What does the FCC Broadband Nutrition Label show?

Since 2024 the FCC requires ISPs to publish a 'broadband nutrition label' at point of sale. It lists typical speeds, latency, monthly price, fees, data caps and contract terms. If real speeds are far below the label, you have grounds for a complaint.

Does switching ISP improve speed?

Only if you change technology (cable to fiber, or vice versa) or if you switch between separate physical networks. Switching between resellers on the same network rarely matters.

Guide · updated May 2026 · 10 min read

US internet speed test: what to expect from each ISP

Q: Which US ISP is fastest?

On fiber, AT&T Fiber and Verizon Fios deliver the most consistent speeds, with multi-gig tiers up to 5 Gbps. Xfinity and Spectrum cable peak high (1.2-2 Gbps down) but uploads are heavily asymmetric. T-Mobile Home Internet is convenient but variable.

Q: How do I file an FCC complaint?

Submit a complaint at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. The FCC forwards it to the ISP, who must respond within 30 days. The agency also publishes anonymized data on broadband performance via the Measuring Broadband America program.

Xfinity, Spectrum, AT&T Fiber, Verizon Fios, T-Mobile Home: speeds vary widely depending on which ISP you have and the underlying network. Here's what's normal, what isn't, and how to file an FCC complaint when promises don't match reality.

In this guide

Which technology serves your address
What to expect from each US ISP
The FCC Broadband Nutrition Label
How to complain step-by-step
Is switching ISP worth it?
FAQ

Which technology serves your address

Cable (DOCSIS 3.1 / 4.0): Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum (Charter), Cox, Optimum. Wide coverage, high download peaks but heavily asymmetric upload.
Fiber to the Home (FTTH): Verizon Fios, AT&T Fiber, Frontier Fiber, Google Fiber, Ziply, Brightspeed. Symmetric, low latency, but limited footprint.
Fixed Wireless 5G: T-Mobile Home Internet, Verizon 5G Home. Variable but no install fuss.
DSL: legacy AT&T, CenturyLink, Earthlink. Mostly being replaced by fiber.

Reality check: 80% of Americans live in a cable-vs-fiber duopoly. Your real choice is often "cable provider X" or "fiber provider Y", and one of them might not even reach your block.

What to expect from each US ISP

Typical numbers off-peak, over Ethernet, with your own router (or the ISP's modem in bridge mode).

Comcast Xfinity

Download: 1000-1300 Mbps on Gigabit Extra (DOCSIS 3.1), 1500+ on multi-gig.
Upload: 20-35 Mbps on cable (very asymmetric), 100+ Mbps on new DOCSIS 4.0 areas, symmetric on fiber.
Ping: 15-25 ms.
Notes: data cap of 1.2 TB/month in many regions. xFi gateway router included.

Spectrum (Charter)

Download: 900-1100 Mbps on Internet Gig.
Upload: 35-50 Mbps (asymmetric).
Ping: 15-25 ms.
Notes: no data caps, no contract, modem rental fee waived.

AT&T Fiber

Download: 900-2300 Mbps depending on tier (1, 2, or 5 Gbps).
Upload: 900 Mbps - 4.7 Gbps symmetric.
Ping: 5-12 ms, excellent gaming performance.
Notes: limited footprint but expanding rapidly. No data caps on fiber.

Verizon Fios

Download: 900-2300 Mbps depending on tier (300/500/Gig/2 Gig).
Upload: 900 Mbps - 2 Gbps symmetric.
Ping: 5-12 ms.
Notes: only available in NE corridor (NY/NJ/MA/PA/VA/MD). No data caps. Fios Quantum gateway.

T-Mobile Home Internet (5G FWA)

Download: 100-400 Mbps typical, peaks up to 1 Gbps in 5G Ultra Capacity zones.
Upload: 20-80 Mbps, highly variable.
Ping: 30-60 ms, jittery (not ideal for gaming).
Notes: $50/mo flat with no contract, no install. Speed depends entirely on signal.

The FCC Broadband Nutrition Label

Since 2024 the FCC requires every US ISP to publish a Broadband Consumer Label at point of sale. It must show:

Monthly price (and what happens after promo)
Typical download/upload speed
Typical latency
Data caps and overage fees
Contract length and early termination fees
Network management practices (throttling, prioritization)

If your real speeds are consistently far below the "typical" listed speed, that's a documented baseline you can use in a complaint.

How to complain step-by-step

Document the issue: 20+ tests over Ethernet across 3 days, varying time slots. Save the FCC Broadband Label your ISP showed at signup.
Call your ISP: ask for a "trouble ticket" with a reference number. Many issues are fixed at this stage (faulty modem, line attenuation).
Written escalation: if unresolved in 14 days, write to the ISP's executive customer service (often resolves issues that front-line couldn't).
FCC complaint: file at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. The FCC forwards it; the ISP must respond within 30 days.
State Public Utilities Commission: an additional channel in many states (PUC, PSC).
BBB / news consumer affairs: not legal, but ISPs often respond fast to BBB complaints to protect their rating.

Is switching ISP worth it?

Honest take: most Americans don't have meaningful competition. If you're stuck on cable in a one-ISP block, switching to "another cable" doesn't exist; switching to "another fiber" requires the fiber to actually be there.

Switching makes sense when:

Fiber arrives in your area and you're on cable (almost always an upgrade).
You move and want symmetric upload for remote work or content creation.
You're on a promo that ended, and the out-of-contract price doubled.
5G FWA is finally good enough at your address (worth checking T-Mobile/Verizon coverage).

Test your ISP now

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FAQ

Which US ISP is fastest?

AT&T Fiber and Verizon Fios for symmetric and consistent speeds. Cable peaks higher in download but uploads stay limited.

What's the FCC Broadband Nutrition Label?

Mandatory disclosure listing real prices, speeds, fees, caps. Use it as the baseline for complaints.

How do I file an FCC complaint?

Submit at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. ISP must respond within 30 days.

Does switching ISP help?

Only if you can switch technology (cable ↔ fiber). Resellers on the same network rarely matter.