Lorrie Cranor

This study examines the content and layout of the proposed broadband consumer disclosure labels mandated by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Our large-scale user study identifies key consumer preferences and comprehension factors through a two-phase survey of 2500 broadband internet consumers. Findings reveal strong support for broadband labels, but dissatisfaction with the FCC's proposed labels from 2016. Participants generally struggled to use the label for cost computations and plan comparisons.

In January 2022, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed requiring internet service providers to display broadband consumer disclosure labels prominently at the point of sale.

As I finish my year as Federal Trade Commission Chief Technologist, I wanted to take one more opportunity to encourage researchers to conduct research relevant to consumer protection and share it with the FTC. In this blog post, I share some thoughts on research in nine areas that I believe would be useful to the FTC. At the end I provide information about how to get in touch with FTC staff to discuss research.

Privacy and Security: Privacy and security are important to the FTC’s consumer protection mission. Research that investigates how consumers value privacy, the way consumers balance privacy interests with other interests, how companies assess and manage security risks, and the way consumers are impacted by privacy and security breaches would provide valuable information.

Ads and marketing: The FTC regulates advertising and marketing practices to protect consumers from those that are unfair or deceptive. Research related to new advertising and marketing practices and research that provides insights into how advertising and marketing practices are used in new media would aid FTC staff.