FCC Broadband Consumer Labels – A Complete Breakdown

Having trouble shopping for a new internet provider? Signing up for an internet plan and thinking you’ve found a great deal, only to be surprised when the first bill arrives.

Well, you are not the only one.

This happens because advertised plans often hide fees and important details in the fine print.

Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has introduced broadband consumer labels to address this lack of transparency by directing providers to provide clear and accurate information on key aspects of broadband services, including introductory rates, data allowances, and broadband speeds.

What are Broadband Labels?

Broadband consumer labels are a new type of disclaimer that displays service-critical information about internet plans, including cost, speeds, and data allowances at the provider's point of sale platform.

Just like food nutrition labels, they reveal key facts about internet plans in a consistent format.

How Do Broadband Labels Help You?

Broadband Consumer Labels: A Brief Timeline of Events

Understanding Broadband Facts – Complete Breakdown

Understanding broadband labels can be fairly confusing and many people might not even pay attention to the fine details.

But trust us when we tell you - You should!

Instead of changing providers every six weeks, use these facts and information to find the best internet in your area once and for all.

We have simplified each section of the broadband consumer labels to make them more understandable and easily digestible. This will not only help you understand key information but also help you save on your internet bills.

Here is a simplified breakdown of Altafiber Facts:

1. Introductory price without auto pay and paperless as well as other seasonal and bundling discounts.
2. Proximity disclaimer highlighting introductory tenure and pricing change with other key information (varies by brand).

3. Additional fees that include modem and router monthly rental or one-time purchase charges.
4. This section covers a one-time connection and professional installation fee. If you opt for a self-installation kit, there may be an additional one-time shipping and handling fee, typically ranging from $15 to $30, depending on your location.
5. Broadband labels also transparently mention late payment surcharges and government taxes that vary by location. The taxes are reasonable for an internet plan but much higher for other bundled services such as an “Internet + TV” plan that may incur Broadcast TV and Region Sports taxes.

6. The links lets you visit ongoing billing and pricing discounts in your area.
7. This section provides the actual download, upload, and latency figures in your area backed by provider testing data.
8. "Unlimited Internet" is only valid if specified on the broadband nutrition label. If your plan includes a data limit, you'll be charged overage fees for any additional data usage, which will be clearly outlined in this section.
9. This section offers several helpful links covering the provider’s network management policy (e.g., whether speeds slow during peak times or after exhausting your monthly data), privacy policy (how your data is protected, stored, and shared), and the provider’s contact us page (giving you easy access to multiple customer support channels, including email, chat, IVR, and live agents).

10. The last section provides helpful consumer-specific information on broadband labels and provides guidance on how to file a complaint against your provider with the FCC.

Other Key Terminologies That May Come up on Broadband Labels

How to Access Broadband Consumer Labels?

Accessing consumer broadband labels is quite easy as it is now mandatory for all providers to prominently display broadband facts near their “point of sale” platforms.

Some brands reveal them right next to their packages and plans but most brands might ask for your zip code and street address to provide area-specific information, which will look like this:

Broadband Labels by Connection Type

Keep in mind that broadband consumer labels will vary slightly depending on whether you are dealing with broadband, mobile, or satellite providers.

Each type of label will highlight unique features and costs specific to that connection type. For instance, satellite internet will have an extensive list of equipment-related additional charges and terms.

Here are the key differences:

Bundle Deals Broadband Labels

Right now, the FCC's broadband labels don't include details about bundle deals, like double-play or triple-play packages that offer extra phone lines or streaming services.

This means customers have to look at the point-of-sale info to understand all the charges and details, making the process of choosing and comparing these packages hard and confusing.

To fix this, we recommend that the FCC either create a separate label for bundle deals or simply include bundle deal information in the new and updated version of broadband labels in the coming years. This would help customers make better choices by having all the information in one easy-to-find place.

Recommendations for FCC

Broadband consumer labels are a welcome improvement for internet users who often find themselves confused by complicated service options. They offer much-needed transparency, clarity, and direction, helping users select the best provider plan for their connectivity needs.

As a consumer-first brand dedicated to advocating for consumer rights, promoting ease of access, and ensuring transparency, we believe that the following improvements would further enhance the effectiveness of these labels: