Spectrum is forcing full-price plans on people seeking FCC benefit

Spectrum is forcing customers who are eligible for a new federal subsidy for internet service to opt into full-price plans once the subsidy runs out. The policy appears to skirt rules set forth by the Federal Communications Commission, which is running the Emergency Broadband Benefit program. The $3.2 billion emergency broadband benefit, which launched earlier this month, gives people up to $50 off of their monthly internet bill. The stopgap funding was allocated in response to the pandemic and is expected to run out within the year. To protect people from being automatically enrolled in more expensive plans once the money runs out, the FCC required internet service providers to give consumers notice that the program is about to end and get customers' explicit consent before continuing their service at a higher price. Spectrum, however, appears to be doing the inverse. Rather than giving potential applicants the option to continue their coverage at full price, it's requiring them to do so in order to receive the benefit at all. "Yes, customers opt-in at the time of enrollment to continue receiving service once the program ends," said Charter spokesperson Rich Ruggiero. "Customers will receive notice 30 days before the program ends, and can make a decision about keeping or terminating their service."