If the FCC decides to define broadband service as a telecommunications service, broadband services would become subject to state fees that apply to telecom services. The attached report by PPI Senior Fellow Hal Singer and Brookings Institution Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bob Litan quantifies these new fees.
Top 5 States by New Wireline Fees
Top 5 States by New Mobile Broadband Fees
Regulating Broadband as a Telecommunications Service Will Subject Consumers to Billions in New Fees
(Calculations Assume One Wireline and One Wireless Connection Per Consumer)
| State | Monthly Increase Range | Annual Increase Range |
| Alabama | $9.41 – $9.41 | $112.95 – $112.95 |
| Alaska | $16.14 – $25.19 | $193.66 – $302.22 |
| Arizona | $9.05 – $16.30 | $108.63 – $195.62 |
| Arkansas | $6.65 – $20.68 | $79.78 – $248.15 |
| California | $4.87 – $28.83 | $58.49 – $345.91 |
| Colorado | $4.80 – $19.75 | $57.63 – $236.95 |
| Connecticut | $7.40 – $7.40 | $88.75 – $88.75 |
| Delaware | $1.36 – $1.36 | $16.32 – $16.32 |
| Florida | $5.32 – $11.98 | $63.81 – $143.72 |
| Georgia | $12.15 – $17.12 | $145.79 – $205.49 |
| Hawaii | $11.94 – $11.94 | $143.25 – $143.25 |
| Idaho | NA | NA |
| Illinois | $8.07 – $23.68 | $96.84 – $284.18 |
| Indiana | $9.72 – $9.72 | $116.61 – $116.61 |
| Iowa | $7.61 – $8.55 | $91.36 – $102.57 |
| Kansas | $7.05 – $9.62 | $84.56 – $115.43 |
| Kentucky | $9.14 – $20.31 | $109.69 – $243.67 |
| Louisiana | $19.57 – $24.55 | $234.83 – $294.61 |
| Maine | $6.23 – $6.23 | $74.78 – $74.78 |
| Maryland | $18.01 – $22.41 | $216.10 – $268.90 |
| Massachusetts | $7.51 – $7.51 | $90.08 – $90.08 |
| Michigan | $6.97 – $14.37 | $83.62 – $172.42 |
| Minnesota | $9.65 – $10.45 | $115.81 – $125.36 |
| Mississippi | $10.55 – $10.95 | $126.63 – $131.43 |
| Missouri | $4.11 – $17.02 | $49.37 – $204.29 |
| Montana | $5.99 – $5.99 | $71.86 – $71.86 |
| Nebraska | $7.06 – $14.90 | $84.67 – $178.82 |
| Nevada | $5.56 – $10.24 | $66.73 – $122.84 |
| New Hampshire | $7.81 – $7.81 | $93.69 – $93.69 |
| New Jersey | $8.35 – $8.35 | $100.17 – $100.17 |
| New Mexico | $11.08 – $17.17 | $133.02 – $205.98 |
| New York | $13.04 – $19.93 | $156.47 – $239.21 |
| North Carolina | $7.79 – $8.03 | $93.53 – $96.33 |
| North Dakota | $10.04 – $15.61 | $120.50 – $187.37 |
| Ohio | $6.89 – $8.52 | $82.64 – $102.28 |
| Oklahoma | $5.50 – $23.98 | $66.05 – $287.73 |
| Oregon | $6.63 – $8.50 | $79.57 – $102.02 |
| Pennsylvania | $20.37 – $24.96 | $244.39 – $299.54 |
| Rhode Island | $11.84 – $11.84 | $142.13 – $142.13 |
| South Carolina | $10.16 – $18.44 | $121.87 – $221.26 |
| South Dakota | $13.48 – $18.15 | $161.72 – $217.85 |
| Tennessee | $16.13 – $21.19 | $193.54 – $254.26 |
| Texas | $6.78 – $17.59 | $81.33 – $211.06 |
| Utah | $7.04 – $11.57 | $84.43 – $138.86 |
| Vermont | NA | NA |
| Virginia | $8.54 – $9.00 | $102.46 – $107.98 |
| Washington | $8.45 – $22.02 | $101.38 – $264.25 |
| West Virginia | $3.00 – $11.87 | $35.94 – $142.45 |
| Wisconsin | $6.59 – $8.74 | $79.09 – $104.86 |
| Wyoming | $5.72 – $7.15 | $68.60 – $85.83 |
For more information, see Litan and Singer’s policy brief, “Outdated Regulations Will Make Consumers Pay More for Broadband.“
