Tired of opening your internet bill and trying to figure out exactly how much you pay each month? You’re not alone, the federal government is now requiring more transparency around fees from internet service providers.
New Federal Communications Commission rules that just took effect require Internet service providers to provide an easy-to-read breakdown of Internet charges. And, the new graphics have a familiar look: a nutrition label.
Whether you’re opening your next bill or visiting your internet provider’s store, you’ll find that this new visual aid looks almost identical to what you see on food packaging.
Federal Communications Commission
New internet “nutrition labels” emerge from a 2023 FCC ruling promising to help consumers get “understandable and accurate information about the cost and performance of broadband services.”
“Consumers will finally have information they can use to compare stores, avoid junk fees, and make informed decisions about which high-speed Internet service is best for them,” FCC Chairman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a news release on the ruling. Make an informed choice based on your needs and budget.”
The April 10 deadline applies to ISPs with at least 100,000 users. Smaller ISPs have until October 10 to meet the new requirements, according to the FCC Broadband Labeling Fact Sheet.
While the new tab provides a quick look at broadband costs, navigating some of the terms listed on the tab can be tricky. Terms such as introductory fees, monthly fees, contract length and early termination fees are common in our everyday language. However, the brand also has some items that may leave some customers scratching their heads, such as a “pass-through fee.”
We don’t know what this means. So we looked in the helpful glossary (also available in Spanish) on the FCC’s Internet Label Information page. All terms listed on the new label are included on this reference page.
By the way, “pass-through fees” simply refer to the additional costs associated with government programs (universal service or regulatory charges) that providers “pass through” to customers.
While we may not be able to avoid all of these fees, at least now these labels will give us an idea of what our internet providers are charging us and give us a better ability to compare.
This story originally appeared in the easiest.