FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s Decision to Allow Bulk Internet Billing in Apartments: What Does It Mean for Consumers?

FCC Chair Brendan Carr’s Decision to Allow Bulk Internet Billing in Apartments: What Does It Mean for Consumers?

In a controversial move, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reversed a key proposal from the Biden administration, one that would have limited apartment landlords’ ability to force residents into paying for a single internet service provider (ISP). Under the leadership of the new FCC chair, Brendan Carr, the commission will now allow landlords to implement bulk billing agreements with ISPs, requiring tenants to pay for internet, cable, and/or satellite services from a specified provider—whether they want those services or not. This decision has sparked a heated debate over the future of internet pricing in multi-dwelling units like apartments, condos, and public housing. Critics argue that it will exacerbate the already sky-high costs of broadband service for millions of renters. However, Carr and others in favor of this policy change claim that the elimination of the Biden-era proposal will lead to more competition and lower prices. In this article, we will examine the im…