notice of the Commission issued on April 4, 2016 (DA 16-357), to disclose to consumers information regarding broadband internet access service plans.” See Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429, section 60504(a) (2021) (Infrastructure Act).
2. In a Report and Order released on November 17, 2022 (FCC 22-86) (Broadband Label Order), and published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26854, the Commission adopted a new broadband label to help consumers comparison shop among broadband services, thereby implementing section 60504 of the Infrastructure Act. Specifically, the Commission required broadband internet service providers (ISPs or providers) to display, at the point of sale, a broadband consumer label containing critical information about the provider's service offerings, including information about pricing, introductory rates, data allowances, performance metrics, and whether the provider participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The Commission required that ISPs display the label for each stand-alone broadband internet access service they currently offer for purchase, and that the label link to other important information such as network management practices, privacy policies, and other educational materials.
3. In the proceeding, commenters offered certain suggestions for the labels that were not adopted because the record requires additional development on such issues. The Commission therefore seeks further comment in this FNPRM on issues related to accessibility and languages, performance characteristics, service reliability, cybersecurity, network management and privacy, formatting, and whether ISPs should submit label information to the Commission. . . .
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2022-26853 [6 pages]
