How-to
Reading a broadband label before you sign up for internet
Find the broadband label for a home or mobile internet plan, and read its price, introductory rate, fees, data allowance and speeds against what you use.
Satisfy+ Editorial · Published September 1, 2026 · 2 min read · 20 min to do
This is general education, not individual financial, investment or tax advice.
At a glance
- Where
- At any point of sale, online and in stores
- Already a customer
- In your online account
- What it shows
- Price, introductory rate, fees, data allowance, speeds
- Modeled on
- The nutrition label on food
Every home internet plan, and every mobile broadband plan, comes with a broadband label. It's modeled on the nutrition label on food, and it sets out the plan's cost and performance in one standard layout. Reading it before you sign up shows what the plan will cost once any introductory price ends, and whether its data and speeds fit how the household uses the internet.
What you need
- Last few months of internet bills, if you already have service
- A rough idea of how the household uses the connection, such as streaming, video calls or gaming
- The labels for the plans you're looking at
Steps
- 1
Find the label
Look for it wherever the plan is sold, online or in a store. It sits next to the plan's advertisement, not behind a link or an icon. If you already have service, the label for your plan is in your online account, and the provider gives it to you on request.
5 min
- 2
Read the monthly price
Note the regular monthly price, separate from any discount.
3 min
- 3
Find the introductory rate and when it ends
An introductory rate is a lower price for the first part of the plan. Write down how long it lasts and what the price becomes afterward.
3 min
- 4
Add up the fees
The label lists the fees that come with the plan. Add the monthly ones to the price, and note any one-time fees separately.
3 min
- 5
Check the data allowance
Look for how much data the plan includes each month, if there's a limit, and compare it with how much the household uses.
3 min
- 6
Check the speeds
The label gives the plan's speeds. Compare them with what the household does online at the same time.
3 min
Check the internet plan against its label
- Save a copy of the internet plan's broadband label
- Note the date the introductory rate ends
The rest of the label
The label also links to the provider's network management practices and its privacy policy. A glossary of the terms on the label is available from the FCC. The information on every label is also published in a machine-readable form, which comparison-shopping tools can collect.
A change to the labels
In July 2026, the label rules were revised to make labels easier to read. A label you saw before then may look different from one you see now, so read the current label for the plan you're signing up for.
FAQ
Where do I find the broadband label for my current plan?
In your online account with the provider. You can also ask the provider for it.
Do mobile plans have a broadband label too?
Yes. Mobile broadband plans have their own label, as home internet plans do.
Sources
Checked October 19, 2026
- Federal Communications Commission. Broadband consumer labels (2026)
- Budget
