FCC mandate makes determining internet rates easier
You want to compare prices before choosing an internet provider, right? However, some providers have great difficulty communicating all-in prices. And sometimes it’s hard to tell exactly what you’re getting for that price.
So the Federal Communications Commission required all major internet providers to post broadband facts labels, similar to nutrition labels. Major providers must post notices by April 10th.
Verizon is already doing that. The label looks a lot like a nutrition label and is easy to read. The name of the service and monthly fee are displayed at the top of the label. Additional fees and conditions follow, followed by installation fees, security deposits, late fees, taxes, and termination fees. At the bottom, you’ll see your plan speeds, including typical upload and download speeds.
Then compare that to Spectrum’s current price list. At the top, you get MBPS (megabits per second) speeds. The faster the speed, the more expensive it will be, predictably. But if you read the fine print, you’ll see that these prices are only temporary for 12 or 24 months. I don’t know how much I’ll pay after that.
When I contacted Spectrum, they sent me a link to a pricing page with the lowest price. Internet service actually costs $85 after a $50 introductory period. However, this is not a price list that customers can easily find on your website. This price list appears to be on the policy page.
And here’s what Frontier is currently posting. I know it’s $65 a month, but I don’t know the speed. This is very important especially when streaming or downloading content. And while the small print says a one-time fee applies, it doesn’t say what that fee is.
Greenlight’s pricing page is very clear. Find out how much speed you can get at each price point. You will also be notified in advance of the monthly charges for managed Wi-Fi. However, you won’t know there’s a $100 setup fee until you visit the sign-up page.
That’s why these new broadband fact labels are so helpful. All costs must be paid in advance. And it puts power back into your hands. You can compare overall prices and choose the plan that offers the best value. It’s not surprising.
Major providers have until April 10 to update their labels. Small providers have until October 10th to update their labels.
