Starting Wednesday, Internet service providers (ISPs) will begin an effort to make it easier for consumers to understand what their monthly internet bills include. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) now requires providers to provide notices, similar to nutrition labels, that break down how much each piece of internet service costs and what you get.
But what’s on the label is more than calories or grams of sugar and fat. Instead, broadband consumers can see information such as monthly rates, discounts and bundles, plan internet speed ranges, amount of data included each month, network management and privacy policies, customer support contacts, additional fees and terms, and more. It will be. , including early termination and late fees.
Provided by FCC
The new label will give consumers a faster way to compare plans based on price and internet speed. For example, those looking for a fast connection for online gaming will find that typical download, upload, and latency speeds are helpful. Price-conscious people will look at the monthly fees and additional charges for a particular service’s plan at the top of the label.
The largest ISPs are required to display these labels to consumers before they purchase a service plan online or in a store. According to the FCC’s fact sheet, this information is required not only for mobile broadband plans, but also for standalone home internet service and fixed internet service.
The price breakdown on the label can be used for shopping comparison purposes. In a video message about the announcement released Wednesday morning, President Biden referred to the move as an effort to eliminate so-called junk fees.
“Folks, my administration is taking a big step toward eliminating junk fees on your internet bill,” Biden said in a video message posted to his POTUS social media account. “The FCC is asking internet providers to tell you exactly what you’re paying for and what you’re getting when you buy an internet plan, all on one simple label,” President Biden said. ” he said.
A new label will be born in October 2023 FCC rules that require Internet service providers (ISPs) with more than 100,000 subscribers to display a label at the time of purchase. ISPs with 100,000 or fewer customers have until October 10 to display the label to their customers.
By then, providers will also be required to make consumer labels machine-readable. This will allow third parties to better compile internet service plan data and allow consumers to compare plans.
Some internet providers are ahead of the FCC’s deadline and are already using the labels.
“To support consumer choice, competition and innovation, we want to make it easy and quick to understand what’s included in all of our broadband plans.” verizon It currently states on its website.
Google Fiber is a subsidiary of Alphabet that offers high-speed internet plans in some markets. beginning Publish the label for consumers.
