US unveils new labels for broadband, mobile internet service
Labels could be a big factor in which service consumers buy
The Obama administration on Monday unveiled new labels for broadband and mobile Internet service, aimed at helping the nation’s web users make price and service comparisons.
The labels from the US Federal Communications Commission are similar to federally required nutrition labels on nearly all US foods or information on credit card billing statements and will include disclosures of all fees and add-on charges and service speed and reliability. The new labels are recommended but not legally required, though firms that use them will not face government investigations into transparency rules.
The FCC said there are 97.8 million American households and business subscribers to fixed broadband service and 223 million US mobile phones with internet access, according to the most recent data.
More than 85 per cent of all Americans use the Internet and typically spend US$60 or $70 a month on service, the FCC said, and the new labels could be a big factor in which service consumers choose to buy.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray unveiled the new labels at a press conference in Washington - and were supported by a committee of industry and consumer groups. Wheeler said the key to robust competition was better information for consumers.
“This is industry and advocates coming together unanimously,” Wheeler said. “Customers deserve to know the price they will actually pay for a service and to be fully aware of other components such as data limits and performance factors before they sign up for service.”