Switching internet providers does not automatically cancel any early termination fee you owe your current provider. First check your contract and broadband label, then ask the provider to confirm in writing whether a fee applies to your account and whether an exception covers your situation. Coordinate the cancellation date with your new service, return provider-owned equipment as instructed, and keep records in case the final bill is wrong.
Check whether your current plan has an early termination fee
Find your service agreement or order confirmation, latest bill, and broadband label. The FCC’s broadband-label rules require covered providers to disclose contract length and any applicable early termination fee, with a link to more detail about when it applies. The label is a useful starting point, but it does not determine whether your particular account qualifies for a waiver. FCC broadband-label order
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- Look for a contract commitment and its end date.
- Check the stated early termination fee and how it is calculated.
- Review any introductory or trial-period terms and equipment-return obligations.
- Find the provider’s current cancellation instructions.
Do not assume that an example fee published by a provider is the amount you will owe. Ask for the amount calculated for your account and proposed cancellation date.
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Ask the provider for a written, account-specific answer
Contact your current provider before submitting the cancellation request. Ask it to confirm in writing:
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- Whether your account is under a term commitment and when it ends.
- The fee, if any, for cancelling on your proposed date, and how it was calculated.
- Whether a contractual term or provider policy waives the fee for your reason for leaving.
- The cancellation effective date and how the final bill will be handled.
- Which equipment must be returned, the return method, and the deadline.
Save the response. A move, service problem, or decision to switch may or may not qualify for an exception under your particular terms; do not rely on an assumed waiver.
Coordinate the new service and cancellation dates
Confirm that the replacement provider serves your address and get an installation or activation date before asking the old provider to cancel. Ask both companies how the dates affect billing. A short overlap can reduce the chance of an internet gap, but you may pay both providers during that period. Compare that cost with the risk of an interruption; there is no universal switching sequence or guaranteed same-day transfer.
When comparing replacement plans, check the broadband label and the provider’s terms for the price after promotions, contract length and any fee, installation or activation charges, equipment terms, speed and data allowance, and service availability at your address. The FCC labels are intended to make important plan characteristics visible, but account-specific details still need confirmation. FCC broadband-label order
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Submit the cancellation and keep proof
Use the provider’s current cancellation channel and state clearly that you are cancelling. Record the date, requested effective date, confirmation number, representative’s name if available, and any explanation of fees. The FTC advises consumers to keep cancellation records and check payment statements afterward. Its consumer guidance dated November 3, 2022, says: “Keep a copy of your cancellation request, along with notes about any conversations you had and how and when you canceled.” FTC cancellation guidance
Return provider-owned equipment and check the final bill
A modem, gateway, or other provider-owned device may have a separate non-return charge. Follow the return directions for your account, make a list or take photos of the items, and keep the drop-off or shipping receipt. Providers can set different deadlines and processes:
- AT&T Internet: Its published policy says applicable equipment must be returned undamaged within 21 days of internet-service cancellation unless AT&T directs otherwise. It describes designated UPS Store or FedEx Office return options. AT&T Internet cancellation policy
- Verizon Fios: Its customer agreement says Verizon-owned equipment should be returned undamaged within 30 days after cancellation, and describes UPS Store or shipping-label options. Verizon Fios Customer Agreement
These are examples of provider-specific terms, not general deadlines. Follow the instructions for your own service and account. Compare the final bill with your contract, written fee explanation, cancellation confirmation, and equipment receipt.
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What federal rules can—and cannot—tell you
FCC broadband-label rules help consumers see contract duration and applicable early termination fees before choosing a plan. They do not establish that a particular customer is entitled to a waiver. FCC broadband-label order
Federal law, 47 U.S.C. § 562, provides a 24-hour period to cancel without early cancellation fees or other disconnection penalties after the provider sends the required contract copy for a contract covered by that statute. Its scope is specific; do not assume the provision applies to every broadband plan. Check whether your contract and service meet the law’s requirements. 47 U.S.C. § 562
State protections and individual exceptions can depend on your location, provider, contract, and reason for cancelling. If you need location-specific help, check with your state attorney general or relevant consumer-protection office.
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Dispute an unsupported fee or equipment charge
First contact the provider and share the relevant records: the contract, its fee calculation, your cancellation confirmation, and equipment-return receipt. If an internet-service billing or equipment dispute remains unresolved, the FCC accepts informal complaints in those categories. FCC internet complaint issue descriptions
Provider-specific cancellation examples
AT&T Internet
AT&T’s published Internet cancellation policy says customers may cancel for any reason within 14 days of activation without an early termination fee, while remaining responsible for charges incurred. It says customers who cancel after 14 days and have a term commitment may owe a prorated fee. The policy instructs the account owner to call with account information and a PIN. These terms are specific to AT&T Internet; verify the current terms for your account before relying on them. AT&T Internet cancellation policy
Verizon Fios
Verizon’s Fios customer agreement describes equipment-return requirements and options; the terms may depend on the plan and account. Check the current agreement and your service’s return instructions. Verizon Fios Customer Agreement
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