Broadband providers can now link to plan details instead of showing labels at the point of sale, after an FCC rule change that took effect this week.
The revised rule also lets ISPs bundle certain pass-through charges into an "up to" figure and drops the machine-readable label requirement, weakening price clarity and accessibility for users of assistive technology.
The FCC said the changes will reduce consumer confusion and lower compliance costs for providers, reflecting a more business-friendly approach and industry lobbying.
Consumer groups including TURN and U.S. PIRG said the original Biden-era labels were working as intended and warned the looser format will make bill increases and final monthly costs harder to track.
The labels, modeled on Nutrition Facts panels, were introduced in 2024 to standardize disclosures on prices, introductory rates, data allowances and speeds across broadband plans.