The Federal Communications Commission has voted to scrap a rule that required internet service providers (ISPs) to clearly list all their so-called ‘passthrough’ fees on broadband price labels. This move is seen as a relief for the industry, which had complained about the complexity of itemizing these fees.

Previously, ISPs were forced to advertise accurate prices while adding various fees, leading to unexpected bill shock for consumers. The FCC’s updated rules aimed to prevent such surprises and enable better price comparisons. However, in a nod to industry concerns, Chairman Brendan Carr proposed a compromise: allowing ISPs to display passthrough fees as an aggregate 'up to' amount instead of listing them individually.

The change means that ISPs can continue advertising inaccurate prices while only providing the total amount of additional charges. This shift makes it harder for consumers to grasp their monthly costs and gives ISPs more flexibility in raising bills without formally announcing a price hike.

Adding fuel to the confusion, Carr also proposed reducing the prominence of pricing information by allowing ISPs to provide links to detailed labels instead of displaying them prominently on ordering pages and account portals. This further complicates the customer experience, making it less transparent for those trying to compare prices or understand their costs.