Broadband Costs Too Much

The Open Technology Institute's latest study of the price of internet service, The Cost of Connectivity 2020, finds substantial evidence of an affordability crisis in the United States. From service plans that meet the current Federal Communications Commission definition for broadband at 25/3 Mbps to bigger, bolder standards, U.S. consumers pay more for monthly internet prices on average than European consumers based on advertised metrics. And, perhaps just as importantly, U.S. consumers must wade through confusing billing schemes, hidden costs, and surprise fees. There has never been a greater need for policies that promote competition, increase billing transparency, and make internet service more affordable for more people, OTI concludes.