Broadband Consumer Labels Virtual Public Hearing

The FCC held this first of a series of virtual public hearings as a part of its broadband consumer labels rulemaking proceeding. The hearings are being held to assess how consumers evaluate internet service plans and whether current disclosures are sufficient.

The hearing streamed free to the public at FCC.gov/live and was recorded and archived here on the FCC's website.

The purpose of the first hearing was to evaluate the effectiveness of the current transparency rule and provide necessary background for the new label requirement, including whether additional disclosure requirements are necessary. The tentative agenda included:

1:30 pm – 1:45 pm: Welcoming Remarks and Introductions

• Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman, FCC
• Alejandro Roark, Chief, FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm: Testimony from Grassroots Navigators

• Maribel Martinez, Consultant, Digital Access for All, supporting digital navigators throughout ten counties in Florida.
• Matt Sayre, Onward Eugene

2:00 pm – 3:10 pm: Panel Presentations

• Jerusha Burnett, FCC
• Deb Berlyn and Ann Berkowitz (of the FCC's 2015/2016 Consumer Advisory Committee)
• Diana Eisner, U.S. Telecom
• Dr. Margaret Nygren, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Joshua Stager, Open Technology Institute, New America Foundation
• Greg Guice, Public Knowledge
• Crystal Rhoades, Commissioner, Nebraska Public Service Commission

3:10 – 3:30 pm Panel Q&A

Questions in advance of or during the hearing were submitted by sending an email to BroadbandLabelsHearing@fcc.gov.

The public hearings will be part of the record in response to the FCC's recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which sought comment on a requirement that broadband providers display simple-to-understand labels that disclose, at the point of sale, accurate information about prices, introductory rates, data allowances, broadband speeds, and management practices, among other things. Information on the Commission's work on broadband information labels, including relevant documents, is available at FCC.gov/broadbandlabels.

The meeting streamed live with open captioning and American Sign Language interpreting at FCC.gov/live. Other reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities were available upon request.

For additional information about the webinar, please contact Diana Coho, Consumer Affairs and Outreach Specialist, at Diana.Coho@fcc.gov. For additional information about the ongoing broadband consumer labels rulemaking, contact Erica H. McMahon, Consumer Policy Division, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at (202) 418-0346 (voice) or e-mail at Erica.McMahon@fcc.gov.