A new regulation by the FCC requires ISPs to provide information about their services that most consumers never had easy access to.
A new intiative went into effect today compelling internet service providers (ISPs) to break down key information on their plans and associated fees in the format of the nutrition label found on food packaging.
After a lengthy battle with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that lasted almost eight years, broadband service providers must now compile and make transparent key metrics about their plans including speeds, data allowances, network management practices, and most importantly, recurring fees in an easy-to-understand format for consumers.
This nutrition label format, the FCC decided, is one of the most widely recognized by consumers in terms of clarity, and conveys its purpose by design.
Having access to all this information at-a-glance certainly makes shopping for broadband internet services easier, as there has never before been one single point where consumers could find a comprehensive (and accurate) list of information on an ISP's key services and their fees up front. And certainly not in a format that allowed for easy comparisons to competitors.
The new "nutrition" labels will now be displayed to consumers at the point of sale, with key information about monthly charges, data caps, and other fees made available from the beginning, instead of being buried in mountains of promotional or legal speak.