This summarizes official FCC materials. In July 2026 the FCC adopted changes meant to make labels easier to read; some display rules may still be rolling out. If a provider's page looks different from the examples below, use the same fields — price, intro period, fees, contract, speed, and data cap.
Where to find the label
The FCC Broadband Consumer Labels page explains that providers of home (fixed) or mobile broadband must have a label for each standalone plan, shown at the point of sale — including online and in a store. Look next to the plan, not buried in a terms PDF.
For a plan you already have, ask the provider for the label that matches your bill, and look in your online account. A July 2026 FCC order also directed providers to make each customer's label available in the account portal and upon request; check whether your provider has implemented that yet.
Examples of public labels we opened on November 11, 2026:
- Spectrum: Internet 100, Internet 500, Internet 1 Gig
- Fidium Fiber: 300 Mbps, 1 Gig, 2 Gig
The fields that matter when a promo ends
The FCC's glossary of label terms defines the boxes you will see. Focus on these:
Monthly price, introductory rate, and post-introductory price
If the monthly price is a limited-time rate, the label must say how long it lasts (or the end date) and what the monthly price will be when it expires. That second number is the "promo cliff." Example from Spectrum's published labels: Internet 100 listed $30 for 12 months, then $50; Internet 500 listed $50 intro, then $85; Internet 1 Gig listed $70 intro, then $105. Those intro figures may not match a later advertisement, but the post-intro field is the one to compare with your bill.
Provider monthly fees
Modem or gateway rental, WiFi, security suites, and paper-bill fees belong here. A $50 internet rate with a $10 gateway and a $5 paper-bill fee is $65 before taxes. Fidium's labels, for example, list a $10 optional WiFi gateway and a $5 paper-invoice fee that is waived with paperless billing.
Length of contract and early-termination fee
If there is a term agreement, the label should show the length and any early-termination fee (ETF). Many current cable and fiber internet plans are month-to-month with a $0 ETF — Spectrum's labels we opened listed $0 — but some older accounts, and some promotions, still have a contract. Verizon's official Fios disconnect page says that if you disconnect while under contract, a prorated ETF can cost a maximum of $350 and decreases by $15 per month. Read this box before you use cancellation as leverage.
Typical speeds, latency, and data included
Labels list typical download and upload speeds and latency, which may differ from the marketed "up to" speed. They also list the data included and any overage charge. "Unlimited" should appear here if the plan has no cap. Some cable plans still reduce speeds during local congestion even when there is no overage fee — Optimum's current offer terms, for example, say speeds on unlimited-data packages will reduce during periods of local network congestion. That note may sit in the offer footnote rather than the data box, so read both.
One-time fees and taxes
Installation, activation, and equipment purchase show up as one-time fees. Government taxes often vary by city and may not be a single dollar figure on the label.
A simple way to compare two plans
- Write down Plan A's intro price, intro length, post-intro price, monthly fees, and ETF.
- Do the same for Plan B, including a competitor at your address.
- Compare year-1 total (intro price + fees, times the intro months, plus any remaining months at the post-intro price) and the year-2 monthly total.
- Only then look at speed and upload, which matter if you work from home, share large files, or have many devices.
This is also the homework to do before you call retention. A specific sentence — "your label lists a post-introductory rate of $85, and you are advertising $40 to new customers in my ZIP" — is more effective than "the bill feels high." Use it with this call script.
If the label and the bill disagree
Ask the provider which plan identifier you are on and request the matching label. Promos, employee discounts, and bundled pricing can make a bill look different from the standalone label. If a fee appeared that is not on the label or your confirmation, ask for it to be removed and keep a written record.
Sources
- FCC Broadband Consumer Labels — what labels must disclose, point-of-sale display, July 2026 order on readability and account-portal access.
- FCC glossary of terms used for consumer broadband labels.
- Spectrum labels for Internet 100, Internet 500, and Internet 1 Gig; Fidium labels for 300 Mbps, 1 Gig, and 2 Gig. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Verizon Fios disconnect FAQ — prorated ETF maximum of $350, decreasing $15 per month, if you are under contract.
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