When you go to a grocery store, one of the things you probably look at is the Nutrition Facts label. This tells you how many calories and ingredients are in that item. Broadband companies are likely to start putting labels similar to these on their services soon. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently held a vote that would allow the process to move forward to reach a final decision on requiring Internet providers to display labels when services are sold to consumers.
Reasons for labels
The FCC wants labels added so consumers clearly understand what services are provided so they can make a fair decision about which company to use. It is also beneficial for the market as a whole, as it allows for fair decision-making instead of one Internet provider controlling the others. A vote by the FCC ended 4-0, meaning those who side with the government on the Internet want labels on broadband services.
Think of the labels that will be displayed like Nutrition Facts labels you see on food and beverages. Nutrition labels have been required on foods since 1990. Broadband labels may not provide as much detail, but they will inform consumers about broadband speeds, data allowances offered by the Internet service provider, and the price of services that consumers would have to pay. pay. There is still time to comment so the FCC and others with questions can have their say before the labels are used. Customers and broadband companies can also provide feedback and ask questions about how the FCC plans to make sure the information they provide is correct. This period should only last a few months. President Biden has signed into law requiring the tags to be in place by the end of the year. Once the approval is done, you could start seeing the labels a few weeks later.
One of the reasons the labels are likely to be attached is because some companies charge consumers fees that are approximately 24% higher than the advertised price they are told to pay. When surveyed, about 64% of those who responded feel the fees are unfair and annoying, since they shouldn’t have to pay more than they already pay each month. This is one of the details that the labels will display, which can make it easier for consumers to choose which carrier they want to use for their internet plan. If they see that there are additional fees, then they can avoid that provider and choose one that does not impose high fees or fees at all.
Labeling for broadband services is not a new concept, having been discussed since 2009. The New America Foundation put the idea into play when the liberal group decided that consumers should be as informed as possible about their services. There should be no hidden fees, and consumers should know the true speeds they’re getting so they’re not surprised when they see a slow connection. One benefit of labels is that they can greatly reduce confusion regarding the various terms of service that are sometimes hidden in the contracts that consumers agree to when choosing a provider.
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Categories: Technology
Source: vtt.edu.vn