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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5550 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5550
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal
Communications Commission to promulgate regulations requiring providers
of broadband service to state the aggregate price for such service and
prohibiting providers of broadband service from charging certain fees,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 23, 2025
Mr. Harder of California introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal
Communications Commission to promulgate regulations requiring providers
of broadband service to state the aggregate price for such service and
prohibiting providers of broadband service from charging certain fees,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Lower Internet Costs Act''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF AGGREGATE PRICE FOR BROADBAND SERVICE; CERTAIN
FEES PROHIBITED.
Title VII of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 723. STATEMENT OF AGGREGATE PRICE FOR BROADBAND SERVICE; CERTAIN
FEES PROHIBITED.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Commission shall promulgate regulations
that--
``(1) require a provider of broadband service--
``(A) to state the aggregate price for such service
as a clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate single
line item on the bill of a subscriber; and
``(B) if such provider communicates a price for
such service in any promotional materials, to state the
aggregate price for such service in a clear, easy-to-
understand, and accurate manner in such materials; and
``(2) prohibit a provider of broadband service from
charging a subscriber a covered fee.
``(b) Requirements Regarding Statement of Aggregate Price.--
``(1) On bill of subscriber.--With respect to the statement
on the bill of a subscriber described in subsection (a)(1)(A)
(including a bill for a legacy or grandfathered broadband
service plan that is no longer generally available to new
customers), the regulations promulgated under subsection (a)
shall--
``(A) if the aggregate price stated is introductory
or otherwise limited to a period of time, require the
provider of broadband service to state on the bills
provided to such subscriber approximately 60 days and
30 days before the end of such period--
``(i) either--
``(I) the length of such period; or
``(II) the date on which such
period will end and the price charged
will change; and
``(ii) the price that will be charged after
the end of such period; and
``(B) permit the provider of broadband service to
complement the aggregate price stated with an itemized
explanation of the elements that compose such aggregate
price.
``(2) In promotional materials.--With respect to the
statement in any promotional materials described in subsection
(a)(1)(B), the regulations promulgated under subsection (a)
shall--
``(A) if the aggregate price stated is introductory
or otherwise limited to a period of time, require the
provider of broadband service to state in such
materials--
``(i) the price that will be charged after
the end of such period (calculated on the date
on which such materials are made available to
consumers); and
``(ii) the length of such period and the
length of time for which the price described in
clause (i) will be charged;
``(B) if part of the aggregate price stated
fluctuates based on service location, require the
provider of broadband service to state where and how a
consumer may obtain the aggregate price specific to
such consumer (such as electronically or by contacting
a customer service or sales representative);
``(C) permit the provider of broadband service to
complement the aggregate price stated with an itemized
explanation of the elements that compose such aggregate
price; and
``(D) specify that the requirements in such
regulations with respect to such statement do not apply
with respect to legacy or grandfathered broadband
service plans that are no longer generally available to
new customers.
``(3) Exclusions from aggregate price.--The regulations
promulgated under subsection (a) shall specify other charges
related to the provision of broadband service (such as taxes,
administrative fees, and equipment fees) that are not charged
for the broadband service itself and are not required to be
included in the aggregate price stated under such regulations.
``(4) Application to bundled services.--The regulations
promulgated under subsection (a) shall provide that, if a
provider of broadband service bills for or promotes broadband
service as part of a bundle with other services--
``(A) the statements described in subsection (a)(1)
are required with respect to any charges for such
bundle that are specific to broadband service; and
``(B) the prohibition on charging a covered fee
under subsection (a)(2) applies with respect to all
services that are part of such bundle.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Broadband service.--The term `broadband service' has
the meaning given the term `broadband internet access service'
in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations (or
any successor regulation).
``(2) Covered fee.--The term `covered fee' means, with
respect to a fee charged by a provider of broadband service,
the following:
``(A) A fee to cover the cost of compliance with
State regulations and programs (commonly known as a
`State cost recovery charge').
``(B) A fee to cover the cost of maintaining,
building, or operating the network of such provider
(commonly known as a `network access and maintenance
fee', `internet cost recovery fee', `broadband cost
recovery fee', or `network enhancement fee').
``(C) A fee imposed by a local government on such
provider to compensate such local government for use of
a public right-of-way (commonly known as a `local
access fee').
``(D) A fee for the cost of technical support or
repair of equipment (commonly known as a `tech assure
fee').
``(E) Any other fee determined by the Commission to
be charged for a purpose similar to a purpose described
in any of subparagraphs (A) through (D).''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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