NATOA Applauds FCC’s Votes today to Adopt “All-In” Pricing; 100/20 Mbps Broadband Speeds
NATOA Applauds FCC’s Votes today to Adopt “All-In” Pricing; 100/20 Mbps Broadband Speeds
March 14, 2024: The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) praises the Federal Communications Commission and Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel today for:
- Adopting the new broadband standard of 100/20 (Mbps) megabits per second, a four-fold increase from the current 25/3 megabits per second standard; and,
- Approving final rules to require cable and DBS TV providers to specify the “all-in” pricing on consumers’ bills and materials.
Raising the Commission’s benchmark for broadband speeds to 100/20 Mbps will ensure that low-income neighborhoods and rural communities will not be left behind during new broadband deployment and availability efforts by bringing the standard in line with federal broadband funding programs including the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the NTIA’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD), and the FCC’s Universal Service Fund (USF) programs. The Commission’s fixed speed benchmark hasn’t been updated since 2015, when it was set at 25/3 Mbps. The Commission’s adoption of the new 100/20 Mbps benchmark for advanced telecommunications capability advances the universal service goals of section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 for universal deployment, affordability, adoption, availability, and equitable access to broadband.
The FCC's new rules for "All-In" Pricing Transparency on Cable and DBS billing to bring transparency and total "All-In" pricing information to the consumer and eliminate prior misleading promotional materials and bills practices (MB Docket No. 23-203.). The Report and Order require cable and satellite TV providers to specify the "All-In" price for video programming services in promotional materials and on subscribers’ bills in order to allow consumers to make informed choices.