The FCC broadband label follows a set order: it identifies the provider and plan, lists price and charges, then presents discounts, performance, data terms, policies, and support. The published template also includes an Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) field and a footer with FCC consumer-resource text and a unique plan identifier. Although the FCC adopted changes in 2026, the instruction that would revise the core label and point-of-sale rules is delayed indefinitely as of October 7, 2026.
What order do the sections appear in on the FCC broadband label?
The label is a standardized disclosure intended to help consumers compare stand-alone broadband plans. The FCC described its design as resembling a food nutrition label: “To meet the label requirements, ISPs must create a label for each of their stand-alone broadband service offerings in the format described and displayed in the Report and Order—one resembling the format adopted by the FDA for nutrition labels on food products.” — Federal Communications Commission, FCC 22-86 (2022 Broadband Label Order).
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Provider Name — identifies the broadband provider.
- Service Plan Name and/or Speed Tier — identifies the plan or tier. If the plan name includes a speed, it must be accurate and consistent with the speed metrics shown elsewhere on the label.
- Monthly Price — shows the stand-alone service’s retail monthly price. Introductory pricing must be accompanied by the duration and the rate that applies afterward.
- Additional Charges & Terms — covers recurring and one-time provider charges, as well as relevant contract and early-termination terms. Monthly discretionary fees are itemized.
- Discounts & Bundles — points to discounts or bundled offers. The base label price is not simply the discounted price.
- Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) — appears in the published template. The ACP ended June 1, 2024; the FCC adopted removal of this outdated information, but the template revision is part of the delayed 2026 instruction.
- Speeds Provided with Plan — gives typical download speed, upload speed, and latency.
- Data Included with Monthly Price — states the data allowance and directs readers to further details, including any overage charges or reductions in service.
- Network Management — points to information about the provider’s network-management practices.
- Privacy — points to the provider’s privacy policy.
- Customer Support — provides contact information for support.
- Footer — includes FCC consumer-resource text and the plan’s unique identifier.
The sequence and field names are shown in the Federal Register’s published label figure description and the FCC consumer fact sheet. The 2024 federal regulation defines the label format by reference to the Commission’s figure and requires it at the point of sale; it does not require every surrounding webpage to reproduce the same full-width visual layout in every context.
How to use the label to compare plans
Check labels for the exact plan and service type you are considering, then compare the same details on each. The label describes an offering; it does not establish that the plan is available at your address.
#1 Best Overall
- CABLE INTERNET AND WIFI MADE FOR YOUR HOME: This two-in-one cable modem and WiFi router puts every setting in your hands, from your WiFi names and passwords to how your network runs, so it works the way your household needs.
- APPROVED FOR YOUR PROVIDER AND PLAN: Works with Xfinity internet plans up to 800Mbps, Spectrum up to 1Gbps, and Cox up to 1Gbps. Not compatible with Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, DirecTV, DISH, or bundled voice plans. ISP activation required after setup.
- GET THE FULL SPEED OF YOUR PLAN: DOCSIS 3.1 supports Gigabit+ cable internet plans, so large downloads finish faster and 4K streaming, gaming, and video calls can all run at once. Actual speeds vary by plan and provider.
- WIFI 6 COVERAGE FOR THE WHOLE HOME: Stay connected in every room with dual-band AX2700 WiFi 6 covering up to 2,000 sq ft and capacity for 25+ connected devices. Real-world coverage depends on home size, layout, and building materials.
- WIRED CONNECTIONS FOR YOUR FASTEST DEVICES: Four Gigabit Ethernet ports keep gaming consoles, desktops, and streaming devices hardwired for the lowest latency and the most stable connection in your home.
- Total cost picture: Compare the base monthly price, introductory period and later rate, recurring fees, and one-time charges. Check the contract and early-termination terms too.
- Performance: Compare typical download speed, upload speed, and latency separately. Confirm that any speed stated in the plan name agrees with the label’s metrics.
- Data terms: Look at the included allowance and what happens after it is reached—an overage charge, a service reduction, or another stated term.
- Policies and support: Follow the links to network-management and privacy details if they matter to your needs, and note how to contact customer support.
These are comparison points, not a universal ranking: the right plan depends on the household’s needs and which offers are available at its address.
