The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that internet service providers (ISPs) must provide ‘nutrition labels’ for their services. This initiative, which came into effect on April 10, 2024, aims to enhance transparency and help consumers make informed decisions when choosing their internet service providers.
The ‘nutrition labels’ are designed to provide clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the cost and performance of high-speed internet services. Modeled after the FDA nutrition labels, they are intended to help consumers comparison shop for the internet service plan that best meets their needs and budget.
The labels must disclose important information such as broadband prices, introductory rates, data allowances, and broadband speeds. They also include details regarding any activation fees, early termination fees, and the length of the contract. Furthermore, the labels disclose whether the price shown is a discounted rate for new customers and what the consumer will be expected to pay per month once the introductory pricing has expired.
ISPs are also required to display any rental fees for equipment such as modems or WiFi routers on the nutrition labels. In addition to price transparency, companies must show the full details of a plan to consumers. This includes upload and download speeds, data caps, and how much a consumer will be charged for overages.
Major ISPs had until April 10 to comply with the nutrition labels. However, providers with less than 100,000 subscribers have until Oct. 10, 2024, to comply with the FCC rules to display broadband labels at their points of sale.
Read more at: mashable.com