The Republican-led FCC is proposing changes to broadband nutrition labels that could allow internet service providers (ISPs) to obscure junk fees. A draft order suggests eliminating the requirement for ISPs to list all "passthrough fees," which are charges from third parties and government agencies. Instead, ISPs could present these fees as a single aggregate line item, either as an "up to" amount or a location-specific total, rather than an itemized list. The FCC claims this simplification will prevent consumer confusion, arguing that detailed fee breakdowns create "cognitive burdens."

These proposed changes also include allowing phone sales representatives to present label information "conversationally" instead of verbatim, and moving the labels from order pages to mere hyperlinks. Furthermore, ISPs would no longer need to provide data in machine-readable spreadsheets or archive old price labels for two years, hindering third-party analysis of pricing trends. The telecom industry, which spent over $114 million on lobbyists in 2025, generally supports the proposal, citing the complexity of creating numerous location-specific labels.

Consumer advocacy groups strongly oppose the changes, stating they will exacerbate the problem of hidden charges and potentially widen the digital divide. The FCC is scheduled to vote on these proposals on July 22nd. If approved, the changes would take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, significantly reducing transparency for consumers regarding their internet bills.