WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 16, 2025 – INCOMPAS, the competitive communications and AI infrastructure association, filed comments with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), regarding the Commission’s proposals to streamline broadband label requirements. INCOMPAS expressed strong support for the FCC’s efforts to strike a balance between transparency and the elimination of costly, complex obligations that do not offer measurable benefits to consumers.
The following statement can be attributed to Staci L. Pies, Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Policy at INCOMPAS:
“In today’s competitive environment where consumers often choose between fiber, cable, fixed wireless and mobile broadband, natural market incentives already reward truthful and clear marketing. The Commission’s proposals to streamline these rules strike the right balance by maintaining the purpose of the consumer label, while eliminating obligations that add complexity and cost without helping consumers. Mandating a single, rigid label format can constrain innovation and does not reflect the diversity of offerings or customer preferences across different technologies.
Since the initial rules were adopted, providers have faced significant ongoing burdens, including retooling fee disclosures and maintaining machine-readable repositories. These obligations divert resources away from network investment and customer service. Every dollar spent on building, hosting and managing machine-readable files or archiving discontinued plans is a dollar not spent on expanding coverage or improving performance.
Ultimately, streamlining these requirements will restore the broadband label to its original purpose as a clear, simple shopping aid. With the removal of unnecessary requirements, the FCC can align its rules more closely with Congressional intent under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. INCOMPAS urges the Commission to focus on measures that truly help consumers, while reducing costs that hinder broadband deployment and innovation.”
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