​FCC Halts Review of Controversial Bulk Billing Proposal

The new FCC Chairman is pulling the plug on a bulk billing ban initiated by his predecessor.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced on January 24, 2025, that the Commission has ended its review of a Biden-era proposal regarding bulk billing arrangements for internet service in multi-tenant buildings. The proposal, introduced in 2024, would have affected how internet services are billed in apartments and similar residential settings.

Carr strongly criticized the initiative, claiming it could have led to significant price increases of up to 50 percent for apartment residents' internet services. He argued that such increases would have particularly impacted vulnerable groups, including seniors, students, and low-income individuals, who already benefit from the current bulk billing arrangements that typically offer reduced rates.

The decision to halt the review was supported by what Carr described as a "broad and bipartisan coalition" opposing the plan. He framed the move as a step toward reversing what he characterized as costly regulatory overreach from the previous administration, linking the proposal to broader concerns about inflationary pressures during the Biden-Harris presidency.

The Chairman indicated this decision marks the beginning of broader efforts to address what he views as excessive regulations from the previous administration.