Where providers must make labels available
The 2024 edition of 47 CFR Part 8 requires a label for each stand-alone broadband internet access service currently offered. It must be available at the point of sale, including on provider websites, in retail locations, and through telephone sales. Online, it must appear close to the associated advertised plan. Providers must make labels accessible to people with disabilities, provide them in English and other languages in which they market service, and make them available through customer online account portals when those portals are offered. The rule also includes machine-readable spreadsheet data and a two-year archive requirement for withdrawn labels. See 47 CFR Part 8 (2024 edition).
Rank #2
- DUAL-BAND WIFI 6 ROUTER: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax) technology achieves faster speeds, greater capacity and reduced network congestion compared to the previous gen. All WiFi routers require a separate modem. Dual-Band WiFi routers do not support the 6 GHz band.
- AX1800: Enjoy smoother and more stable streaming, gaming, downloading with 1.8 Gbps total bandwidth (up to 1200 Mbps on 5 GHz and up to 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz). Performance varies by conditions, distance to devices, and obstacles such as walls.
- CONNECT MORE DEVICES: Wi-Fi 6 technology communicates more data to more devices simultaneously using revolutionary OFDMA technology
- EXTENSIVE COVERAGE: Achieve the strong, reliable WiFi coverage with Archer AX1800 as it focuses signal strength to your devices far away using Beamforming technology, 4 high-gain antennas and an advanced front-end module (FEM) chipset
- OUR CYBERSECURITY COMMITMENT: TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
What the 2026 FCC order changes—and what remains delayed
The FCC’s 2026 final rule says its changes are generally effective September 14, 2026, but it indefinitely delayed the instruction revising § 8.1(a), pending a later Federal Register notice. That matters because the delayed instruction covers changes to the core label and point-of-sale requirements.
Recommended Free Tools
As a result, the order’s proposed options for aggregate pass-through fees and a point-of-sale link or icon instead of the label itself are not yet operative. Nor are its removals of the machine-readable spreadsheet files and withdrawn-label archive requirement. The ACP field’s removal is also adopted but not yet implemented in the template. Until the Commission sets a date for the delayed instruction, readers should distinguish the order’s adopted changes from the requirements currently in effect. The FCC’s order also retains disability-accessibility and marketing-language provisions. See the 2026 FCC final rule.
Rank #3
- Compatible with major cable internet providers including Xfinity and Cox. NOT compatible with Verizon, Spectrum, AT&T, CenturyLink, DSL providers, DirecTV, DISH and any bundled voice service. Best for cable provider plans up to 800Mbps.
Which providers and plans are covered?
The label requirement concerns stand-alone mass-market broadband internet access services. The FCC’s implementation deadlines—April 10, 2024, for providers with more than 100,000 subscriber lines and October 10, 2024, for providers with 100,000 or fewer—are historical deadlines, not upcoming compliance dates. The underlying 2022 order explains the label’s purpose and format in FCC 22-86.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- MAXIMIZE YOUR CABLE INTERNET AND WHOLE-HOME WIFI: A cable modem and WiFi router in one device unlocks the full potential of your home internet with faster downloads, smoother WiFi for gaming and video calls, and reliable coverage in every room.
- APPROVED FOR YOUR PROVIDER AND PLAN: Works with Xfinity internet plans up to 800Mbps, Spectrum up to 1Gbps, and Cox up to 1Gbps. Not compatible with Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, DirecTV, DISH, or bundled voice plans. ISP activation required after setup.
- MULTI-GIG DOCSIS 3.1 SPEEDS: Get Gigabit+ cable download speeds on today's fastest plans, with headroom for the upgrades ahead. Real-world speeds depend on your plan and ISP network.
- WIFI 6 COVERAGE FOR THE WHOLE HOME: Stay connected in every room with dual-band AX6000 WiFi 6 covering up to 2,500 sq ft and capacity for 30+ connected devices across your home. Real-world coverage depends on home size, layout, and building materials.
- MULTI-GIG WIRED CONNECTIONS FOR YOUR FASTEST DEVICES: One 2.5 Gig Multi-Gig port and four Gigabit Ethernet ports keep gaming consoles, desktops, and streaming devices hardwired for the lowest latency and the most stable connection in your home.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
