HR 5550119th CongressIn Committee

Lower Internet Costs Act

Introduced: Sep 23, 2025

Technology & Innovation

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The bill, titled the Lower Internet Costs Act, would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to publish regulations that mandate broadband providers to present the aggregate price of their service as a single clear line item on customer bills and in any promotional materials. It would also ban certain fees, defined as “covered fees,” that providers charge in relation to broadband service. The aim is to increase price transparency and reduce extra charges. The FCC would have to finalize these regulations within 90 days of enactment. The bill also sets out specifics on how price information must be shown, how changes to introductory or limited-time prices must be disclosed, and how bundled services are treated.

Key Points

1FCC regulatory requirement: Within 90 days after enactment, the FCC must promulgate regulations requiring broadband providers to state the aggregate price of service on customer bills and in promotional materials, and to prohibit charging certain “covered fees.”
2On-bill price disclosures: For subscriber bills, if the price is introductory or time-limited, providers must reveal the end date and the price after the period, and may include an itemized breakdown of price components.
3Promotional materials and location-specific pricing: In ads or promotions, providers must disclose the post-period price and period length; if price varies by location, providers must indicate how customers can obtain their location-specific price, and may include an itemized breakdown of price elements.
4Exclusions and bundling: Taxes, administrative fees, and equipment fees that are not part of the broadband service are excluded from the aggregate price. When broadband is sold in a bundle, the price statements must cover broadband charges in the bundle, and the prohibition on covered fees applies to all bundled services.
5Definitions and scope: The bill defines “broadband service” using the FCC’s existing definition for broadband internet access service, and defines “covered fee” to include several common charges (state cost recovery, network maintenance, local access fees, tech support fees) and any similar fees the FCC may determine.

Impact Areas

Primary affected: Broadband customers (consumers) who would benefit from clearer, single-line pricing and fewer extra fees; broadband providers who must adjust billing and marketing practices to comply; the FCC, which would implement and enforce the new regulations.Secondary affected: Companies that bundle broadband with other services; state/local fee structures that currently contribute to “covered fees”; smaller or regional ISPs that may face different compliance costs than larger providers.Additional impacts: Potential changes to billing systems, marketing departments, and customer service operations; possible shifts in net pricing as some fees are eliminated or restructured; greater regulatory compliance costs for providers; potential confusion during transition as both bills and promotions must conform to new standards.

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