You’re used to seeing nutrition labels on the food you buy. But according to new FCC regulations, internet service providers (ISPs) must now begin labeling their internet packages with broadband labels that are inspired by the FDA’s nutrition labels.
Here’s everything you need to know about the new ruling and what’s next for consumers who are shopping for new internet plans.
Key Takeaways:
- The FCC is requiring ISPs to adopt new “FDA nutrition facts” style labels on broadband packages.
- The change aims to help consumers better understand internet plans and should encourage competition between providers.
- Broadband label rollout is beginning April 10th, 2024 and many major providers are already set to begin displaying labels.
The FCC’s New Broadband Label Requirements
Labels will also outline information surrounding potential additional charges, introductory rates, and other potential fees or pricing changes consumers might encounter.
Additionally, labels are required to include links to privacy policies and network management policy pages. This should help consumers gain a better understanding of their data rights and how internet service providers manage security and privacy.
Major companies are already starting to display these labels. For example, you can already find GFiber Nutrition Labels for Google Fiber plans. However, providers with fewer than 100,000 subscribers have until October 10, 2024 to comply with the new regulations.
What This Change Means For Consumers
As of 2019, over 50% of U.S. households reported spending over $60 per month on internet services. And if you’ve shopped around for a new internet package in the last few years, you probably know how confusing it can be when comparing plans.
This change, which has been eight years in the making, should hopefully allow consumers to shop with more confidence. It should also help consumers avoid hidden fees and understand exactly what they’re buying before committing to a plan.
Hopefully, the long-term impact is increased competition between ISPs and cheaper internet plans for consumers.
