H.R. 5550 — Lower Internet Costs Act

This section directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), within 90 days of enactment, to promulgate regulations requiring providers of broadband service (i.e., broadband internet access service, as defined in FCC regulations) to state the aggregate price for such service as a clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate single line item on customer bills and in promotional materials and prohibiting such providers from charging covered fees. The regulations must require bills to disclose any post-introductory price changes approximately 60 days and 30 days before the end of an introductory period (including for legacy or grandfathered plans); promotional materials to disclose post-introductory prices, period lengths, and how to obtain location-specific prices (excluding legacy plans); and permit itemized explanations alongside the aggregate price. The regulations must exclude from the aggregate price charges such as taxes, administrative fees, and equipment fees not charged for the broadband service itself; for bundled services, apply aggregate price statements to broadband-specific charges and covered fee prohibitions to the entire bundle. Covered fees include state cost recovery charges, network access and maintenance fees (e.g., internet cost recovery fee, broadband cost recovery fee, network enhancement fee), local access fees for public rights-of-way, tech assure fees for technical support or equipment repair, and any similar fees determined by the FCC. (Thus, the provision promotes billing transparency and eliminates certain add-on fees often criticized as hidden costs.)