US: A 'nutrition label' for broadband internet

The FCC announced a new nationwide requirement for internet service providers

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today announced a nationwide requirement for internet service providers to display ‘Nutrition Label’ style disclosures at points of sale, both online and in-store.

Here are a few key points:

• The labels, which resemble food product nutrition labels, are part of the FCC’s efforts to foster a competitive market that benefits consumers with better services and prices.

• These must detail broadband prices, speeds, data allowances, and other critical information such as bundle offers, discounts, privacy policies, and introductory rates.

• FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel heralded this as a significant step towards transparency, enabling consumers to make informed decisions with clear, accessible information about broadband services.

• By October 10, 2024, the labels will also need to be machine-readable to aid the creation of comparison-shopping tools.

• This initiative stems from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress in 2021 and subsequent FCC rules from 2022.