Incompas Seeks Clarification in Broadband Label Requirement

Incompas asked FCC Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau staff to "clarify the purpose" of the agency's forthcoming consumer broadband labels and the term ISP "to clarify who is required to provide the broadband labels," said an ex parte post on Thursday in docket 22-2 (see 2203100059). Incompas said providers offering business data services or broadband to enterprise and government customers shouldn't be required to provide labels because "[t]hese are sophisticated customers that negotiate their contracts and know exactly which services they are receiving." The group also asked that E-rate and rural healthcare program providers be excluded from the requirement because their customers "participate in the competitive bidding process where they specify the exact services they need." Give providers the option to add symmetrical speeds and reliability to the label, Incompas added. "These two service qualities have become very important for customers and would permit competitive providers to distinguish their services," the group said, backing an online glossary of terms housed on the FCC's website.