National Advertising Division Finds Additional Disclosures for Spectrum Mobile “Speed Boost” Claim Not Needed in Spectrum Mobile Commercial

New York, NY – October 13, 2023 – In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge brought by AT&T Services, Inc., the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs determined that no additional or more prominent disclosures regarding Spectrum Mobile’s “Speed Boost” feature were necessary in a thirty-second commercial for Charter Communication, Inc.’s Spectrum Mobile and Spectrum One Mobile home internet services. 

Spectrum One is Charter’s brand name for converged product offerings that include Spectrum Internet, Spectrum Advanced WiFi, and Spectrum Mobile. Speed Boost is a technology that lets Spectrum Mobile customers receive faster wireless speeds on their Spectrum Mobile devices when connected to their Spectrum home WiFi network.

Fast-Track SWIFT is an expedited process designed for single-issue advertising cases brought to NAD. At issue for NAD was whether Charter should make more prominent disclosures regarding Speed Boost to avoid a misleading or unsupported claim. AT&T argued that the commercial failed to effectively disclose the limitations of Speed Boost while conveying a misleading message about the performance and availability of the feature. 

In the challenged commercial, a voiceover states “At Spectrum Mobile, you get more with your mobile!” along with an on-screen list of product features, including “Unlimited Data. Unlimited Talk & Text. Reliable Coverage. Nationwide 5G. Secure WiFi. Speed Boost.” The end of the commercial displays a promotional offer for Spectrum One with a disclosure that states “Speed Boost available on Spectrum Mobile devices when connected to Spectrum Advanced WiFi.”

NAD determined that the advertising reasonably conveys the message that Speed Boost is one feature available to Spectrum Mobile customers as part of having the combined Spectrum One service and does not convey a broader message about the performance, availability, or access to Speed Boost. 

In this context, NAD determined that no additional or more prominent disclosures regarding Speed Boost were necessary.

In its advertiser statement, Charter stated that it “appreciates NAD’s recognition that Charter may continue to make truthful and accurate claims regarding the availability and benefits of Mobile Speed Boost, and that Charter’s Speed Boost claim in this case does not need additional disclosures.”

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