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By JAMIE TUCKER Consumer Technology Reporter
You’re probably familiar with the nutrition labels on foods like breakfast cereal, potato chips, and a can of soup. Similar labels can now be found on your local phone company and Internet provider websites.
The FCC requires all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to prominently display these labels wherever cell phones or Internet plans are sold.
When I checked the major wireless carriers, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have broadband labels under every plan they offer. If you don’t see them in the store, ask a sales rep; they need to make these available to customers. At the Verizon store I visited with representatives, each label was visible on a tablet they carried around the store.
The labels are designed to be consumer-friendly. At a glance, you can see the monthly cost, any introductory pricing, and additional charges like connection fees. Discounts and bundles?
They are also itemized.
This information used to be hard to come by, but now, it allows you to easily compare products from different providers side by side.
Major cable internet providers such as Comcast and Spectrum are also required to provide this information on their websites. If you’ve ever tried to compare prices from cable TV companies, you probably couldn’t find that information anywhere.
When you compare plans, pay close attention to the promised internet speeds. The speed that’s right for you depends on your home’s internet usage. For example, if online gaming, 4K streaming, and multiple smart devices are part of your daily life, you’ll want a plan that offers at least 200 Mbps download speeds and 20 Mbps upload speeds, especially when video conferencing is on the network.
mix.
Broadband labels do more than provide information; they are tools for savvy shoppers. Take a moment to check out the speed your current plan promises. If your actual speeds don’t match, you’ll need to hold your ISP responsible. Why settle for less when you’re paying more?