How to read an FCC broadband label (home internet)

By the BillAnswers team · Updated October 19, 2026 · How we check facts

The broadband label is the standard fact sheet the FCC requires for every standalone home and mobile internet plan, much like the Electricity Facts Label for power. It shows the monthly price, how long any introductory rate lasts and the price after it, provider monthly fees, one-time fees, contract length and early termination fee, and typical download speed, upload speed and latency. Providers must display it where the plan is sold, next to the plan on their website.

What the broadband label is

Federal rules require every provider of home (fixed) or mobile broadband to create an accurate broadband consumer label for each standalone internet plan it currently sells, in the format the FCC prescribes (47 CFR 8.1(a)(1)). The FCC says the labels are modeled after the nutrition facts label on food. It works much like the Electricity Facts Label for power: same layout from every provider, so you can compare plans side by side.

The label covers internet only. If a provider sells internet bundled with TV or phone, it must still show a label for the standalone internet plan and may link to bundle details from the label.

Where to find it

On the provider's website, displayed close to the advertised plan (47 CFR 8.1(a)(2)).
Through other sales channels, including the provider's stores, third-party retail stores and phone sales. The rule also treats the moment you begin comparing plans available at your location as a point of sale.
In your online account, if you are already a customer and the provider offers an online account portal (47 CFR 8.1(a)(2)).
For an older plan, a provider must keep labels for at least two years after a plan stops being sold, and must give an existing customer on that plan its archived label within 30 days of a request (47 CFR 8.1(a)(5)).

Language. The label must be provided in English and in any other language in which the provider markets its services in the United States (47 CFR 8.1(a)(4)). If a provider advertises to you in Spanish, ask for the Spanish label. The FCC also publishes a Spanish sample label and glossary.

Line by line

The FCC glossary explains each section of the label.

Label section	What it tells you	What to check
Monthly price	Plan price before added monthly fees (such as modem rental) and taxes; some providers show an all-inclusive price	Whether fees and taxes are inside it
Introductory rate	If the price is introductory: how many months, or the end date, and the price after it ends	The price you will pay after the promotion
Length of contract	Only for plans that require one: the number of months, with a link to the contract terms	Whether you are locked in
Provider monthly fees	Each recurring fee, such as equipment rental or other equipment related fees	Add these to the monthly price
One-time fees	Each fee charged once, such as connection, installation or equipment purchase	Your cost to start service
Early termination fee	The fee for ending service before a contract expires	What leaving early would cost
Government taxes	Taxes, listed or noted as varying by location	Whether your bill will be higher than the label total
Discounts and bundles	Links to discounts (for example multiple lines or electronic billing) and bundle offers	The conditions to keep a discount
Speeds provided with plan	Typical download speed, typical upload speed and typical latency	Whether the typical numbers fit your household
Data included	Data allowance and charges or slowdowns past it	Overage charges, if any
Network management and privacy	Links to the provider's policies	Blocking, throttling and paid prioritization
Customer support	Phone number and website	Keep with your records

Introductory price versus regular price

The FCC's own glossary example: a plan at $50 a month for 24 months that then goes to $60 a month. The headline number is only part of the cost. To compare plans:

Write down the introductory price and how many months it lasts.
Write down the price after the introductory period.
Add every provider monthly fee to both prices.
Add the one-time fees once.
Multiply out the months you expect to keep the service, for example 24 or 36.

Using the FCC's example and no fees, 24 months costs 24 x $50 = $1,200, and 36 months costs $1,200 + 12 x $60 = $1,920. Run the same numbers for each plan from its own label.

One-time fees, monthly fees and pass-through fees

The label must list each provider monthly fee and each one-time fee with a description. Some providers choose to pass government program fees, such as universal service or regulatory fees, through to customers; if they do, they must itemize them on the label. The current rule defines a passthrough fee as a monthly charge imposed by a government entity or third-party infrastructure owner, billed separately by the provider's choice, that varies by location (47 CFR 8.1(b)(2)).

Contract terms

If the plan requires a contract, the label shows the term in months and links to the terms, and any early termination fee appears under additional charges. The FCC notes that most plans, including month-to-month plans, still come with terms you agree to, so read the linked terms too.

Typical speeds

The label shows typical speeds, which the FCC says are not always the same as the advertised speed or a speed test result. Download speed affects streaming and downloads; upload speed affects video calls and sending photos; latency (lag, in milliseconds) affects live calls and games. Compare the typical numbers, not only the "up to" speed in an ad.

Rule status on October 19, 2026

To find which providers serve your address and set up service when you move, see the moving checklist for electricity and internet.

Common questions

Where do I find a plan's broadband label?

At the point of sale: on the provider's website close to the advertised plan, and through its other sales channels such as stores and phone sales. If you are already a customer and the provider has an online account portal, your label must be easy to find there.

Do providers have to offer the label in Spanish?

The rule says the label must be provided in English and in any other language the provider uses to market its services in the United States. So a provider that markets in Spanish must also give the label in Spanish.

Is the price on the label the full monthly bill?

Not always. The monthly price is the plan price before added monthly fees, such as equipment rental, and taxes. Some providers show an all-inclusive price instead; the label lists each fee either way.

Is the FCC changing the labels?

The FCC adopted changes in July 2026, but the part that changes the label rule itself is delayed until the FCC publishes an effective date. As of October 19, 2026 no such notice had been published, so the older label rule still applies.

What can I do if a label is missing or wrong?

The FCC says you can file a complaint at the FCC Consumer Complaint Center if a provider is not displaying labels or has posted inaccurate information about its fees or plans.

Sources

Last updated: October 19, 2026