A Verizon store in Knoxville.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — It may soon be easier to decide what internet and mobile plans are best for you, thanks to a new requirement from the FCC.
Beginning April 10, internet service providers will be required to have what’s called “consumer labels” on each service plan. These labels will be required for any internet service providers that offer home, or fixed, internet services, or mobile broadband plans.
Verizon has already rolled these labels out, and spokesperson Parker Branton said they may look familiar.
“You can think of these broadband labels as what you might find on the side of your cereal box. They’re like nutrition labels. It’s going to list out exactly what you’re paying, the monthly price and then also what’s inside of that, the data, upload speed and download speed as well,” he said.
The FCC actually modeled the labels after FDA nutrition labels. Branton said the goal of the labels is to increase transparency for consumers.
“So you might have a plan that you don’t really understand. You know it’s called something but you don’t know exactly what you’re getting, and the price might change over time,” Branton said.
The labels must disclose broadband prices, introductory rates, data allowances, and broadband speeds.
“You’ll see the monthly price. You’ll pay no more than that monthly price, and you could very well pay less than that given the discounts and promos going on,” Branton said.
Verizon is just one of many providers making this change.
Ann Elsas with AT&T Media Relations said in a statement, “We plan to meet the FCC’s deadline to implement the broadband nutrition labels and will meet the commission’s requirements. We are ready to help consumers navigate the choices they have for choosing broadband and help ensure they have access to customer friendly labels.”
Branton said this will make plans across providers clearer.
“So you’re going to be able to compare apples to apples instead of having one plan called something at one provider and another plan called something at some other place,” he said.
A spokesperson for Comcast, which owns Xfinity, said in a statement, “Our teams are finalizing our Broadband Nutrition Labels, and they will be available April 10. We will also have a dedicated page with helpful background information and FAQs about the labels.”
Providers will be required to implement these labels on April 10, however providers with less than 100,000 subscribers have until Oct. 10 to comply.
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