July 29, 2026
Source: Federal Communications Commission.
On July 22, 2026, the FCC at its Open Meeting adopted, among other items, a Report and Order modifying its broadband label rules to make labels easier to read and understand and more useful for consumers, while reducing compliance burdens on providers.
Specifically, as to accessibility, the FCC emphasizes broadband providers’ continuing obligation to make the labels accessible to consumers with disabilities. For example, while no longer required to make the contents of labels available in a machine-readable spreadsheet format, providers remain obligated to make labels accessible to consumers with disabilities, including ensuring such information is compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies used by people with disabilities.
While the FCC closed its inquiry regarding specifying additional accessibility standards related to ASL-accessible formats, braille, and tactile indicators for the labels, the FCC emphasized that providers are responsible for ensuring that labels are accessible and encouraged consumers to use the FCC’s complaint process about any accessibility concerns.
Additionally, the FCC directs the Consumer Protection and Accessibility Advisory Committee (CPAAC) to produce reports that assess the effectiveness of broadband labels and address:
- the extent to which broadband labels reach consumers (i.e., are people aware the labels exist and are they using them) and any challenges that remain to their use;
- recommendations for how the FCC, industry, and consumer groups can better publicize broadband labels to ensure that consumers are aware of them and understand how to use them;
- the extent to which broadband labels are accessible for consumers with disabilities and any challenges that remain to full accessibility;
- recommendations for how the FCC and providers can address the challenges that remain in ensuring broadband labels are accessible for consumers with disabilities; and
- other opportunities to better clarify and make more useful to consumers the information on the label.
The CPAAC will complete its first report within two years after this Report and Order is published in the Federal Register and additional reports every four years thereafter.
Broadband Labeling Report and Order:
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-make-broadband-labels-more-useful-consumer-tool-0
For general information about broadband labels, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandlabels. For further information on the CPAAC, visit: https://www.fcc.gov/cpaac.
For specific questions about this proceeding, contact Michelle Branigan, Consumer Policy Division, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, at michelle.branigan@fcc.gov or (202) 418-1345. Individuals who use videophones and are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) may call the FCC’s ASL Consumer Support Line at (844) 432-2275 (videophone).
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